We believe that every person, including those with paralyzing SCI disabilities, should have the opportunity to survive and live their best life. Acute Spinal Cord Injury is the most complex condition to present to medical teams as no two injuries are the same, little is fully understood about SCI, and it is catastrophic for a lifetime.
Families call BLINK because of our BLINK of an Eye Podcast which educates listeners about our trauma services while also educating medical providers about the SCI family experience to better inform them of the complexities beyond the already complicated physical traumatic injury.
BLINK of an Eye® SCI Navigators have lived experience which establishes immediate trust with SCI families in crisis. Navigators are trained in trauma-healing and relational intervention, mediation, and conflict transformation skills. BLINK support is provided at no cost and without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or age. Staff and volunteers are trained to respect and be sensitive to cultural norms of the people it serves, using appropriate language, access to interpreters, and communication tools to assist disabled communicators. BLINK provides access to their support services while addressing any barriers to service and collaborates with local community organizations to address barriers in individual cases.
Even well-resourced families struggle with the complicated medical, financial, emotional, and relational upheaval from SCI. Less resourced families have difficulties that are exacerbated by lack of education, connections/social status, and access to healthcare. With the podcast message, we connect injured SCI families to resources, help them learn tools of self-advocacy, and teach them ways to navigate the catastrophic lifetime injury.
