A Marine veteran is sounding the alarm on what potential funding cuts to the National Paralysis Resource Center would mean for veterans living with paralysis and their caregivers.
The NPRC was established in 2002 by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
“It ensures that no one who lives with paralysis is denied the opportunity to achieve healthy living and good quality of life,” said Marine veteran and Senior Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Sherman Gillums, Jr.
Paralysis is not like any other disability or disease, he said. It requires specialized resources to help individuals live a productive, active and full life
He said funding for the NPRC is at risk of being eliminated as the budget battle continues in Congress. The President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Proposal called for the complete elimination of the NPRC.
The resource center offers free peer mentoring, virtual support groups and an information specialist hotline where the paralysis community and caregivers can receive one-on-one assistance with finding accessible housing, job placement resources, guidance on adjusting to life with paralysis and more.
Gillums joined the U.S. Marine Corps when he was 17, serving for 12 years. Shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and while preparing to deploy to Afghanistan with the 1st Marine Division, he suffered a spinal cord injury in an automobile accident. He medically retired from the Corps with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2.
“Paralysis affects about 5.4 million Americans,” he added.
While car accidents are a major cause of paralysis for both civilians and service members, medical conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis can also impact an individual’s ability to move.
Gillums, who has testified before Congress, led disaster response efforts for people with disabilities and played a key role in passing major mental health legislation, including the 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline implementation, recalled being handed the NPRC’s Paralysis Resource Guide as he was recovering from his injuries in San Diego, California, in 2002.
“It’s the bible of living with paralysis,” he said. “It contains information about starting a family, finding a job, all the things that are part of living with paralysis.”
To learn more about the NPRC, visit here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.