Disability Activist Urges Obama to Escalate Stem Cell Research to End 
Paralysis For Millions of Americans

Fri May 15, 2:38 pm ET
To: MEDICAL EDITORS
Contact: Jenni Brewer, W: +1-703-741-7047, C: +1-703-217-2064, 
[log in to unmask], for Cody Unser First Step Foundation; or Katie 
Ismael of University of Redlands, W: +1-909-748-8070, C: +1-909-229-8840, 
[log in to unmask]
Cody Unser Comments on President Obama's Town Hall Acknowledgement of 
Economy's Toll on Disabled

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cody Unser, a 
22-year-old student at University of Redlands and head of the Cody Unser 
First Step Foundation, commends President Obama for acknowledging in 
yesterday's town hall meeting the financial hardships of Americans living 
with disabilities and now strongly urges for rapid acceleration of stem cell 
research so that a cure can be found for paralysis. Ending the condition 
could potentially return millions of Americans to the workforce.

According to an April 2009 survey from the Christopher and Dana Reeve 
Foundation, more than 5.6 million Americans currently live with paralysis --  
five times more than originally estimated. Given that nearly a quarter of 
these paralyzed Americans only have annual household incomes of $10,000 or 
less, it is especially important to the Cody Unser First Step Foundation 
that a cure for paralysis is found soon. Lofty medical expenses would 
diminish, employment opportunities would expand, and financial independence 
would boost.

Unser, who attended the town hall by invitation of Kareem Dale, Special 
Assistant to the President on Disability Policy, has been paralyzed since 
12, and has worked closely with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to 
ensure that stem cell advocacy continues.
"I am determined to work with President Obama and his administration to 
bring stem cell capabilities to fruition," said Unser. "Too many
Americans are living in unacceptable conditions that could be reversed with 
the help of this medical technology."

Set to graduate next week from the University of Redlands in Southern 
California, Unser will receive the nation's first undergraduate degree in 
biopolitics. She will use the degree to lobby the federal government for 
expanded awareness of -- and a cure for -- paralysis. Meanwhile, her 
foundation efforts will continue to focus on quality of life programs for 
paralyzed people, such as 'Operation Deep Down,' that uses SCUBA diving for 
therapeutic and psychological healing of wounded veterans. Unser is 
simultaneously elevating public awareness as the center of a recently 
released documentary entitled "Cody," which will air on PBS in July.

The Cody Unser First Step Foundation is a global not-for-profit organization 
dedicated to raising research funds, public awareness and quality of life 
for those afflicted with all forms of spinal cord-related paralysis. The 
Foundation will also address the cause, rehabilitation, prevention, and cure 
for Transverse Myelitis, and freely affiliate with other medical, charitable 
and corporate entities to achieve these goals. For more information, please 
visit www.codysfirststep.org.

SOURCE Cody Unser First Step Foundation; University of Redlands

Rayilyn Brown
Director AZNPF
Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation
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