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President Obama signs the the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act.
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The signing into law of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act this week is a major landmark for all Americans living with spinal cord injuries or disorders (SCI/D), and for the SCI/D community as a whole. After years in the making, the bill was passed by the U.S. Senate on January 15 and the House of Representatives on March 25 and signed into law by President Obama on March 30.
Enactment by Congress of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act to promote spinal cord paralysis research and to improve SCI/D rehabilitation has been a key component of the Council’s public policy platform.
The Act’s three primary components will enhance paralysis research, rehabilitation and quality of life programs:
- Paralysis Research - Expands research on paralysis at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This will encourage collaborative research by connecting scientists conducting similar work to further enhance understanding and speed discovery of better treatments and cures.
- Paralysis Rehabilitation and Care - Builds on research to enhance daily function for people with paralysis, including a Clinical Trials Network to measure effectiveness of certain rehabilitation tactics and encouraging shared findings on paralysis to improve rehabilitation.
- Improving Quality of Life for Persons with Paralysis and Other Physical Disabilities - Works with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve the quality of life and long-term health status of persons with paralysis and other physical disabilities.