The Amputee Coalition of America
2009 National Conference, held in
Atlanta, Georgia, from June 18-21,
offered this year’s attendees excellent
opportunities for education,
support, advocacy, socializing,
fitness and fun!
Of the 841 people who attended this year,
nearly 200 were first-timers. Attendees came
from 40 states, Puerto Rico, and 7 other countries.
Though 841 was not a record number
of attendees (there were 874 in 2008), it was a
record for the number of attendees with limb
differences. Moreover, there were twice as
many attendees with upper-limb differences
this year as there were in 2008.
The 2009 conference theme (Passages:
Learning From the Past — Moving
Toward the Future) reflects the Amputee
Coalition’s
strong commitment to look critically
at its services and programs and to
build a much stronger organization
for the future.
“We are on the precipice of something
absolutely phenomenal in the amputee
community,” says Kendra Calhoun, the
ACA’s new president and CEO, during the Opening Ceremony. “We
have so much potential, but it
is pent-up potential. We have
to find a way to unleash the
power of this community.”
Calhoun then spoke about
the development of the ACA’s
new 5-year strategic plan as a
major step toward accomplishing
this goal. She made
it clear that, during the planning
process, the ACA has
been striving to learn from
amputees how to improve
the organization and its services, rather than
making assumptions about what amputees
need and want.
“It’s all about you and meeting your needs
and interacting in your lives,” Calhoun said.
To ensure that the ACA is meeting the needs
of amputees, the organization has increased
its surveys of amputees over the past months,
enhanced its conference evaluations this year,
and established several new committees
and advisory councils that include amputee
members from across the country. These committees
and councils include the new Upper
Limb Loss Advisory Council, the Volunteer
Task Force, the Limb Loss Task Force, the
Membership Committee and the Development
Committee – each of which met at the conference
this year.
The ACA also scheduled a special “Meet and
Greet” event just before the Opening Ceremony
where attendees were given an opportunity
to meet members of the ACA leadership,
including Calhoun, the ACA Board of Directors,
and the Medical Advisory Committee. This
event was a great opportunity for attendees to
ask questions and discuss their ideas for the
organization.
Later in the ceremony, Christina Skoski, M.D.,
introduced Susannah Engdahl as the first recipient
of the Christina Skoski, M.D., Scholarship. Then, the ACA recognized 10
dedicated volunteers for their special efforts to
support other amputees over the years. Those
recognized were John Vacca, Maxine Lesline,
Stella Sieber, Tammie Higginbotham, Mona
Patel, and Charlie Steele (shown in photo).
Also recognized but not present were Rose
Maloney, Ryan Leishman, Sherri Samuels,
and Richard Friend.
In recognizing these volunteers, ACA
Board member Kathleen Spozio recited
the following quote from distinguished
anthropologist Margaret Mead: “Never doubt
that a small group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is
the only thing that ever has.”
Entertainment for the ceremony was
provided by professional singer/songwriter
Templeton Thompson, who sang “Wishin’
You Wings” and “I Can Do This” to rousing
applause from the audience. Thanks to Deenie
McKeever for sponsoring this wonderful
performance.
Throughout the conference, attendees had the
opportunity to visit 70 exhibit booths and learn
about the latest technologies, products and services
available today. Additionally, 61 sessions
and events – often led by renowned experts
in prosthetics, medicine and physical therapy
– were offered. The sessions included
information on mobility and gait, diabetes,
prosthetic technology, pain, employment,
Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and
much more.
This year, there were additional sessions
for people with upper limb loss, thanks to
the recommendation of the new Upper
Limb Loss Advisory Council, and additional
family sessions and activities, thanks to
the assistance of Children’s Healthcare of
Atlanta. The Amputee Sport and Performance
Enhancement Clinic for Youth,
which was sponsored by Ossur and led by
Robert Gailey, PhD, PT, and Colleen Coulter
O’Berry, PT, DPT, MS, PCS, turned out to be a
special hit.
Two First Clinics – First Swim, sponsored by
OPAF and Freedom Innovations, and McKeever’s
First Ride, sponsored by OPAF and
supported by the McKeever family – offered
amputees a chance to just relax and enjoy
swimming and equestrian therapy.
There were also several opportunities
to learn how to dance or
improve one’s dancing skills in
classes taught by dancer George
Velazquez. Then, on Saturday night,
attendees had the chance to show
off their skills at the highly successful
Dancing Through the Decades party.
After Velazquez kicked the party off
with his own fabulous dance steps,
ACA staff, ACA board members,
healthcare providers and amputees
wearing prosthetic devices, using
crutches and sitting in wheelchairs hit the
dance floor and showed off their own moves.
Then, after a night of dancing, more than
80 people participated in Sunday morning’s
Achilles Hope & Possibility Walk/Run, which
was held again this year thanks to Mary Bryant
and the Achilles Track Club.
Unfortunately, this was also the day that many
attendees had dreaded – the day they had to
say goodbye to old and new friends.
“Amputee Coalition of America conferences
are the most inspirational experiences ever!”
says Mona Patel, a below-knee amputee and
longtime ACA volunteer. “I always reconnect
with friends and am further blessed by meeting
many new friends who touch my heart
by sharing their stories. My hope is that every
amputee would experience the love, the
support, the education, and the joining of the
human spirit present at these conferences.”
David Fuller, an amputee for 42 years who
just recently found out about the ACA, experienced
this spirit for the first time this year.
“Attending the conference is one of the
best things I’ve ever done,” he says. “Physical
therapist Bob Gailey had me running for
the first time in 42 years (since I was 21).
The workshops and clinics my wife and I
attended were eye-opening, informative
and inspirational. Everyone we met had a
positive attitude and was enthusiastic about
helping and encouraging each other. I came
home with a whole new set of heroes.”
Perhaps one attendee put it best. The only
thing bad about the conference, she said, is
that it has to end.
Need more information?
Call the ACA toll-free at 1-888/AMP-KNOW (267-5669) or e-mail conference@amputee-coalition.org and be sure to check our site often for updates.
