In 1980, the Shrine expanded its scope of research and orthopaedic treatment by opening at its Philadelphia Hospital one of the nation’s first spinal cord injury rehabilitation centres for children. Today, there are three Shriners Hospitals with spinal cord injury centres in Chicago, Philadelphia and Sacramento.  These rehabilitation centres help each child learn to overcome his injury and lead a more active productive life.  With these specialized centres, Shriners Hospitals are able to provide help and hope to children who are disabled by spinal cord injuries