It is time to announce the winners of the Amputee Coalition of America 2008 Awards of Excellence!
Every year, the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) gives awards to their members who have devoted themselves to improving the lives of people with limb loss or limb difference. Each winner was awarded a plaque and was featured in the September/October issue of inMotion magazine. The 2008 winners are:
Volunteer of the Year – Liz Zemke
The Volunteer of the Year Award is being presented to Liz for her outstanding contributions of time and talent to the amputee community. A registered nurse for 37 years, Liz became an amputee in 1995 as the result of a car accident 2 years before. Because of her eagerness to make connections with the amputee community, the ACA recruited Liz for peer visitor training as well as organizing support groups. In addition, Liz served as a regional representative with the ACA for 9 years.
Liz conducts peer visits with new amputees, advocates for amputees within the medical community and on the state and federal levels, serves as an expert witness, lectures at a local university, and assists a podiatrist a few days a month with wound care and diabetes management. Liz also writes life care plans for amputees, volunteers as the amputee voice for the ADA committees for the city of Fresno, California, and is active with the Case Management Society of America (CMSA).
Advocate of the Year – Eileen Casey
The Advocate of the Year Award is being presented to Eileen for the significant contributions she has made to the ACA’s Action Plan for People with Limb Loss (APPLL), our national campaign for prosthetic coverage, through her involvement in our state-by-state effort to raise awareness, build support and advance legislation.
After losing her leg to cancer, Casey was hit with the news that her insurance company would not cover her prosthesis. This led her to start fighting for parity legislation. Eileen helped draft the Vermont bill, organized other amputees, and saw the Vermont legislation through to signing.
Early in developing the state bill, she realized that her insurance was covered under a federally regulated plan. This meant the state bill would not solve her personal insurance issue. Eileen’s fight was to ensure that others would not have to go through the struggles she has for prosthetic coverage.
Role Model of the Year – Heath Calhoun
The Role Model of the Year Award is being presented to Heath for his commitment to living life to the fullest with a disability.
During deployment in Iraq, Heath’s convoy was attacked and hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. The injuries he sustained ultimately resulted in the loss of both legs above the knees.
Heath rose above his circumstances and made a commitment to provide encouragement and support for other amputees. He became acquainted with the Wounded Warrior Project during his rehabilitation. The shared experiences of the group’s members proved invaluable to him during his recovery and prompted him to provide the same support for others.
Heath became an Amputee Coalition of America-certified peer visitor. Heath’s goal is to deliver the message of hope and courage that he lives every day.
Professional of the Year – Joe Sansone
The Professional of the Year Award is being presented to Joe because of the significant impact his professional work has had on the lives of people with limb loss. He encourages his patients at TMC Orthopedic in Houston, Texas, to seek peer visits and to become members of the Amputee Coalition of America themselves.
Recognizing the value of support, he personally donated funds to initiate the Amputees in Action support group. Joe also has his office stocked with over 130 books, pamphlets, and videos about issues related to limb loss to help educate his patients, and he has donated 100 books from the library to pediatric patients as well.
In addition, Joe founded Limbs of Love, a charitable organization that provides prostheses to amputees in financial need, has served on the Mayor’s committee on diversity in the workplace, and founded Airborne Amputees, an organization of amputee skydiving enthusiasts of all ages.
Please join us in congratulating the winners of the Amputee Coalition of America 2008 Awards of Excellence!
