MEET THE BOARD
WHEEL WORLD NEWS
April 2018
My name is Sharon Malone. I am a T/5 T/12 incomplete paraplegic since 2012. I live in Mesa, Arizona and I am a mother of three children ages, seven, nine and twelve. Currently I am the designated Ambassador (Arizona) with the Peer & Family Support Program (PFSP); In addition to mentoring with the PFSP, I am a dedicated volunteer with a number of organizations that serve the paralysis community in my area. I also spend time speaking about living with paralysis to various groups. I view my volunteer work, public speaking and the impact of my work on others as a reflection on how helping people living with spinal cord injuries can make a difference in other’s lives.
I volunteer my time with the Arizona Spinal Cord Association [a PFSP partner], a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of individuals with spinal cord injury. I am also a designated mentor for Ability360 & St. Joseph’s hospital. I partner with the physical therapy/occupational therapy schools around the Arizona valley to teach students the necessary real-life experiences and challenges that wheelchair users have to face on a day-to-day basis. This is a perfect opportunity to educate those that come in contact with patients first. I support the Next Step Peer Mentoring Foundation by participating in the activities that they provide and speaking to the individuals that attend those events about a range of daily living topics. I also support the Project Walk Foundation – Phoenix Chapter, an organization that raises awareness about spinal cord injury as well as improves the quality of life of those individuals.
At the local medical schools, a group of us who have survived spinal cord injuries speak to the students about the real world challenges we face that can’t be taught from a textbook. These students haven’t lost their muscles as we have so they can’t simulate the struggles we face. The topics can range from the level of injuries that we sustained and our functioning, daily living activities, bowel and bladder, secondary conditions, wheelchair skills, driving, outdoor activities and hobbies, and even the sensitive topics of dating and sex. The teachers and students are super grateful
Each month, we want to highlight a member of our board of directors. This month we are highlighting Sharon Malone, a Member of the Board of Directors. Read about who Sharon is and why she volunteers her time to serve on AZSCIA's board of directors.
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Meet Sharon Malone...