Not long ago the basic perception of the fierce Adirondack winters was about enduring rather then enjoying them. On March 13th, 3 juniors and 1 adult athlete of Team A Step Ahead traveled to the Adirondack Mountains in Lake Placid, New York. Edriss Crawley-Tate (AK), Sofia Castillo (AK), Victoria Cutrone-Foley (AK) and Craig Pratka (AK) not only endured but conquered the Snowy Mountains where the Olympic Games were held in 1932 and 1980.

The athletes spent the weekend mastering the ski slopes at the Whiteface Olympic Sports complex and ice climbing the technical faces of the Adirondack Mountains in the heart of the Keene Valley. As a group they learned the fundamentals and safety of skiing and ice climbing while mastering the technical aspects of both.

The weekend was a huge success for all. The level of confidence and pride the team walked away with was immeasurable. The athletes were accompanied by Amy Palmiero-Winters and Coach Dave Balsley.

A Step Ahead Teams Up With Achilles Track Club

A Step Ahead and the Achilles Track Club have formed a new collaboration to improve the running programs and fitness opportunities for individuals with limb loss.

Through this new initiative, A Step Ahead will support and promote the Achilles Track Club and its programs through the vast reach of our amputee patient database and highly-visible internet presence. In addition, the staff of A Step Ahead will serve on the Achilles Track Club Freedom Team’s Advisory Board, providing guidance for amputee runners regarding training and prosthetic design. A Step Ahead will also advise the Achilles Track Club about their programs that involve runners with limb loss.

A Step Ahead is excited about this new collaboration through which we will be able to reach more athletes with limb loss and offer our knowledge and expertise to help them reach their athletic goals.

The Achilles Track Club was established by current president and above-knee amputee Dick Traum in 1983 to encourage people with disabilities to participate in long-distance running with the general public. The Achilles Track Club is an international nonprofit organization that provides support, training, and technical expertise to runners with disabilities at all levels. Founded in New York City, the ATC has expanded into 40 chapters in the United States and over 110 chapters on six continents.

The Achilles FREEDOM TEAM of Wounded Veterans introduces recently wounded soldiers from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan to running.  Founded in 2004, the Freedom Team program provides motivation, training, and the opportunity to rebuild strength and endurance while healing through distance running events. For more information about the Achilles Track club go to: http://www.achillestrackclub.org

The National Meningitis Association, Inc. was founded in July, 2002. NMA's mission is to educate families, medical professionals, and others about bacterial meningitis and prevention approaches to the disease. NMA is focused on raising awareness and protection among adolescents and young adults, many of whom can be protected through education and vaccination.

A Step Ahead is all too familiar with the seriousness and devastation of this disease, having a number of patients who have lost limbs as a result of meningococcal infection. A Step Ahead is also encouraging others to join us on May 12th in strengthening NMA's mission to create awareness of and encourage immunization against the disease, which strikes 3,000 toddlers, adolescents, and young adults annually.

A Step Ahead patients Peter Purdy (Bilateral B.K./partial fingers), Michael LaForgia (B.K./transmetatarsal) and Heather Tufano (B.K./fingers) and their families are actively involved in promoting the mission of NMA.

Help support the NMA. Go to their web site to learn more about the disease: http://www.nmaus.org/programs/getting-it/

For more about NMAs work, visit: http://www.nmaus.org/

How to buy tickets to the Gala fundraising event: http://www.nmaus.org/gala2009.htm or call 1 (866) 366-3662

Abilities Sports Night at the Henry Viscardi School

The 43rd annual Sports Night fundraiser for Abilities Inc. and the Henry Viscardi School takes place on Thursday, May 14th , 2009 in Albertson, Long Island.  Abilities and the Henry Viscardi School provide a wide variety of comprehensive programs for individuals with disabilities. This year’s honorees include Stephen Ross, owner of the Miami Dolphins, and Tiki Barber of the New York Giants. For more information about the Abilities Sports Night go to: http://www.abilitiesonline.org/AbilitiesEventItem.aspx?ID=13

The Hungerford School’s Annual Golf Outing

The Hungerford School in Staten Island, New York is a special education school that serves 270 students with special needs. The 3rd annual golf outing to raise money for the school is on June 30th at the South Shore Country Club in Staten Island, New York. For more information about this fundraising event contact George Leicht at 917-709-5915 or gleicht23@aol.com

A Step Ahead is happy to announce that we are increasing our presence on the Web by taking advantage of two popular internet services: Facebook and blogging. We have recently launched both of these to provide an opportunity for individuals with limb loss, health care professionals, family members and others to have a forum for communication about news and issues that have an impact on amputees. In addition, the blog and Facebook sites will allow A Step Ahead to increase its reach to the world providing our regular news and updates.

To log on to the blog, go to http://astepaheadblog.blogspot.com/

To log on to the Facebook site go to http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=128805480264&ref=nf

We welcome your postings and comments at both of these sites, and look forward to seeing you there!

 Amputee Coalition of America’s Parent Support Network

A program offering on ACA’s National Peer Network menu, the Parent Support Network (PSN), has been recently restructured. The updated program, a result of outcomes of a 2007 parent survey, has met with much interest and enthusiasm across the country and now has thirty certified peer visitors available and on call to assist families in their time of need.

According to an explanation in the ACA’s 2007 Annual Report, “Whatever the cause, and however the news is received, parents are universally devastated to learn that their child must deal with limb loss or difference. They doubly mourn over the loss of their natural expectations of having a “normal” child grow into a “normal,” healthy adult and for their child who isn’t yet able to grasp all of the implications for their future. Under these circumstances, massive doubts arise in parents about their ability to become the parents their child needs them to be. These parents have special needs.”

Parents at Shriner’s Hospital for Children in the Twin Cities were interviewed in depth and asked what they found helpful along their path of adjustment and when and how that support was provided. They were also asked about obstacles to their adjustment.

One parent, Leigh, who was interviewed (for a story in  InMotion, October, 2008, pg. 28-29), reflected on her past 10 years as a mother of an amputee saying, “It wasn’t until I supported another parent that I realized how far I had come. After visiting with another mother going through what I had been through, I realized how invaluable that support is, because so many of the feelings you have as a parent in this particular situation are almost indescribable to anyone else.  Connecting with another parent dealing with amputation it’s like speaking in a special language of comfort. I keep thinking about how much I wished I had that during my time of need.”

The data gathered from interviewees like Leigh revealed how crucial early contact can be to help alleviate a parent's massive anxiety in this time of crisis. Parents said that being contacted soon and being matched up with parents who faced the same circumstances is critical.  To that end, and after reviewing the results of these field tests, the ACA began conducting national training programs to certify parents who were willing and able to volunteer their time to give PSN support to other parents. The training provides the peer visitor with strategies and techniques for providing support to a parent throughout a child’s development. Parents who complete the training and certification process receive a wealth of information and resources about the best way to provide support to other parents. For more information on the PSN, or to find out how you can become involved as a peer visitor please contact Derrick Stowell, MS, CTRS, Youth Activity Coordinator for the ACA. He ca be reached at 888-267-5669 Ext. 8130 or at dstowell@amputee-coalition.org

The ACA is excited about the results of their March 10th lobby day in Washington, DC.  Some of the highlights of the day were:

•    Almost 200 amputees/family/supporters from across the US (34 states)
•    3 buses (NJ and PA)
•    Over 60 Senate visits
•    Over 100 house visits including key members of the committees that will hear our bill
•    Overwhelming support of our issues
•    Some members emailed their support/request for co-sponsorship that day

The Amputee Coalition of America had nearly 200 amputees and patient advocates from 34 states in Washington, D.C., to urge Congress to support fair insurance coverage for artificial arms and legs. Their message was simple: Arms and legs are not a luxury!

These citizen lobbyists made this trip to tell lawmakers that they need their own “bailout.” Many of them have nightmarish stories of fighting with insurance companies to try to get the prosthetic devices they need to work and live.

“Insurance companies are unrealistically limiting reimbursement of prosthetic arms and legs or summarily electing not to cover them at all,” said Kendra Calhoun, Amputee Coalition president and CEO. “We intend to turn this tide, and this event is a great example of the grassroots support we have from across the country to do so. Arms and legs are not luxury items. Mobility is a serious issue for amputees who want to keep their jobs, take care of their families, and live healthy, active lives.” 

Jeffrey Cain, MD is a bilateral lower-limb amputee and a member of the Amputee Coalition’s Board of Directors and Medical Advisory Committee. Dr. Cain is an excellent example of how prosthetic devices can help amputees function in their daily lives and contribute to society rather than become dependent on it.

“Being able to have prosthetic devices means that I can take care of my patients and teach medical students,” said Dr. Cain.

The 2009 ACA annual conference will be held June 18-21 at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. More information on the program and how to register for the conference can be found at: http://www.amputee- coalition.org/conference/index.html