Traditional medical rehabilitation models attempt to produce positive outcomes through training of the disabled individual. This article describes the development and preliminary experience of a regional collaborative project aimed at improving community integration and rehabilitation outcomes by changing the environment of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), targeting individuals in the inner city with injuries occurring as a result of violence. This 5-year project matched individuals with complementary types of disabilities, and a group of individuals with a wide range of cognitive, mental health, and sensory disabilities were trained to serve as personal care assistants for SCI patients. A dual benefit is attained by enhancing employment opportunities for one group while addressing the pressing need for quality personal care assistants for those with severe physical impairments.

home care, outcomes, personal care assistant, spinal cord injury, violence
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