Thriving in community
Our mission is to ensure everyone living with a spinal cord injury in Oregon has the care, community, and resources they need to thrive.
Welcome to Oregon Spinal Cord Injury Connection (OSCI), your trusted guide after a spinal cord injury. Through our services, we provide essential resources, peer support, and advocacy to help you navigate life, build connections, and reclaim your independence. In addition, explore our site to see how we can support your journey and help you live fully.
New Spinal Cord Injury or Need to Find Answers?
We can help you to find resources, ask the right questions, and connect to community.
Support after a spinal cord injury
After a spinal cord injury (SCI), social support is crucial. A community health worker (CHW)—someone with lived experience—offers guidance, emotional support, and helps people reconnect and rebuild. Additionally, our Guidance & Resources tool provides clear, practical information on medical care, secondary conditions, caregiving, and more.
Our Mission to Connect with Community
Our mission is to ensure everyone living with a spinal cord injury in Oregon has the care, community, and resources they need to thrive.
Commitment to Connection
Our work spans the full spectrum of life after a spinal cord injury, from supporting newly injured people in the hospital, collaborating with health providers and social service providers to ensure coordination of care and a seamless discharge plan, to building a thriving and supportive community of individuals with spinal cord injuries. We help those with spinal cord injury connect to community.
Our Programs
Check out our Calendar for upcoming events.
Mortensen House - Bridging the Gap Between Rehab and Home
The Mortensen House Project honors the legacy of Michael Mortensen, whose wish was for his home to be used to help others. Through the dedication of his sister, Lois, that vision is now taking shape. The house will be a welcoming space for newly injured individuals after rehabilitation, offering support as they transition back into independent living. It will provide healing, dignity, and opportunity—standing as a testament to compassion, community, and the power of shared purpose.
Refer a client to the Mortensen House.
Community Health Workers
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are trusted advocates who bridge the gap between communities and essential resources. Through outreach, education, and advocacy, they empower individuals with spinal cord injuries, improve access to care, and drive lasting change by fostering health, self-reliance, and stronger communities.
Wheelchair Maintenance Workshops
Wheelchair maintenance is essential for safety, independence, and quality of life. A flat tire, misaligned brakes, or bad caster bearings can disrupt daily activities and limit your freedom to move.
Our free wheelchair maintenance workshops, offered in partnership with community organizations, empower individuals with the tools, skills, and support needed for repairs and urgent fixes—keeping you safe, mobile, and in control.
SCI Educational Forums
Our Educational Forums are a cornerstone of Oregon Spinal Cord Injury Connection’s mission, offering vital insights and guidance for the SCI community. Led by community health workers and experts, these forums create an inclusive space to ask questions, share experiences, and access the knowledge needed to navigate life with confidence.
SCI Community Meet-ups
SCI Community Meet-ups provide a welcoming, informal space for individuals with a spinal cord injury who feel isolated to connect to community, share stories, ask questions, and learn from others. These gatherings take place in accessible, casual settings like pizza parlors or brewpubs—creating a safe and supportive environment for all.
Recreation
OSCI offers inclusive recreational activities that bring the spinal cord injury community together. From wheelchair-friendly trails to CampAbility, our adaptive camping trips, these events provide opportunities to share experiences, explore the outdoors, and connect with others.
Volunteer
Community Serving Roles:
- Peer Mentors
- Wheelchair Maintenance Workshop Assistants
- Event Support – helping with transfers, registration, navigating, etc.
- Brand Ambassadors – raising awareness about the organization, programs, and events
Organization Serving Roles:
- Content Creation – photography, videography, graphic design, etc.
- Communications and Administrative Support
- Fundraising Support
- Event Planning
Donate
Join the OSCI Community of Care
Your monthly gift helps OSCI provide vital resources, guidance, and community connections for individuals rebuilding their lives after spinal cord injury.
Why give monthly?
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🌱 Create stability: Recurring donations give OSCI predictable income, allowing us to plan ahead and sustain consistent, high-quality programs year-round.
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🤝 Empower recovery: Community health workers roll alongside newly injured individuals after rehabilitation, helping them navigate life after SCI with confidence and support.
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🏘️ Build community: Being connected to community is an essential part of thriving after spinal cord injury—and your monthly support helps make those connections possible.
Together, we can create lasting change—one month at a time.
Looking for specific information? Search for what you need!
Our Partners
