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Roadmap to Recovery

A comprehensive guide for people who are newly injured and their families.
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80 Years of Impact:
Let's Go Further

Your support has brought us this far. With you help, we can go even further

Donate

Learn More

Give an Angela

Give help navigating a way forward.

How Angela Helped Daniel

Give

PeeForFree #FundTheFight

Nobody Should Have to Empty Their Wallet Just to Empty Their Bladder.

How to Help

Roadmap to Recovery

Easing the Journey

Welcome to your Roadmap to Recovery. This guide is designed to support individuals and families navigating life after spinal cord injury, with practical information, tools, and guidance for every stage of the journey.

We invite you to explore the online version of this resource, created for those who are newly injured and the people supporting them. We are grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their generous funding, and to author Julie Sawchuk for her expertise and deep commitment to the well-being of the SCI community.

This guide reflects the knowledge and lived experience of people with SCI, their families, and health care partners who have contributed to help ease the journey and strengthen outcomes.

Now featuring an updated Chapter 6: Legal, developed by McLeish Orlando, offering clear, practical guidance on legal rights, benefits, and accessing financial support following an injury.

If you have questions or would like additional support, contact us at info@sciontario.org or complete our New Client Referral form to connect with our team.

Click on the titles below to explore each chapter.

Introduction

Introduction

Preface By Spinal Cord Injury Ontario
Preface By Author Julie Sawchuk
About The Author

Chapter One

Julie's Journey

The Full Story

Chapter Two

Family Members

The Vital Role of Family - One Family Member to Another

A Family Member’s Story:

A Husband’s Perspective
A Mother’s Perspective
A Child’s Perspective

Chapter Three

Acute Care

Acute Care Days, Weeks and Months in Survival Mode
Professional Points:

Intensive Care Nursing
Talking About Surgery
Acute Care Social Worker

Chapter Four

Rehab

Welcome To Rehab! … Really??
Professional Points:

Nurses Page
Nurses
Physiatrist
Dietitian

Mental Health
Professional Points:

Psychologist
Social Worker

Therapy
Professional Points:

Physiotherapy (PT)
Occupational Therapy (OT)

Peer Support

Skills To Know Before You Go Home

Chapter Five

Homeward Bound

Going Home–or Making A New One

The Importance of SCIO Regional Services

Medical Home Team
Professional Points: Personal Support Worker

Driving

Equipment & Supplies

Mobility Devices
Supplies
Medications

Chapter Six

Legal

Legal

When to consider legal support after a spinal cord injury
What to expect from your legal team and the legal process
What benefits, supports, and compensation may be available

Developed by McLeish Orlando

Chapter Seven

New Normal

Embracing A New Normal in Health, Family, Sports, Work and Travel

Sport & Recreation

Return To Work

Travel

Finances

Government and Other Types of Financial Assistance
Read now

Chapter Eight

Glossary & Resources

Glossary of Acronyms

Glossary of Terminology

Resources

Contributors

Peer Perspectives

Peer Perspectives

Diane’s Decision
Michelle’s Story Folding Socks Just For Fun
Michelle And YouTube
A Conversation with Mike and Karen
Michelle on Going Home
Julie: PSW Support Means Independence
Gabriella Carafa On Sex and SCI
Camilo Acero: Becoming a Father After SCI
Lubna Aslam: Giving Birth After SCI
Dave Willsie—Life From Sport
An Interview with Diana McCauley, Manager, SCIO Employment Services
Alireza Tehrani Proves a Second Career is Possible
Peter Athanasopoulos, Director of Public Policy, SCIO

Julie's Journey

Julie's Journey

A Dorm Room
A Post-Recovery Perspective
Bladder & Bowels
Going Home
HBP is AD in SCI from UTI
Robot Goals
T4 Sisters
Four Years and Still Working On It
Just Keep Swimming
Sturdy Underwear
Super Dave
New “Sporty” Friends
Catheters
Sleeping in The Dining Room
Pain Management
On The Road Again
Fancypants
Me, The Case Manager
Future Costs
Time Is Still A Factor
Try Everything

Introduction

Introduction

Preface By Spinal Cord Injury Ontario
Preface By Author Julie Sawchuk
About The Author

Chapter One

Julie's Journey

The Full Story

Chapter Two

Family Members

The Vital Role of Family - One Family Member to Another

A Family Member’s Story:

A Husband’s Perspective
A Mother’s Perspective
A Child’s Perspective

Chapter Three

Acute Care

Acute Care Days, Weeks and Months in Survival Mode
Professional Points:

Intensive Care Nursing
Talking About Surgery
Acute Care Social Worker

Chapter Four

Rehab

Welcome To Rehab! … Really??
Professional Points:

Nurses Page
Nurses
Physiatrist
Dietitian

Mental Health
Professional Points:

Psychologist
Social Worker

Therapy
Professional Points:

Physiotherapy (PT)
Occupational Therapy (OT)

Peer Support

Skills To Know Before You Go Home

Chapter Five

Homeward Bound

Going Home–or Making A New One

The Importance of SCIO Regional Services

Medical Home Team
Professional Points: Personal Support Worker

Driving

Equipment & Supplies

Mobility Devices
Supplies
Medications

Chapter Six

Legal

Legal

When to consider legal support after a spinal cord injury
What to expect from your legal team and the legal process
What benefits, supports, and compensation may be available

Developed by McLeish Orlando

Chapter Seven

New Normal

Embracing A New Normal in Health, Family, Sports, Work and Travel

Sport & Recreation

Return To Work

Travel

Finances

Government and Other Types of Financial Assistance
Read now

Chapter Eight

Glossary & Resources

Glossary of Acronyms

Glossary of Terminology

Resources

Contributors

Peer Perspectives

Peer Perspectives

Diane’s Decision
Michelle’s Story Folding Socks Just For Fun
Michelle And YouTube
A Conversation with Mike and Karen
Michelle on Going Home
Julie: PSW Support Means Independence
Gabriella Carafa On Sex and SCI
Camilo Acero: Becoming a Father After SCI
Lubna Aslam: Giving Birth After SCI
Dave Willsie—Life From Sport
An Interview with Diana McCauley, Manager, SCIO Employment Services
Alireza Tehrani Proves a Second Career is Possible
Peter Athanasopoulos, Director of Public Policy, SCIO

Julie's Journey

Julie's Journey

A Dorm Room
A Post-Recovery Perspective
Bladder & Bowels
Going Home
HBP is AD in SCI from UTI
Robot Goals
T4 Sisters
Four Years and Still Working On It
Just Keep Swimming
Sturdy Underwear
Super Dave
New “Sporty” Friends
Catheters
Sleeping in The Dining Room
Pain Management
On The Road Again
Fancypants
Me, The Case Manager
Future Costs
Time Is Still A Factor
Try Everything

“Roadmap to Recovery is a well-researched, much-needed resource. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all new SCI patients could find this resource, so they wouldn’t feel so isolated in their experience of their injury and the system navigation required for a meaningful, best-possible recovery. I hope this resource gets into all of the right hands.”

M. Jean Sommerdyk, M.S.W., RSW

Social Work
Adult Ambulatory Services
Parkwood Institute

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