Journey Forward – Changing Lives One at a Time

A few weeks ago we discovered and posted about a nonprofit started with the mission of helping to improve the lives of those with disabilities. Founded by Dan Cummings after he regained the ability to walk again through intense exercise, Journey Forward aims to help those with spinal cord injuries recover function and improve the quality of their lives. After reading about the program on their web site, we wanted to know more and recently had the privilege of interviewing Journey Forward and their founder Dan. Their words were a dose of inspiration, and reinforced our belief in the importance of helping others achieve their goals. Read on to hear about how Journey Forward is making a difference and changing lives one at a time.

(Disabled and Productive): Journey Forward’s motto is “Bettering Lives of Those with Spinal Cord Injuries.” Can you tell us what that means and how you go about doing that?

(Journey Forward): Our program uses intense exercise based techniques that are tailored to the specific needs of individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries. We provide the means to assist individuals toward achieving some of life’s most basic lifelong functions. We focus on both short term and long term goals for each individual and adapt their individual program to help achieve these goals. “Bettering Lives of Those with Spinal Cord Injuries” means something different to each of our clients. For some it is helping to build the strength and function to assist PCAs (personal care attendants) in daily life, for others it’s to independently feed themselves or even stand and take steps. The “Bettering Lives of Those with Spinal Cord Injuries” is focused on the individual and how we can work together to attain their goals of independence.

How is what you do different from other programs that are out there?

We use a very active and full body approach that tailors to each individual’s program plan. Many of the gyms that work with individuals with disabilities tend to focus on the client’s abilities and forget to work with the affected areas. We at Journey Forward focus on the client’s weaknesses and work on coordinating the entire body in a very functional and complete style. Our clients work on many different activities including gait training, load bearing, and full body neural stimulation. This aggressive and functional approach makes it possible for individuals to focus on personal goals of regaining function as well as daily goals of participating in an exercise routine.

Where did the idea for Journey Forward come from? What are the benefits that you are seeing for people in your program?

We are seeing a lot of great benefits-everything from increased strength and function of muscles below level of injury, to all of the health benefits associated with exercise. Specifically for our SCI clientele we are seeing benefits which include but are not limited to: increased bone density, improved circulation, prevention of muscle atrophy, decrease in spasticity, increased range of motion, increases in cardiovascular endurance, and a decrease in UTIs.

Tell us a little about one of your success stories.

Some of my favorite success stories are about those who have increased their independence and quality of life through our program. Kevin came to us a year and half after his injury as a C4-5 Complete (quadriplegic). Kevin had slight movement in his left and no movement in his right arm and was unable to even operate a power chair. After the first year in our program Kevin is now able to operate his chair and is performing a variety of day-to-day tasks that were once thought to be impossible. He now feeds himself, turns the TV and lights on and off, can open doors and is assisting in dressing himself. For Kevin the increase in strength and function has enabled him to be more independent so that he does not always have to ask for help. When clients hit milestones like these it brings great satisfaction to them and us. This is what makes our job so rewarding!

Your founder, Dan, was injured in a diving accident in 2000? How did his experiences following his injury lead him to start Journey Forward?

Dan is a very determined individual and the whole time I have known him he never took “No” for an answer. Being told by his doctors that he would never walk again, Dan became determined to prove that he would do the impossible. One day he would walk again! Once he accomplished his goal of walking and being independent, he wanted to continue his journey by helping others who stand in the very same shoes that he stood in seven years ago. His focus changed to bettering the lives of others who have suffered a spinal cord injury. Dan decided that he wanted to do anything possible to create a special place for individuals who suffered a spinal cord injury, so they too could work toward gaining independence. Dan continues to be passionate about his work believing that you can never lose hope. He strongly feels that with determination, hard work, and the proper resources, opportunities are endless. Dan had a calling in life and unfortunately it took a tragedy to realize what that was. Fortunately for us, and the millions of people that he inspires, we got to witness and be a part of his heroic efforts.

Where is Journey Forward located and how can people find out more – whether that’s to participate or to donate and support Journey Forward?

We are located in Canton, MA which is about 30 minutes south of Boston. You can find out more information on our web-site at www.Journey-Forward.org or by contacting us at 781-828-3233.

What are your dreams for the future of Journey Forward?

To receive the funding and support from donors so we can continue making our program known and accessible to everyone who needs it. In the upcoming years we wish to open more locations across the country so people do not have to travel as far to get care.

(for Dan) What is the most difficult thing you’ve had to overcome since your injury?
The death of my brother – something that I will never get over. But I assume that this question is aimed towards my “disability” so my answer to that would be overcoming paralysis and regaining the ability to walk again.

(for Dan) Did the challenges around your injury make you stronger as a person?

Absolutely!!!

(for Dan) How have your goals in life changed since your disability?

When I first broke my neck my only goal was to walk again – everything in my life revolved around that. Now that I have done that – my goal is to open Journey Forward (centers) around the country to help others do the same while still working on my weaknesses as well – I still have a lot of work to do myself when it comes to training.

(for Dan) What gives you inspiration on a daily basis? How do you recommend others dealing with a disability find their inspiration?

Before I began walking what drove me was just the simple “thought” of walking again – that is what drove me and I was not giving up until I turned that thought into a reality. Today my inspiration to do what I’m doing in regards with Journey Forward, are all my clients who come rolling through our doors – because I want to give them their opportunity to walk again.

My advice to somebody who is dealing with a disability would be find a goal or an aspiration in life and go for it. I realize that not everybody’s goal is to walk again for one reason or another but do not sit back and feel sorry for yourself and rot away. Life is not over after suffering a serious injury – my life only got better. So find out what it is in life that you want and go for it.