Spinal Injuries Ireland (SII) has formed strategic partnerships with several leading Irish law firms, as well as financial advisors and care providers.

The move is part of the charity’s commitment to a system where legal, financial and care expertise cohere to provide key supports for people living with spinal-cord injury.

SII is the country’s sole charitable organisation dedicated to supporting over 2,300 people living with spinal-cord injury (SCI), and provides vital services such as counselling, community outreach, activities, a trained peer mentor, and comprehensive educational programme.

Adaptations

It also gives information on accessing specialist home adaptations such as wheelchairs and hoists. 

SII’s strategic partners are:

• OBL Solicitors, an internationally recognised law firm with extensive litigation expertise across personal injury and employers’ liability, based in Dublin city,
• McMahon Goldrick Solicitors, a Dublin city centre firm representing individuals with spinal, brain and birth injuries arising from accidents, assault and medical negligence, with a focus on catastrophic and serious injury claims,
• Lavelle Partners, a national law firm based in Galway,
• Callan Tansey Solicitors, a firm specialising in medical negligence,
• McCarthy & Co Solicitors, a Cork firm which offers medical negligence and personal injury claims,
• Care to Comfort, an Irish-owned, Sandyford-based electric adjustable-bed specialist,
• Moneywise, a Dun Laoghaire-based financial-planning and money-advisory service providing specialist advice in pension planning, investment advice, and life-assurance protection ,
• Gillen, an investment advisory firm providing advice to personal, pension and corporate clients, with an emphasis on transparency and impartiality, as well as investment-training services and a subscription-based newsletter for do-it-yourself investors.

Those diagnosed with spinal-cord injury must adapt to wheelchair use and cope with a host of accessibility challenges, as well as the psychological impact of their injury.

Rehabilitation

SII supports the individual from rehabilitation and beyond, and the partnership will enable it to provide much-needed services.

On average, three people sustain SCI every week in Ireland.

Chief executive Fiona Bolger said: “We are thrilled to announce our new strategic partnership with these outstanding businesses who provide excellent service to many of our service users.

“We support people living with spinal-cord injury in all aspects of their lives, and we know all too well the legal and financial impact SCI can have on individuals and their families. 

“As leaders in their respective industries, our strategic partners will play an important role in our journey to ensuring the utmost care and accessibility for the many people living with spinal-cord injury all around Ireland.”  

Last year, the SII ‘A Day In My Wheels’ campaign highlighted the need for further accessibility and inclusivity for those living with SCI.