Peer Support Program

Canadian Paraplegic Association (Nova Scotia) offers "someone who has been there" who can act as a mentor and role model to encourage and sustain clients through the challenges they face. The Association is committed to providing peer support to clients and members as well as their families. This support is in addition to the professional counseling services offered by the Association.

The Peer Progran has three specific areas of work.

1. The Peer Volunteer Program engages peers to volunteer their time with the Association. These volunteers may be asked to provide support to another person with a spinal cord injury. Others can volunteer in other aspects of the Association that include support for the the Association web site and its database of accessible facilities in Nova Scotia.

2. The newly developing Community Education Program is eager to get peer volunteers to speak in community settings on spinal cord injury. These individuals will deliver a set program to listeners.

3. The Family Peer Program is specifically meant for the spinal cord injured person and their familiy. It involves the connection of persons with each other to share experiences as well as to learn from others.