Joel

Joel

Age: 39

Location: Iowa

Injury or relation: Spinal cord injury, C2, C3 vent dependent for 34 years

Hobbies/Interests: technology, volunteering (Church activities at Pella 2 CRC; counselor at CHAMP Camp; disability awareness talks at multiple Christian schools)

Why did you become a peer mentor? I have been a quadriplegic since age three due to a motor vehicle accident. In the three decades since, I have experienced grade school, high school, college, and now adult life with the challenges of a high level SCI. It is sometimes best to learn through other people’s experiences and I enjoy helping those with new injuries as well as those who are a few years post injury. Children with SCI especially can have a hard time adjusting. I became a mentor to work with more people in different circumstances in life and to also learn along the way as well.

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This project was supported, in part, by grant number 90PRRC0002, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.