Millions of Americans Impacted by Paralysis Gain Vital New Resource Center

Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation
Tuesday, 7 May 2002

A first of its kind resource facility, created to establish a single, focused national resource on paralysis, opened today in Short Hills, New Jersey. The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) will provide information services to people nationwide who are newly paralyzed, have been living with paralysis, or are family members or caregivers.

The PRC is staffed with highly trained Information Specialists who will respond to questions in English and Spanish on a myriad of paralysis-related issues via a toll-free telephone number – (800) 539-7309, email – prc@crpf.org or in person. The PRC maintains an evolving self-help website (www.paralysis.org), it will house the largest national clearinghouse library of paralysis-related publications, and will publish an extensive print manual, The Paralysis Resource Guide (first edition Fall 2002).

"One of the most disabling aspects of paralysis is the lack of resources and support necessary to get back into a world that has completely changed for the paralyzed individual - both economically and socially," said Christopher Reeve, Chairman of CRPF. "When somebody is first injured or as a disease progresses into paralysis, people don't know where to turn. Dana and I wanted a facility that could give support and information to people. With this new Center, we're off to an amazing start."

"Our mission is to promote the health and well-being of people living with paralysis and their families," said Dana Reeve. "Our new facility, combined with our already established grants programs, will provide the most comprehensive help available. We're focused on helping people with mobility-related disabilities become more independent, more empowered, and better able to live the lives they choose."

"Our new Center will allow individuals living with paralysis to exert more control over their lives," said Mitchell R. Stoller, President and CEO of CRPF. "For years we have received hundreds of calls a month from individuals looking for information about everything from healthy living to finding employment to participating in their communities so we knew there was a great need. We're grateful the CDC also saw the need for a central national resource and chose to partner with our organization."

The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation (CRPF) is a national non-profit organization that encourages and supports research to develop effective treatments and a cure for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury and other central nervous system disorders. The Foundation allocates a portion of its resources to grants that improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. The Paralysis Resource Center is a project of CRPF.

For more information, or to contact Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, see their website at: www.christopherreeve.org