Thank You for an Amazing Hybrid Stroll 'N Roll!

Many thanks for a successful and special day! People of all ages and abilities gathered in Verona Park and their own neighborhoods on Sunday, September 26, 2021, for Kessler Foundation’s first-ever hybrid Stroll ‘N Roll. Together we proved that abilities are what matter.

With the generosity of champions like you, we raised $198,500 – and still counting – toward our goal of $200,000. Every dollar advances rehabilitation research and employment for people with disabilities.

Inspiring leaders created teams of champions to give back. We are incredibly proud to congratulate Cherie Giraud, who raised funds in memory of Matt and John Giraud, as our top fundraiser, and

Today’s the Day – Time to Stroll ‘N Roll!

The day has finally arrived: our best—and first—hybrid Stroll ‘N Roll!

If you haven't already, you can still register for Stroll 'N Roll today. Join us in Verona Park and make a gift of $25 or more to receive a Stroll ‘N Roll t-shirt!

Here are the details about today’s family-fun event:

Date and time: Sunday, September 26, from 10 am to 1 pm

Location: Verona Park in Verona, NJ or in your own neighborhood with your friends and family!

We’ve got a fun-filled day lined up with food trucks, music, magic, games, crafts, and a stroll or roll around Verona Park, or participate virtually.

Be

7 days left! Change Lives and Collect Art!

The virtual auction featuring the artwork of Alder Crocker is open now through September 30th – bid now while there is still time! Alder has generously donated one of his original paintings to Kessler Foundation and 100% of the support from this auction benefits Kessler Foundation and proves that abilities—not disabilities—are what matter.

VISIT OUR ONLINE AUCTION SITE HERE AND PLACE YOUR BID TODAY! ONLY 7 DAYS LEFT!

Alder Crocker, a spinal cord and traumatic brain injury survivor, proves through his paintings that abilities are what matter.

Resource Refresh: Taking Time for Ourselves and One Another – Lessons from the Pandemic

By Karen Tiseo

Six years ago, my husband John had a near-fatal motorcycle accident resulting in a severe traumatic brain injury. When the pandemic began, we realized the stress of isolation and fear of the virus affected our emotional and physical health. We used the time to nurture ourselves and reflect on our lives more deeply. My attitude about what is important to me has changed, and I have incorporated this new perspective into my life in the form of healthy daily habits.

One of my pre-pandemic habits was to drag chores that I don’t like doing into an all-day event. Now I am motivated to complete these tasks quickly. Spending less time on chores leaves me time to explore new hobbies like knitting or gardening. When I’m really having trouble getting

Get Ready for Our Hybrid Stroll 'N Roll!

Only two more days until our best—and first—hybrid Stroll 'N Roll! We are expecting a beautiful day in Verona Park this Sunday and we hope the weather will be just as a great wherever you are strolling and rolling with us.

Our goal for this year is to raise $200,000 and thanks to friends like you, we have already raised nearly $190,000!

If you haven't already, register for Stroll 'N Roll today. Join us in Verona Park and make a gift of $25 or more to receive a Stroll 'N Roll t-shirt!

Here are the details about our family-fun event:

Date and time: Sunday, September 26, from 10 am to 1 pm

Location: Verona Park in

ONE WEEK Away...

The countdown begins for our best—and first hybrid Stroll ‘N Roll on Sunday, September 26 from 10 am to 1 pm in Verona Park and virtually, from your own neighborhood. Our goal for this year is to raise $200,000 and with ONE WEEK left until our family-fun event, we have already raised over $179,000!

If you haven’t already, register for Stroll ‘N Roll today and form a team with your friends and family. Every dollar you give or raises changes lives for people with disabilities and proves that abilities are what matter.

Be sure to join our

Collect Art and Change Lives! Bid Now!

This month, Kessler Foundation has launched a virtual auction featuring the artwork of Alder Crocker. He has generously donated one of his original paintings to Kessler Foundation. 100% of the support from this auction benefits Kessler Foundation and proves that abilities—not disabilities—are what matter.

VISIT OUR ONLINE AUCTION SITE HERE AND PLACE YOUR BID TODAY!

Alder Crocker, a spinal cord and brain injury survivor, proves through his art that abilities are what matter.

The support from friends like you champions rehabilitation research and employment for

Have You Formed Your Stroll 'N Roll Team?

It's not too late to be champion for people with disabilities by forming a team with your friends and family and joining us at our best—and first—hybrid Stroll ‘N Roll on Sunday, September 26 from 10 am to 1 pm in Verona Park, and virtually, from your own neighborhoods.

Cherie Giraud, pictured on the right with her dog, Lucy, is a member of our Stroll ‘N Roll committee and led the way at last year’s virtual Stroll ‘N Roll by becoming one of our top fundraisers and forming a team in memory of her husband, John, and stepson, Matt, who enjoyed attending our event year after year.

Register and form your team today and join Cherie and Lucy in raising funds to advance

This is How We (Stroll 'N) Roll—And Why

Our best—and first—hybrid Stroll ‘N Roll is just around the corner! On Sunday, September 26, join strollers and rollers like Rosalie Hannigan in raising vital funds to advance rehabilitation research and employment for people with disabilities.

Rosalie, pictured here with her husband, is a long-time supporter of Kessler Foundation who lives with a spinal cord injury and proves that abilities are what matter.

After her injury, Rosalie was treated at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and continued her journey to recovery by participating in several Kessler Foundation research studies.

Today, Rosalie continues to be a champion for Kessler Foundation by

Caregiver Corner: Team Dan – Caregiving for a Lifetime of Need after Brain Injury

By Justin Gelman, Research Assistant, Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research, Kessler Foundation 

On March 8, 2016, Melissa Moore took her dog on a morning walk before heading to her next shift as an OR nurse. She saw some police cars up the road, but did not think much of it -- until an officer approached her, asking if she knew a Daniel Moore.  As she explained that he was her son, the officer delivered devastating news. Daniel was in a car accident and was being rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury.

It would be hours before Melissa could see him and even longer before he regained consciousness. 

Melissa sat by his bed and played his favorite song repeatedly. After ten long days, Daniel began mouthing

Your Support Heals and Inspires This Mother's Day

In celebration of Mother’s Day, we share how Kessler Foundation researcher Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, Director of the Center for Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Research and Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research, is finding ways to delay cognitive decline in older adults, like her mom, who are living with memory loss.

Dr. Chiaravalloti and her team developed a noninvasive treatment, the Modified Story Memory Technique (mSMT), to improve memory in people living with multiple sclerosis or traumatic brain

Lessons from the Autism Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Helen Genova, PhD, Assistant Director, Center for Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Research, and Amanda Botticello, PhD, MPH, Assistant Director, Centers for Spinal Cord Injury Research and Outcomes and Assessment Research, Kessler Foundation

Last spring, students emptied their desks and lockers and walked out of their schools not knowing when they would be

Addressing Racial Disparities through Rehabilitation Research

By Nicky Miller

February is Black History Month, a time to renew our commitment to address the persistent racial disparities that affect the health and well-being of people of color in our society.

Black Americans with disabilities often face triple jeopardy, because of their race, gender and disability. The National Disability Institute states that “African Americans are not only more likely to have a disability, but it appears that the impact of that disability on their lives may be greater than it is on their white counterparts.”

At Kessler Foundation,

2021 Kessler Foundation Virtual Grantee Symposium

Tuesday, March 16, 2021
12pm - 1:15pm ET

Registration information:
Free and open to the public, pre-registration required

Register Now

Join us at our 2nd virtual symposium to continue our discussion on how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the world of work for people with disabilities. As recent advances in AI streamline the hiring and onboarding process for employers, these tools are becoming more popular in

Resource Refresh: Support for Life at Home after Brain Injury

Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey Support Services Team
Brain injury recovery is a process that continues long after treatment and formal therapies end. People with brain injury often create a "new normal" in which they must re-establish routines and re-learn how to complete everyday tasks at home. Help might be needed with bills, meal planning, appointments and household tasks. But where do you turn when you've graduated from therapy programs, yet still have difficulty making the pieces fit together? There are services available that can improve independence and quality of life. 

Contacting the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey’s helpline to explore available resources is a good first step. A trained professional can walk you