To empower, educate and connect people living without both arms or more |
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Meet Lee York
in our July Spotlight
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Lee York is a 72-year-old retiree who spent most of his career in healthcare supply chain management. Like many other quadruple amputees, he fell victim to pneumococcal bacterial infection that led to sepsis and septic shock. After battling flu like symptoms for two days, he made a trip to the ER, only to wake up from a medically induced coma two weeks later missing his hands. A month later, his left leg was amputated below the knee along with half of his right foot. A year later he lost his right leg below the knee after a bed sore became infected.
Get to know Lee
*Know someone we should highlight? Please email and introduce us!
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Message from the Executive Director | |
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I believe firmly that face-to-face connections are incredibly powerful. From my very first experience with Skills for Life to my visit to the Ukraine, there are so many great results I can point to when we come together.
With that in mind, please consider joining us at Andy Mattox's 2nd Annual Rock & Bowl Fundraiser September 27-29 in Medina, Ohio. Andy is putting together another great weekend for our ESFL community. So far the weekend includes live performances, dinners, silent auctions, games and, of course, bowling!
We were recently awarded a grant by the Dralla Foundation and will use these funds to provide one scholarship to enable someone living without arms or more to attend Andy's event and learn how to bowl. The scholarship will cover a majority, if not all, of the cost of travel as well as the device that will make it possible to bowl. The recipient gets to keep the device to keep bowling for life! Click here to start your application today!
In addition to the great activities, joining us in an awesome way to socialize with others living without both arms or all four limbs. Whether you want to learn to bowl or just gather some new life hacks, we would love to see you!
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ESFL Annual Report 2024
As a nonprofit, we want to be transparent in how we serve the community and use the resources we are trusted with. We did exactly this on June 25 at our public Board of Directors Meeting. Thank you to our Board and all those who attended! Here are two ways to learn more: Watch the recording OR read the report
Keep scrolling for all the ESFL news.
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We need YOU!
Your insight to help us best serve our community. Here are three easy ways to share your time.
Option 1: Join the board. No experience is required, we will orient and onboard you. Most board members spend a few hours a month in meetings and reviewing communication and we ask that you commit to a 3-year term. If you are interested, complete your application for the board of directors today.
Option 2: Add to the Strategic Planning Committees. For a short term commitment, please consider joining our strategic planning group. Here, you can influence our program priorities and what ESFL looks like in the future. There is no specific experience needed, and your time commitment is about 5 hours per month for the next 3-4 months. Contact us to learn more.
Option 3: SFL 7 Planning Committee
We are in need of volunteers for the Skills for Life 7 planning committee. If you are interested in being part of the process, contact us today. The committee will be formed in the coming weeks and planning will begin October 2024.
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Resources For You
Wheel the World is a travel company dedicated to accessibility. Their mission is to enable limitless exploration for all. They transform accessible travel by:
- Personally assessing hotel accessibility, collecting detailed data on over 2,500 hotels worldwide for their customers.
- Partnering with transportation and tour companies, providing services, and educating them on various disabilities and unique needs.
- Collaborating with Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) to evaluate and improve city accessibility, fostering more inclusive communities.
If you didn't catch one of our community members, Lee York's story above, click here to watch the moment he found out that he won the WTW Giveaway which was an all-expenses paid trip for two to South Africa!
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State Programs
Did you know that every state has a program to help people with disabilities explore and obtain the tools and technology they need for work, school and life? TechOWL is Pennsylvania's Assistive Technology Act Program. Their mission is to help people find the tools and technology they need to be independent. TechOWL shares open source files for 3D printed tools on their website and social media meaning anyone can use the files to print their own item. One of their biggest partners is Makers Making Change, which lists 217 items including kitchen gadgets, gas can openers, soda/coke handle holder, adapted gaming controller holders, etc. Click to see a full list of the Makers Making Change Assistive Devices.
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San Diego Triathlon Challenge
We are in the very early stages of planning, but we hope to create another face to face gathering as part of this event with up to 12 ESFL community members participating in the Challenged Athletes Foundation Community Weekend. Watch our social media for more details!
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ESFL Zooms: July 21 at 6 pm Central | |
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Join your host, Sam Matagi, for a "No Topic off Limits" session on Sunday, July 21 at 6pm central/7pm eastern. These monthly support zooms will be about what is on YOUR mind. We can talk about Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), coping resources, grief, adjusting to your new normal, educational resources, peer support, you name it! The meeting will go in the direction you choose.
Here are some time zone conversions but please use your favorite search engine to confirm:
- 1pm Sunday, July 21 in Honolulu, USA
- 4pm Sunday, July 21 in San Diego, USA
- 7pm Sunday, July 21 in New York, USA
- 12am Monday, July 22nd in London, UK
- 2am Monday, July 22nd in Lviv, UKR
- 8am Monday, July 22nd in Tokyo, JPN
- 9am Monday, July 22nd in Melbourne, AUS
Use the below link to join the Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/97649737361
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JOIN
SAM ON SUNDAY, July 21 @
6pm central/7pm eastern
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Upcoming Events & Programs |
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Camp NO LIMITS
Camps for children with limb difference and their families. Many locations and dates to choose from.
Website
Various Cities/States
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Amputee Coalition National Conference
Elizabeth Zweigel will be organizing an ESFL get together for anyone traveling to Atlanta for the AC national conference in August. Stay tuned to our social media for day, time & location.
Website
Atlanta, GA
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MEC Symposium
Educational seminar for clinicians, researchers, engineers, manufacturers involved or interested in upper limb prosthetic rehabilitation.
Website
Fredericton, NB, CANADA
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Hanger Empowerfest
Connect with others with lower and upper limb difference.
Website
Bellevue, WA
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Andy Mattox's 2nd Annual Rock & Bowl Fundraiser
See website for scholarship application and details about the weekend.
Website
Medina, OH
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Get Involved!
Thank you to those who contacted us over the past few months! We are still looking for help, so let us know if you have time, experience, resources, or referrals/connections with any of the below.
- SFL 7 Planning Committee
- Board Membership
- Strategic Planning Committees
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Change a Life, Donate Today
The Skills for Life workshop was developed in 2002 with a specific focus on people living without both arms or more and the unique set of circumstances they face on a daily basis. The nonprofit was founded in 2017 to ensure we could continue supporting the members of our community with programs, events, resources, and connections. Please click the Venmo or PayPal donate buttons in this section to donate. PayPal allows you to donate via your account or with a credit card. Venmo requires you to have an account. Donations can also be made via check, payable to Enhancing Skills for Life, 16111 Park Center Dr, Houston, TX 77059.
Any and all donations, large or small, are greatly appreciated!
Enhancing Skills for Life, 501c3 Tax ID: 81-2619137.
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