You never know who you might meet at the Amputee Coalition National Conference, but chances are it will be someone with an incredible story. We have heard from two women recently who mentioned the profound experience they enjoyed upon attending their first National Conference.
Whether it’s your first time or you attend annually, your next opportunity to see what it’s all about is Aug. 2-5 at Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld®. Sign up soon to enjoy the early bird registration rate.
Vala Hallgrimson, a lead advocate and Certified Peer Visitor for the Coalition from Washington state, described her experience in Texas in 2019 when she wrote an article posted on our THRIVE blog.
“There, I took my first swim and first dance as an amputee,” she wrote. “I spoke to vendors and took a class to become a Certified Peer Visitor. I have not missed a conference since and HIGHLY recommend attending. This is one of the BEST things I did for myself. There were over 1,000 people who looked like me. I had never seen an amputee before and I loved it! “
Wafa Lavelle, a native of Jordan who lives in Massachusetts, had a nearly identical experience three years earlier. She told WCVB-5 in Boston about it for a feature story the TV station broadcast about her.
“I was so overwhelmed because I never saw another amputee at that time,” she said. “It was my first time. That was in 2016. The whole four days I cried.”
Visit the conference webpage for more details on the event, which will include keynotes from Paralympians/entrepreneurs Mike Schultz and Amy Purdy. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and join the conversation using #ACNC23. If you need financial assistance, there are scholarships available.
Are you connected? Become a community member by joining the Amputee Coalition today!