Amputee Coalition of America

It's hard to believe that the ACA Youth Camp began 10 years ago! The camp has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 2000. In 2009, the ACA brought in 50 campers from 21 states, with one camper coming all the way from Australia! Each year, campers age 10 to 17 travel to the ACA Youth Camp to learn from each other, gain support from those who know what it is like to be an amputee and, most importantly, to have fun.

People are simply in disbelief when Sherri Ridgway of Little Egg Harbor, NJ, tells them that she is an amputee. She attributes this to having had the same prosthetist for 28 years and the right prosthesis that enables her to walk with a natural gait. Because of these factors, she is active and well-adjusted. She knows that other people do not always have the same fortunate experience with getting adequate access to prosthetic care, which is why she organized a fundraiser for efforts to pass The Prosthetic & Custom Orthotic Act.

The recent donation drive for the Amputee Coalition of America's Arms and Legs Are Not a Luxury campaign has netted nearly $20,000, with 341 donors making their tax-deductible donations since the program's inception in July. The funds are important to keeping the momentum behind the ACA's legislative initiatives to ensure that amputees have access to essential healthcare services.

The ACA strongly supports the insurance market reforms, including guaranteed issue and renewal of coverage in the individual and small group markets, the prohibition of preexisting health condition exclusions, and the end of annual and lifetime insurance caps with a limit on out-of-pocket spending. The ACA is committed to ensuring that the essential benefit categories in the House and Senate bills include coverage for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS). Donations for this campaign are always welcome.

A man came upon a construction site where three people were working. He asked the first, “What are you doing?” and the man answered, “I am laying bricks.” He asked the second, “What are you doing?” and the man answered, “I am building a wall.” He walked up to the third man, who was humming a tune as he worked and asked, “What are you doing?” and the man stood up and smiled, gazing off into the horizon, and said, “I am building a grand cathedral.”

The Amputee Coalition has a vision that “by 2020, we will be nationally recognized as the premier organization for people affected by limb loss and as a leader in limb loss prevention.” We are on an exciting journey into the future to achieve this vision. We are projecting 10 years out with our vision statement and planning in five year increments – thus, the 2015 Plan (available now on our Web site) and in 5 years a 2020 Plan. We have, however, defined our destination within the parameters of four strategic pillars that support our mission and our vision – Awareness, Impact, Members and Sustainability. Our new vision describes our dreams, hopes and ambitions for the Amputee Coalition.

Shouldn't the things you care about today be the things you leave for future generations tomorrow? Peer support and advocacy, knowledge resources and youth programming are all part of the Amputee Coalition of America's work to support the limb loss community.

Most people don't expect children and teens to freely part with their allowances or money earned from their jobs if it isn't for some new gadget, movie or fashionable item of clothing. So when a young person does make a donation to a charitable organization, it stands out.