Services

Financial Assistance

One of the largest barriers to independence that a disabled individual faces is the financial burden that must be overcome to hire assistance, purchase medical equipment & adaptive devices, and obtain affordable housing that is accessible. The NSCIA-SWC Greatest Needs Fund (GNF) was established to help those individuals in times of crisis to obtain necessary equipment or services when other funding sources fail.

Mission: To help individuals with traumatic spinal cord injuries overcome situations of crisis when that person’s physical and/or emotional safety is threatened. We will provide short-term assistance while working with the individual to help them find other services or programs that will meet their long-term needs.

Vision: To become a primary resource for all spinal cord injured individuals and their families in Wisconsin, where they can go to one place to find information on community services and programs, housing and advocacy issues, and make requests for grants to fulfill a critical need.

Typical Funding Services

• Wheelchairs for individuals with no insurance, or if insurance will not cover something that without, will jeopardize the well-being of the individual
• Insurance co-pays for critical equipment or adaptions
• Repairs to medical equipment
• Necessary home modifications
• Wheelchair cushions
• Transportation to Medical Appointments, support groups, and NSCIA-SWC sponsored events

Support Group/Peer Advising

NSCIA-SWC provides spinal cord-injured persons to meet and talk with newly injured patients and their families during and after the hospital stay. It has been our experience that a person who has suffered a similar injury can have a very real and credible influence upon a newly injured patient. These experienced individuals can provide insight into the details and answers regarding the disability to the patient and his/her family that able-bodied health professionals are unable to.


We conduct Peer Networking events and indivualized visits for those with SCI/D and their families. These meetings offer opportunities to talk to individuals with similar disabilities and discuss/share problems and interests to learn from each others’ experiences. While we are an organization dedicated to improving the lives of those with spinal cord injuries or disorders, many of our topics are relevant to all who have disabilities; as well as their family members and caregivers. All are encourage to connect with us!!

For all peer networking and NSCIA-SWC events, we offer Transit Plus and Transit Express reimbursement if you need transportation assistance. NSCIA-SWC will reimburse your roundtrip fees at the event. Please let us know in advance if you will request reimbursement.

Steve J. Schwalbe Respite Pavilion

The Stephen J. Schwalbe Respite Pavilion on the Summerfest grounds is open from noon until 10:00 pm every day for every major event held at the Henry W. Maier Festival Park.  This building is intended as an oasis for persons with disabilities and other special needs. 

It is available to individuals of all ages and their families to escape the elements, noise, crowds and take care of any special needs they may have.  It is a clean and welcoming facility with two large accessible restrooms, a large shower (with shower chair), changing area with an adult changing table, storage lockers, electricity for charging wheelchairs/scooters, and seating in the comfort of a temperature controlled environment along with a walled off patio and area for service dogs.  

It is continuously staffed by volunteers from the National Spinal Cord Injury Association – SE Wisconsin Chapter who built and donated this facility for all to enjoy with the help of many generous volunteers and donors. 

Per the feedback of the 2,000+ visitors we receive a year; it enables many people to attend all of the wonderful festivals and events on the fairgrounds who could not do so without a dedicated facility to address their diverse needs.  To our knowledge it is the only facility of its kind in the country.   

It is located on the south end of the Miller Lite Oasis stage, midway between the South gate and the Main gate.  Service dogs are welcome.  Look on your event map for the heart icon with a wheelchair in the center to find us.

Scholarships

NSCIA-SWC awards $500.00 extended education scholarships each year to students with spinal cord injuries or children of parents with SCI/D. Scholarships are given in the Spring and Fall semesters. Applications can be submitted anytime and will be reviewed for the semester following application approval. Please allow 45 days for review.

Eligibility requirements are:

• Must have an SCI or Disease of the spinal cord, or the child of a parent with SCI/D.
• Submit a letter of recommendation.
• Submit a copy of education transcripts. Submit a short essay describing your education objectives and plans for the future (No more than one page.)

If approved, payments are made directly to the accredited University/College of choice.