Susan Tenhet and Arlene Stamm [Photo courtesy of Out On A Limb]When you're looking for resources for your support group members or just in general, don't forget to give the ACA a call. We have several types of resources that can benefit your group, and we'd love to help. Here are some examples:

  • “Starting a Support Group” packet
  • Extra copies of inMotion magazine to hand out to new group members and visiting healthcare professionals
  • The ACA Web site, www.amputee-coalition.org , with access to information about support groups, the youth program, prostheses, and sports and recreation
  • ACA fact sheets on a variety of topics
  • A comprehensive online library catalog
  • A toll-free information line to trained information specialists (888/267-5669)
  • ACA's comprehensive Member Support Group Manual for groups that join the ACA for the first time
  • The Communicator, a newsletter just for support group leaders (available online at www.amputee-coalition.org/npn_communicator.html)
  • Your regional representative! (You can always find an updated list of regional reps on the ACA Web site. These men and women have access to a wealth of information and it could be very beneficial to keep in touch with them regularly.)

Keep in mind that the ACA staff is also a great resource. Please don't hesitate to call!

Desperately Seeking Support Groups

Approximately 186,000 amputation surgeries are performed every year. The ACA's goal is to provide support and information to each of these individuals before or immediately following amputation surgery. Recognizing that support, information and education from another amputee, paired with educational materials from the ACA, can be invaluable for a new amputee or a seasoned veteran, the National Limb Loss Information Center and the National Peer Network develop and disseminate materials, certify peer visitors, provide training and technical assistance to support group leaders, and provide referrals to support groups and peer visitors.

At this time, the ACA's database includes 232 U.S. support groups. While this appears to be a significant number, these groups cannot possibly meet the needs of 186,000 new amputees. That's more than 800 new amputees for every support group every year! Even more alarming are the states without any identified support groups: Idaho, Hawaii, Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota and Vermont. Unfortunately, many more states have only one support group: New Mexico, Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, Indiana, South Carolina, Maine, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C.

The ACA is seeking opportunities to work with the amputee community in states with an inadequate number of support groups to ensure that new amputees have access to the support that plays such a key role in emotional recovery. We need the following assistance from inMotion readers:

  • Please inform us if you are aware of any amputee support groups in your area that are not listed in the ACA database.
  • If you cannot identify a support group in your area, please consider developing one with assistance from the ACA.
  • Help us identify someone else who may be willing to start a group.

If you have any information you would like to share or would like more information about stating a support group, please contact Susan Tipton at stipton@amputee-coalition.org or toll-free at 888/267-5669, ext. 8132.

Last updated: 09/18/2008
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