Message from the President and CEO, Cass Isidro
The Amputee Coalition serves as the only national organization whose mission is to support, educate, and advocate for people impacted by limb loss and limb difference, fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, and equity in all aspects of our work. Support, education, and ADVOCACY are the central tenets that drive the Amputee Coalition’s dedication to serving the limb loss and limb difference community in our day-to-day operations.
The Amputee Coalition understands the effect federal and state laws can have on the limb loss and limb difference community. Around the nation, people living with limb loss and limb difference are unable to afford and access life-changing prosthetic care for physical activity and exercise. Prosthetic devices used for recreational activities are often deemed not medically necessary and therefore are not covered by insurance. The lack of insurance coverage and high out-of-pocket costs of these prostheses make them unobtainable for many. However, when a prosthesis is received within the first 3 months following limb loss the savings in overall health costs are drastically decreased, benefitting everyone.
By using our collective voice in advocating for equity, inclusion, and access, we have made great progress in ensuring all have access to what they need to live the life they choose and thrive. There is still much to do and this is work that will take long-term strategy, effort, and most importantly your voice!
The Amputee Coalition is committed to empowering the community we serve. One way we do this is through programs funded by the National Limb Loss Resource Center. We receive thousands of personal stories and inquiries for support every year. Your advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels is critical to making sure that all members of the limb loss and limb difference community have access to the supports, services, and benefits they need to thrive.
Amputee Coalition Public Policy Manager, Olivia Keller, recalls the words of Justin Dart, often referred to as the father of the Americans with Disabilities, “Justin Dart often stressed the importance of voting, particularly for people living with disabilities. He told us to, ‘vote as if your life depends on it…because it does.”’ For many with limb loss and limb difference, Dart’s comment is all too true. Many people living with disabilities, including those with limb loss and limb difference, die every year waiting for services, such as Medicaid and Medicare. People living with limb loss face much higher rates of mortality and morbidity due to lack of access to preventative care. Your vote decides who makes the decisions about funding for different services, as well as the criteria and requirements to qualify for services and programs. Your vote is your voice and it is so important that you use it.”
This is why our advocacy efforts, collective voice, and vote are needed now more than ever. Here are a few resources to help you stay engaged, get involved, and let your voice be heard.
Get and Stay Engaged with the Amputee Coalition, Share Your Voice, and Vote!
- There are several ways to engage with the Amputee Coalition. Your voice can be heard through our annual Public Policy Issues Survey, in the Advocacy Community on AC Connect, or through email by contacting the Amputee Coalition at advocacy@amputee-coalition.org. You can sign up for advocacy alerts here: Sign Up for our Advocacy Messages (p2a.co). Detailed information about our national and state priorities can be found on the State Advocacy and Federal Advocacy
- Register to vote for the next presidential election on November 5, 2024. Learn when you can vote for your federal, state, and local representatives. Actively reach out, call, or write a letter to your elected representatives requesting support for the limb loss and limb difference community, or about legislation important to you. You can find your federal, state, and local elected officials here: Find Your Lawmakers (p2a.co)
- Share your story with the Amputee Coalition #WeTHRIVE Story Campaign. By sharing your story, we create understanding and awareness of the challenges people with limb loss and limb difference face. Share your story at https://blog.amputee-coalition.org/wethrive-stories/
- Each year the Amputee Coalition highlights the vital work that the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) has committed to in working with disability advocates, government agencies, and corporate and nonprofit partners to advance the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Join and get resources for AAPD’s two voting campaigns:
- The REV UP campaign, the mission of which is to build the power of the disability vote through increasing civic engagement in the disability community and improving the accessibility of elections. REV UP is dedicated to voter outreach, increasing election accessibility, fighting voter suppression, building civic engagement, and growing visibility. Learn more about REV UP here. REVving UP for 2024 – AAPD
- Disability Voting Rights Week (DVRW), September 9 – 13 2024: DVRW is a nonpartisan movement built around advocacy, celebrating community, and building power. Additional details can be found here: Disability Voting Rights Week – AAPD
For Amputee Coalition resources, support, and to become involved with the limb loss and limb difference community please visit www.amputee-coalition.org and we encourage you to stay connected on all our AC social media platforms Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram. You can also create a profile and join AC Connect the premier online community for connecting the limb loss and limb difference community.