The Amputee Coalition: A Resource for All
NMEDA started as an association of mobility equipment dealers in Florida that spun into the wide-ranging member network it is today. Over time, this organization with the specific goal of increasing opportunities for accessible vehicle users has influenced safety standards and quality assurance on a national scale. Similarly, Amputee Coalition of America has followed a path to offer help for those who have a limb difference. The Amputee Coalition initially was a small group of amputee support group leaders that developed as volunteers and now is an organization dedicated to fulfilling needs of people with limb loss.
A Focus on Peers
One of the reasons the Amputee Coalition has been so effective and successful is because of its strong peer support system. An amputee’s recovery and readjustment is a journey that needs some guidance. The Amputee Coalition strives to make that easier by sharing stories of inspiration and hope from others who have been through the same experience. Its certified peer visitor program meets the standards of the Commission of Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and continues to be a positive impact on amputees’ lives. More than 200 support groups make up the program that can connect you to individuals to help the process of adapting to life with limb loss.
Benefits of the Amputee Coalition
Another beneficial effort that the Amputee Coalition provides is the Limb Loss Resource Center. If you have any questions about limb difference or the prevention of one, you can speak with a specialist by phone to receive the information you need. The comprehensive information is available free of charge and is reviewed by a medical board so you can comfortably trust their input. The Amputee Coalition does not recommend specific treatments and is not to be used in place of a doctor, so consult your doctor before determining any actions.
The Amputee Coalition also works in tandem with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the National Limb Loss Resource Center. The NLLRC is another route to gain help for people with a limb difference. Along with being the gateway to knowledge about the subject, Amputee Coalition advocates strongly for fair access to prosthetic devices. Its work has affected state and federal legislature and has made prosthetic devices more accessible than before.
There are several ways to get involved with the Amputee Coalition of America. Contact them at https://www.amputee-coalition.org/ for more information. In the same vein of NMEDA offering assistance for accessible vehicles for all, the Amputee Coalition is a supportive voluntary health organization that seeks to offer resources for those with limb difference.