A Message from Our President and CEO, Cass Isidro: Honoring International Day of Persons with Disabilities and Continued Progress for the Limb Loss and Limb Difference Community

Nov 25, 2024 |

In 2024, the Amputee Coalition was honored as one of the 2024 TSA Disability and Multicultural Coalition Award winners, which served as one of the highlights of our year, showcasing a pivotal success marker as we continue staying committed to building the collective voice in the limb loss and limb difference community with our mission 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.

In 2024 the Amputee Coalition released our commissioned study titled Prevalence of Limb Loss and Limb Difference in the United States: Implications for Public Policy. This study in partnership with Avalere, outlines that there are more than 5.6 million Americans living with limb loss and limb difference. Of that, nearly 2.3 million are people living with limb loss, and 3.4 million are individuals living with limb difference. 1 When we think about the global implications, we know the daily missional work we commit to is imperative to the collective disability community. We take time to honor the importance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) established by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1992 to promote the rights and well-being of people with disabilities. This awareness reminder celebrates people with disabilities worldwide and this year’s theme, “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future,” resonates deeply with us at Amputee Coalition as this day is about action not only awareness. The Amputee Coalition is committed to leadership, community, advocacy, and supporting the limb loss and limb difference community.

At the Amputee Coalition, our board of director leadership, staff, and community volunteers join beside disability organizations and leaders advocating for change to create accessibility and inclusion through our vision: a world where our community thrives with equity and inclusion. From our dedicated programs through the National Limb Loss Resource Center (NLLRC) which includes youth engagement, peer support, workforce development, self-advocacy training, health resource development and training, and health and wellness policy development, we continue to commit to leadership. For countless people with disabilities, significant barriers in everyday life hinder their ability to have the life they imagine. We know the Amputee Coalition programs and services provide a vital point of entry to support those living with limb loss and limb difference. Our organization is also continuously committed to:

  • Promoting the leadership of persons with disabilities.
  • Ensuring the inclusion of persons with disabilities in our daily work.
  • Increasing the participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes.
  • Raising awareness of rights and advocating for persons with disabilities.

We encourage those living with limb loss and limb difference to reference and utilize the Amputee Coalition resources and programs. Please visit the Amputee Coalition Support Group Network page here to use the map online to locate a support group near you. If you have had an amputation, are scheduled to have an amputation, were born with a limb difference, or are a parent, spouse, or caregiver of a person with limb loss or limb difference, you may request a peer visit from one of our Certified Peer Visitors by visiting the Amputee Coalition webpage here.

Our four recurring virtual support groups meet the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Thursday of each month in their respective time zones as well as our Caregiver Support Group, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and Young Adult virtual support groups continue to meet monthly in addition to the 300+ support groups we also engage with across the country offering advice, sharing resources, and creating connections.

For those who are looking for support and learning, we offer our Amputee Coalition Improving Well-Being Program as an online tool and opportunity to self-assess individual well-being and identify resources and support that are most aligned with each person’s journey.

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/

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 pages.

For more information on the Amputee Coalition programs, resources, and support, and to become involved with the limb loss and limb difference community, please visit 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. Facebook, X, YouTube,

References

  1. Caruso M, Harrington S. (2024). Prevalence of Limb Loss and Limb Difference in the United States: Implications for Public Policy [White paper]. Amputee Coalition. https://amputee-coalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Prevalence-of-Limb-Loss-and-Limb-Difference-in-the-United-States_Implications-for-Public-Policy.pdf