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

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!

The 32nd annual ASPIRE 10 kilometer race will be held on Saturday, April 4th at 9:00 am in Plainview, Long Island. Team A Step Ahead is looking forward to the largest turnout yet for this annual fundraising event for ASPIRE.

The ASPIRE race is one of the primary fundraising events of the year for the APSIRE organization. As you know, for many years APSIRE has supported and funded programs for individuals with limb loss who are seeking to improve their lives through physical activity and sports. Your participation in this event demonstrates the successes of ASPIRE as well as the continued need to raise funds for these programs. ASPIRE is planning an expanded program this year with an emphasis on events and programs for children with limb loss.

A Step Ahead's facility and staff are available to assist you in your training for this race. Please let us know if you will be there as an active participate in this event. If you are unable to participate in the race the athletes can really use your support on the day of the race.

This is an annual race that raises money for ASPIRE, a non-profit organization that provides financial support to individuals with limb loss who participate in sports and recreational activities. The larger the turnout of amputee runners at this event, the greater potential for increased fundraising for ASPIRE and future events.

The  ASPIRE  race includes a 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) event; amputees will also have the opportunity to do a 5K (3.1 mile) race, and children under 12 can participate in a 1/2 mile "fun run." For more information on how to enter the race or to just be part of the event, please contact our office at 516-681-3484.

The best way to treat back pain is to prevent it from happening. In the case of trauma and acute injuries that lead to back pain, this may not be possible. In many cases, back pain which occurs due to other causes can be prevented. For a person with limb loss, prevention of back pain in many ways is similar to the methods used for the general population.

A Step Ahead now offers prospective as well as current patients around the world live video consultations with our prosthetists via Skype video conferencing. With this technology, we can demonstrate prosthetic designs and components using photographs and direct visualization. In addition, video consultation allows us to more accurately assess a new patient before he or she travels to our facility in New York. Current patients are now able to discuss and visually demonstrate to their prosthetist any ongoing issues they may be having.  Anyone with a computer, webcam, and broadband internet connection can take advantage of this exciting new opportunity. For more information and details about how to set up a video consultation, contact our office at (516) 681-3484 or click the following link: http://www.astepaheadonline.com/video_consult.html

Join Dave Balsley, P.T. and Phil Kreuter, P.T. at the Jericho High School track on Long Island for their monthly mobility clinic at 10 am on Sunday, March 22nd. They will provide instruction in gait training and running techniques as well as advanced mobility skills. Dave and Phil have extensive experience working with amputees of all ages and activity levels. Come work out with world-class athletes and learn from experienced coaches and physical therapists. The setting is relaxed and enjoyable. There is no pressure; come learn and see what you can do to improve yourself or just to watch. For more information and directions to the mobility clinic, call the office at 516-681-3484.

• ASPIRE 10K/5K April 4  
• Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon June 14
• Hope & Possibility 5 mile run, N.Y. June 28  
• Philadelphia Triathlon June 27
• New York City Triathlon July 26 
• SheRox Triathlon, Philadelphia, PA August 2
• Westchester Triathlon September 27

• Laser Tag, May
• Ice Climbing March 13-15
• ASPIRE Race ½ mile fun run April 4
• Empire State Games May 28-30
• Hope and Possibility 5 mile run June 28  *Philadelphia Triathlon June 27
• Fire Day at NYC Fire Academy July
• Volunteer at the NYC Triathlon July 26
• Golf Program July
• SheRox Triathlon August 2
• Westchester Triathlon September 27
• Volunteer at the NYC Marathon 11/4
• Swimming lessons, Soccer Clinics CW Post

The next ASPIRE amputee support group meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 25th at 6:15 pm at the Hospital for Special Surgery located at 535 East 70th Street, NY.  For more information about the ASPIRE support group, contact Charlie Steele at charlieatl@aol.com or (212) 877-7050.

New York-Presbyterian Hospital Amputee Education and Support Group meets on Friday, March 6th from 10 AM to 12 noon at the Neurological Institute, 8th Floor North Classroom (PT and OT Department) 710 W. 168th Street (Between Fort Washington and Haven Ave). For further information and to RSVP, contact Sharon Clark at 212-305-3964.  

The Long Island Amputee Support Group meets the first Saturday of each month at South Side Hospital, 301 East Main Street in Bayshore. If you are interested in joining this group, contact Jodi Adler at 631-968-3330.

Amputee Coalition of America Youth Camp

The ACA Annual Youth Camp will be held July 25-29, 2009, at the Joy Outdoor Education Center in Clarksville, Ohio. The annual Youth Camp provides children with limb differences (ages 10 to 16) with educational outings, team-building exercises, sports, and opportunities to learn from peers and adult amputee mentors. The purpose of the ACA Youth Camp is to provide a camping experience for children with limb loss and limb difference that focuses on leadership development, nutrition education, physical fitness, improving self-esteem, creating positive social interaction, and developing peer support. http://www.amputee-coalition.org/youth_camp.html

March 10th is Lobby Day for the Amputee Coalition of America. Amputees from across the country will be lobbying in Washington D.C. to support federal legislation that would provide improved coverage and payment for prosthetic limbs throughout the Untied States. For more information on the ACA Lobby Day in Washington go to: http://www.amputee-coalition.org/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=765&z=35

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

With all of the state sessions meeting and the United States Congress in full swing, it is a very busy time of  the year.  There are more than 16 state legislatures working to advance some type of legislation to expand coverage for prosthetic devices and components. 
 
North Dakota introduced a prosthetic coverage bill for the first time. The ACA is also working hard to push for the passage in many states that considered parity legislation last year including Utah, Maryland, Virginia, Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, Michigan, Alabama, Missouri, and Connecticut.

Tennessee has a bill in the House and Senate that requires their state health insurance plan, TennCare, to provide a consistent standard of coverage for prosthetic devices.  The ACA is working to expand the bill to cover all state regulated insurance companies.

Interestingly, the state of Maine is actually looking at expanding their law. Maine passed a bill in 2004 that included an exemption for microprocessors.  The ACA was asked to submit information and data in order to make the case for the expansion of coverage.  The ACA is working with local activists and partner groups including the Disability Rights Center to push for full consideration of this issue during their upcoming emergency session.

The ACA is looking to confirm introduction in a number of states including Illinois, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Arkansas.  Several states have already held hearings (Nebraska, North Dakota, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, and Utah). 
 
There are thousands of amputees across the country that are going without the care they need because of the restrictions on prosthetic care.  That is why the ACA is committed to doing everything it can to build on its progress in shaping benefit policies at the state level. In many states, this has proven to be a multi-year effort.

For more information on the status of prosthetic parity legislation contact Morgan Sheets at (202) 302-4373. Morgan is the National Advocacy Director for the Amputee Coalition of America.  To get involved in your state parity efforts, contact the ACA at state@amputee-coalition.org . To find out more about the ACA's Congressional initiative, contact them at federal@amputee-coalition.org .