By Ryan Geddie, Government Relations Specialist 
It may still be 2023, but today marks the beginning of our 2024 campaign to have April recognized as Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month. Due to different submission deadlines in states, with some states requiring a request for a proclamation to be filed as early as the end of this year, we’re getting started now!
Our state proclamation campaign for April as Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month is one of the Amputee Coalition’s most important and effective tools to raise public consciousness of the issues facing our community. When the governor of a state signs a proclamation recognizing April as Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, they are standing with our community and creating a valuable tool for advocates in their state. Advocates can use proclamations, like proclamations of Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, to make the case to other public officials, like state representatives or city governments, that they need to take issues important to our community seriously. Proclamations are also great on their own merits for the awareness that they can bring to our cause.
This year, we’re going to be reaching out to individuals in each state, as different submission windows open, and walk people through the process of submitting the proclamation. This is so we can ensure that a proclamation request is submitted correctly and fully in as many states as possible. We’re also going to be sending out information on how to contact your governor, after a proclamation request has been submitted in your state, so you can let them know how important recognizing April as Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month is to you and the entire community.
We look forward to working with the community to make this happen. Let’s work together to have proclamations recognizing April as Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month in as many states as possible by April 2024!