Vulnerable Groups Living with Spinal Cord Injury

This article discusses the disparities in rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) across different racial and socioeconomic groups, highlighting how vulnerabilities lead to these disparities. Vulnerable populations, such as racial and ethnic minorities and the poor, experience a disproportionate amount of disadvantages that increase the risk for poorer health and diminished well-being after SCI. The article also addresses how factors like socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, assistive technology access, and geographic location contribute to these disparities, and proposes a research model to address these issues.

• 1
  Socioeconomic status is strongly associated with variations in mortality and morbidity among individuals with SCI, with low income and education increasing mortality risk.
• 2
  Racial and ethnic minorities with SCI are at increased risk of secondary complications, psychological distress, and receiving lower quality wheelchairs.
• 3
  Access to assistive technology, like customizable wheelchairs, is essential for improving the quality of life and employment opportunities for individuals with SCI.