SCI PILOT’s main purpose is to document consumer experiences acquiring and using assistive devices of all kinds following spinal cord injury.

This site is the result of a collaboration between a group of spinal cord injury stakeholders, including consumers, researchers, therapists, rehabilitation engineers, technology consultants and community activists. Work on SCI PILOT began in 1998, with the idea that consumers are under-represented in discussions about assistive technology designed for individuals with a spinal cord injury.

There are approximately 10,000 new cases of spinal cord injury in North America each year. Before their injuries, these individuals will have had little reason to know anything about assistive technology. After injury, they must become experts. By showing what others have done in the same situation, SCI PILOT aims to help with the learning curve so that people and their families can work effectively with their rehabilitation professionals to arrive at decisions about the best combination of assistive devices for them.

SCI PILOT also has important things to say to anyone involved in spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Therapists, physiatrists, counsellors, funders, policy makers, researchers and assistive technology developers are all invited to read the stories and learn more about what happens with these devices in the world beyond the rehab centre. Students are particularly welcome to use SCI PILOT to support project work they might be doing on spinal cord injury, assistive technology or some other aspect of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Professors, please note that we have developed a set of teaching cases based on the SCI PILOT stories, which can be used free of charge for teaching purposes. Please contact us for more information.