NRH has always regarded sports and therapeutic recreation as a critical component in a patient’s treatment. The hospital offers information and resources for sports and recreation opportunities such as downhill skiing, golfing, camping, wilderness adventures, bicycling, and other activities. These opportunities are designed to introduce persons with new disabilities to adapted leisure activities and to help those who are more experienced improve their skills. The National Rehabilitation Hospital is proud to be the District of Columbia site for BlazeSports which provides a natural extension of existing activity as well as expanding recreation sports into the community. Contributions to NRH’s Sports & Therapeutic Recreation program are used to develop the sports teams, facilitate recruitment, purchase equipment and fund team participation in events at the local and regional level.

Post-Polio Program

Established in 1986, the NRH Post-Polio Program is the largest in the Washington metropolitan area and is one of only a few such programs across the country. Its goal is to help individuals become more effective in managing polio-related health problems through comprehensive evaluation, treatment, follow-up, and education. The Program is directed by Lauro Halstead, M.D., one of the nation’s leading authorities on the diagnosis and management of polio-related health problems. The Program is staffed by an interdisciplinary team of health professionals with special expertise in and understanding of the unique physical, psychosocial, and emotional needs of persons who are experiencing the late effects of polio. The Post-Polio Program also provides patient and family education and counseling through the NRH Polio Support Group. Further, patients are encouraged to become involved in the local Polio Society, a community-based group that provides educational programs and support to persons who have had polio and their families.

Driver Education Fund

The NRH Driver Training Program sponsored by GEICO is the only fully accessible program in the Washington metropolitan area available to persons with disabling injuries or illness who wish to return to driving or who want to learn to drive for the first time. In addition, the program is also open to older drivers and persons who may not drive, but who require transfer and safety training. The Driver Training Program staff is made up of licensed, registered occupational therapists and Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialists who are experienced in working with people with a variety of disabilities.

Patient Care Assistance Fund

The Patient Care Assistance Fund was established in 1986 as a way to help adult patients who have exhausted their financial and insurance resources to achieve additional independence. The purpose of the fund is to ensure that such patients have access to the care and assistive equipment necessary to become as independent and functional as possible. The fund provides much-needed equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, and canes as well as necessary physical and occupational therapies to people whose family income is no more than 50% above the poverty level.

Therapeutic Garden Fund

The Therapeutic Garden was created in 1997 by generous donors from the community and the NRH Board of Associates. The Garden is a place for patients, families and staff to relax, enjoy being outside of the hospital and experience therapy sessions in a lovely setting. The centerpiece of the Garden is the Victory of the Human Spirit sculpture and fountain which serves as an inspiration to patients, family and staff. The purpose of the fund is to provide for the maintenance and care of the Garden.

Nursing Education Fund

Since NRH was founded in 1986, one of our core missions has been to provide the very best training and education programs for our clinical professionals. NRH provides over 4,000 personnel training hours annually for registered nurses, rehabilitation technicians, unit clerks, unit assistants, unit coordinators, medical residents and nursing students. Indeed, we have trained thousands of nurses and other health care professionals over the years to become outstanding clinicians and leaders in the field of rehabilitation medicine. This would not be possible without the continued and generous support of our community.

Esther Cook Pediatric Patient Care Assistance

The Pediatric Patient Care Assistance Fund was established in 2003 with the opening of the National Center for Children's Rehabilitation at NRH as a way to help pediatric patients become as independent as possible. The fund provides pediatric-sized assistive equipment and various therapies to those patients and families who otherwise could not afford such necessities. The fund specifically benefits patients and their families whose income is no more than 50% above the poverty level and who have exhausted their financial and insurance resources.