The Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) concluded its national conference on Sunday, Aug. 29, in Irvine, Calif. Nearly 800 people turned out for 4 days of educational seminars, peer group and support group training and athletic and social events, according to an ACA press release.
“On behalf of the Amputee Coalition, we are pleased with the number of people who attended from 39 states and four foreign countries,” Kendra Calhoun, ACA president and chief executive officer, stated in the release. “This was a very successful conference. Not only did everyone enjoy seeing old friends, making new friends and socializing, but they also shared valuable information presented in our many seminars. The amputee attendees and their families, the ACA board of directors, orthotists and prosthetists, military and government personnel and vendors have given us excellent feedback on this gathering. We will now use that momentum to gear up for our 25th Anniversary Conference in Kansas City next June.”
Among the highlights of the conference were:
- Presentation of the Dr. Christina Skoski scholarship to Cady Tescher, an outstanding 18-year-old amputee and college freshman from Glendora, Calif.;
- An inspirational and motivational keynote speech by amputee race car driver and world land-speed record-holder Mike Roman;
- More than 50 educational seminars that included wellness/prevention, technology and educational sessions, concluding with specialized ACA peer visitor and support group training for those who qualified; and
- A vast array of the most modern prosthetic technology and bionics in the exhibit hall, with more than 60 vendors displaying their wares, products and services.
At the Gala Dinner Saturday night, ACA board chair Marshall J. Cohen summarized the ACA’s accomplishments this year, which included doubling the number of campers at the ACA’s Paddy Rossbach Youth Camp in July; convening the inaugural Limb Loss Task Force in Washington; increasing training by ACA staff for the military’s peer visitor program; and scoring legislative victories in insurance parity and a number of other initiatives.
