Hope Happens Here: Ernest Patti
Ernest Patti is a busy 22-year-old college student. This summer, he is working 11-hour days as an intern for NBC’s Gold Zone, helping to post highlights from the summer Olympics on social media. Yet when the opportunity arose to be an outreach ambassador for the Reeve Foundation’s Outdoors for Everyone initiative, he jumped on it.
“I’m excited to help my fellow brothers and sisters living with a spinal cord injury,” says Patti. “I’d love to be as involved as possible – to show people how accessible the outdoors can be and advise them to go to the Reeve Foundation for more information.”
Piloted in 2023, the Outdoors for Everyone initiative was created to ensure that the outdoors is equally accessible and inclusive for those living with paralysis, their families, and their caregivers. This summer’s focus on water accessibility expands key partnerships to provide water accessibility tips and resources and raise awareness of opportunities for inclusive water recreation across the U.S.
Now a junior at the University of Miami, Patti sustained a C6 incomplete spinal cord injury in 2020, just two weeks into his first year. He was 18 years old and in waist-deep water when he dove into a wave and hit a submerged sandbar. His dad is an ER physician, and one of his colleagues connected the family to the Reeve Foundation.
“The injury was difficult to process at first, and it took some time for me to understand what a great resource the Reeve Foundation is,” says Patti. “Now it is my go-to for everything. The organization has so many resources; it is amazing.”
Patti has used the Reeve Foundation website to look for doctors, research grants for wheelchair rugby chairs, and to look into adaptive sailing opportunities in the Miami area. He has also connected with others his age living with a spinal cord injury through the Reeve Foundation.
“I’ve reached out to a couple of people so far, and it is always really cool to speak with anyone living with a spinal cord injury,” says Patti. “We share ideas and tips on adaptive equipment. It is helpful to know others are out there.”
Patti is excited to expand his reach and inspire others through the Outdoors for Everyone initiative.
“For a while after my injury, I didn’t want to go outside or do anything. I was intimidated by the people around me,” says Patti. “Part of being outdoors is learning to be ok with yourself and knowing what you like and want to do.”
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Last year, Patti went out on an accessible pontoon boat and back into the ocean for the first time since his injury.
“It was funny; I kind of got peer pressured to go in. Being in the water was a weird feeling, different, but it felt good,” says Patti. “I’m glad I did it, but I also learned that I prefer to be on the water and not in the water.”
Patti shared his first Outdoors for Everyone social media post this summer. In it, he featured his experience aboard the Impossible Dream, a universally accessible catamaran dedicated to raising awareness of barrier-free design and improving the quality of life for disabled persons through sailing.
“I’m excited to spread awareness about all the opportunities available, particularly in the Miami area,” says Patti, who has 74,000 TikTok followers and 3,600 Instagram followers.
Patti also offers some advice for those who want to learn more about getting outdoors.
“It sounds kind of corny, but it really does get easier,” says Patti. “You don’t need to be afraid to speak up about what you want to do. Yes, I get stared at because I’m not someone people are used to seeing every day, but you kind of need to own it and be ok with it. Much of the challenge is in your own head.”
Patti continues, “To know I can help people through my Outdoors for Everyone posts is really cool. The Reeve Foundation has a great list of accessible resources in your area. Go find something that interests you, and just try it.”
To learn more about Reeve Foundation's Outdoors for Everyone Campaign, check out www.ChristopherReeve.org/OFE