Gathering Strength

Group Health and Wellness activities: Gathering Strength received a grant to provide group health and wellness activities to people with paralysis. With the coronavirus crisis, and consequent restrictions, GS pivoted to providing online group activities. The grant was for July 1, 2020 - June 31, 2021. Gathering Strength conducted an online teacher training for yoga teachers in how to adapt classes for people with disabling neurological conditions such as stroke and spinal cord injuries. It also created an adapted chair yoga series for people with paralysis and a 9-week wheelchair fitness class that provided cardiovascular and strength training exercise for people with paralysis. The wheelchair fitness class was lead by a person with a spinal cord injury. More classes were provided in 2021.

Physical Activity After Stroke and Spinal Cord injury Event, October 15, 2020: Due to the coronavirus crisis, an in-person event scheduled for April 4, 2020, had to be canceled and rescheduled as an online event in October, 2020. The event featured two experts: one an expert on the impact an importance of physical activity after stroke; and the other an expert on the impact and importance of physical activity on cardiovascular health after spinal cord injury. Healthcare providers, stroke survivors, SCI survivors, and their family members/caregivers attended, 66 in all.

Inclusive Digital Access project: Gathering Strength knows that many people with disabling conditions cannot afford, or do not have access to, high speed internet and an appropriate device with which to participate in online activities. GS wanted to make sure that people with disabling conditions, who live on low incomes, could participate in its online group health and wellness activities. GS received a grant in July of 2020 to create a pilot project to provide high speed internet service, a laptop or tablet, and assistive technology to people with disabling conditions. This is an unprecedented pilot project in this region, and possibly the nation. The goal of the pilot project was to engage 20-25 people to participate, and provide 1 year of high speed internet service via a hotspot, a laptop or tablet, and assistive technology such as voice to text software, special styluses, special keyboards, wheelchair clamps to hold the devices, etc. 21 people are participating.

Other program services: Contract services for project management of yoga/exercise study (not paid for by grant funds): $740 Cost of prizes for Physical Activity event: $130 Cost of videographer for yoga/exercise study that was cut short in 2020 by coronavirus: $1,300 Grants of $6,000 were meant for program services (financial assistance for low income people to help them engage in exercise at accessible gym, which was cut short in 2020 by the coronavirus