A Community Member's Perspective of the 2026 Reeve Summit

SCIboston attendees at the 2026 Reeve Summit (plus a few extra friends we made along the way)

By Judi Downey

When I found out that the 2026 Reeve Summit would be held in Boston this year, I couldn’t wait to attend. I am always eager to expand my learning to become a better care partner and mentor and enhance my interactions with those with disabilities. This year’s theme was “Where Care, Cure and Community Connect,” and that is exactly what happened over those three days.

I enjoyed being part of a large, dedicated community, and talking with participants who enhanced my understanding of the questions, concerns, and needs of those with disabilities. It was also exciting to be able to immerse myself more fully in the community by learning from and interacting with doctors, nurses, therapists, researchers, and other care providers who shared invaluable information and answered questions. In addition, exhibitors demonstrated novel resources for making daily tasks easier, discussed spinal cord stimulation, shared funding mechanisms, and even made a quick repair to my husband’s wheelchair.

Keynote, Marissa Bode, and Emcee, Ali Stroker, at the Reeve Summit

This is an image of the 2026 Reeve Summit Emcee, Ali Stroker. She is animatedly talking with her hands, wearing a yellow dress with little flowers, Doc Martens shoes, and she is seated in a manual wheelchair with red spokes on the wheels. — Emcee, Ali Stroker, at the 2026 Reeve Summit

Speakers representing varied professions discussed research currently underway and innovative techniques being developed to enrich the lives of the disabled, reinforcing that those with disabilities have significant opportunities to not only live, but to thrive. This was reinforced by Ali Stroker, who was the Emcee for the event, and Marissa Bode, the keynote speaker who shared their experiences seamlessly applying their craft while using their wheelchairs on stage and screen. One of my favorite moments from that session was when Ali Stroker described how, once she accepted what she viewed as her “limitations,” her entire world opened up – and it turned out that those very “limitations” were what made her special.

Another of the sessions focused on redefining care dynamics. As a care provider for my husband, I appreciated learning how to move from being a caregiver to a care partner, leading to more collaborative, fulfilling, and effective results. Previously I was more focused on telling him what he should do regarding physical and occupational therapy and at home exercises, and now I make sure I ask him what he wants to do and/or when he wants to do it. Now, he is taking more responsibility for his own care and is far more engaged in it. We both benefited from this shift in perspective.

I appreciate SCI Boston’s sponsorship and participation in the Summit. It was an honor and pleasure to attend with so many members of the SCIboston community. It was a pleasure to discuss the content of this program with our members as well as how it influences care of our loved ones. While I had extremely high expectations for this extraordinary opportunity, they were most definitely surpassed!

The 2026 Reeve Summit (Boston, MA, May 6–8) united advocates, healthcare leaders, and policymakers to drive progress for the paralysis community. The summit featured our community members as panelists and session contributors, shaping the agenda with their expertise. Sessions covered aging with paralysis, adaptive sports, caregiving, and policy, highlighting actionable solutions for real-world impact.

SCIboston was proud to participate by sponsoring 20 community members’ attendance, ensuring the voices of people with SCI and their loved ones were front and center.