MANASSAS, Va. — Limb Loss Education Day (LLED), a full day of education and recreation for those with limb loss, will be Sept. 19 at the Columbus Parks and Recreation Franklin Park Adventure Center, a building devoted to therapeutic recreation, at 1755 E. Broad St., Columbus, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is $15 for people over 10; free for children 10 and under, and is required by Sept. 15 at http://www.amputee-coalition.org.
Sponsored by the Amputee Coalition, a national nonprofit organization serving people with limb loss, the goal of the 2015 regional events such as the one in Columbus is to take the organization’s programs and services into the community.
“We are very pleased to be able to bring our highly successful LLEDs to local communities across the country again in 2015, and to provide this program at a very low cost to amputees, their families and caregivers,” said Susan Stout, president & CEO of the Amputee Coalition. “Our regional LLEDs have been hugely successful because they make our programs accessible, from both a cost and a travel perspective, to amputees and their families. Regional LLEDs allow us to reach new amputees with relevant information who have not participated in Amputee Coalition events in the past, while also keeping us connected to our longtime friends and supporters who are regularly present at our programs.”
The Amputee Coalition is partnering with local support groups the Amputee Recreational Support Group of Ohio, Amps4 Ohio, the Columbus Paralympic Sports Club and Columbus Parks and Recreation to bring an LLED to Columbus, Ohio. Sponsoring the event is Ace Prosthetics and WillowWood, as well as M.C. Mobility, Hanger Clinic, and Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center; lunch will be provided by Giant Eagle.
The first half of the day will be devoted to several educational sessions aimed at providing timely information to the limb loss community about issues such as community reintegration and living independently, trends in care and services, public policies related to limb loss and information for amputees and their caregivers that will help them to live fuller, more productive lives with limb loss. Educational speakers share their expertise and experience in morning sessions and often over the lunch period as well.
Throughout the day, exhibitor tables from the national and regional sponsors will feature technology, programs and services that are available to amputees.
Afternoon adaptive recreational activities will include archery, yoga, fly fishing, recumbent bikes and rock climbing.
Speakers will include Rosemarie Rossetti, “Designing and Building Sustainable Homes That Make Life Easier”; Jamie Carlson, Jennifer Fugitt, Kevin Stahr and Meredith Sweeney, “How Therapy Can Assist to Improve Independence and Function for Both New and Experienced Amputees”; Andy Marsland, “Advanced Technology for Transfemoral Vacuum Sockets”; Tim Riedlinger, John Hays and Andy Marsland, “The Importance of the Prosthetist and Amputee Relationship.”
For information, call 703-330-1699, ext. 7104, or email [email protected].
