The intended outcome of rehabilitation is that people with spinal cord injury return to the highest level of function possible and participate in community life. However, little is known about the process of achieving participation from the perspectives of the individuals with SCI who have experienced rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to describe experiences of rehabilitation after spinal cord injury and the influence of the rehabilitation experiences on the ability to achieve community reintegration from the individuals’ perspectives. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used. Six participants who were six months to one year post discharge from initial rehabilitation for an acute spinal cord injury participated in a series of semistructured interviews and confirmatory discussions. Participants described the process of community integration as a transition from surviving to living. Four major themes related to this transition emerged from narrative descriptions: support, psychological adjustment, physical adjustment, and education. Although the intended outcome of rehabilitation is that people with SCI return to the highest level of cummunity participation possible, rehabilitation focuses on support and education that assists people with skills necessary for day to day survival of SCI. Under the traditional continuum of care, support and education to facilitating living skills are lacking. Home and cummunity rehabilitation or other transition programs may better enhance individuals’ abilities to participate in community life after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.
