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November 2025 Newsletter
To empower, educate and connect people living without both hands or more
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Message from ESFL Executive Director
Hello Everyone!
It’s hard to believe an entire month has already passed since Skills for Life 7! As we look back, it’s amazing how many meaningful moments, new connections, and fresh skills came out of those few unforgettable days. We hope you’ve had a chance to reflect on the experience, put some of those new tools into practice, and stay in touch with the people who made the event so special. And yes—we still can’t get over the size of the group photo at the top of this newsletter! It’s a great reminder of the incredible energy and community you all brought to Skills for Life… and believe it or not, a few participants still didn’t make it into the shot!
SFL 7 Recap/Statistics
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114 people living without both hands or all four limbs attended
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11 countries were represented including Australia, Japan, Jordan, Italy, Ireland, Ukraine, Canada, United Kingdom, Mexico, Sweden, and United States
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70 attendees were quadruple limb difference (that is 65%)
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75 people with limb difference were first time attendees
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120 family members/caregivers
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500% growth of pediatric attendance (under 17 years old)
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34 attendees who were born with limb differences
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80 attendees experienced trauma/limb loss (accident or sepsis)
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405 total attendees
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Giving Tuesday and Enhancing Skills for Life
The Giving Season is here, and we’re gearing up for Giving Tuesday on December 2nd! This is your chance to sprinkle a little magic where it matters most. Every single dollar makes a real difference for someone living without both hands or all four limbs — helping ensure that the next person who faces this challenge finds community, support, and the powerful reminder that they are never alone. We’ve discovered a tremendous global need for this kind of connection — and we never would’ve known it without taking the first step.
With your help, we can keep growing, keep showing up, and keep changing lives. Join our mission. Help us keep this community thriving. 💙
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Please keep scrolling for all of the latest ESFL news and updates.
Warm Regards,
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Update ESFL Website Coming Soon!
We are excited to share a refreshed and updated version of our ESFL website. Please be on the lookout for the new look December 2025. Thank you so much to Karen Lundquist and Samoana Matagi for all of their efforts building, creating, designing and linking and Mike St Onge for triple checking every single word and link. If you have a background in website design or SEO and want to help keep our site running smoothly, we would love your help.
Contact Us
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ESFL NAC Adaptive Ski Experience
The wait is over! The scholarship application is now open for our first ever ESFL Adaptive Ski Experience. This experience has been made possible through generous grant from the National Ability Center along with additional support from the Hanger Foundation.
There is a lot of information in the scholarship application so please read through it thoroughly for all of the details. We have some information on our ESFL Ski Website as well.
Scholarship
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Skills for Life 7 Merchandise
Purchase items while supporting ESFL!
Who doesn’t need a good dri-fit shirt that supports a good cause? This is the perfect way to join in on the fun and represent the Enhancing Skills for Life community. US addresses only please.
$25 each + $3/shipping. Sizes: Youth Small – Adult 2XL
Limited quantities in all sizes, get yours while they last!
Order SFL 7 TShirt
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We had quite a bit of interest in our printed copies of the ESFL Hands Free Catalog at SFL 7. We are making Version 1 available to purchase as a spiral bound copy, but please be note we plan to have Version 2 published by April 2026. We had hoped V2 would be out sooner, but SFL 7 planning took priority.
Order ESFL Hands Free Catalog V1
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What Items are we Missing?
Send us your ESFL Hands Free Catalog Ideas!
Use the below link to upload your gadgets and adaptive equipment. You will need to include the name of the item, a weblink or email address, 1 or more photos and a brief description.
Submit Equipment
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ESFL Skills Exchange Podcast
Join the Discussion!
Samoana Matagi is taking the leap to a podcast format! Sam will continue to keep our community educated, empowered and connected, but it will feel a little different. Stay tuned for details, but the first episode will be a recap of the experience for a few of the first timers from Skills for Life 7.
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THANK YOU TO OUR SKILLS FOR LIFE 7 SPONSORS!
We wanted to take one more chance to thank our
amazing sponsors for making SFL 7 possible.
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A BIG THANK YOU once again to our
SFL 7 Sponsors and Planning Committee.
This was our largest event ever and it truly was a massive undertaking from a volunteer committee.
| | | Upcoming Events & Programs | | | |
Academy's Annual Meeting (AAOP)
Annual conference for Orthotic & Prosthetic professionals.
Website
Nashville, TN
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ESFL NAC Adaptive Ski Experience
This incredible adaptive Ski experience has been made possible through a generous grant from the National Ability Center along with additional support from the Hanger Foundation. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to empowering our community through access, adventure, and ability.
Website
Park City, UT
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Association of Children's Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinics (ACPOC)
Conference covering pediatric musculoskeletal disorders as well as orthopedic and rehabilitative treatment of children.
Website
Philadelphia, PA
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Get Involved!
If you have ever considered getting involved with Enhancing Skills for Life, we would love to hear from you! If you have the time, interest or passion to support ESFL's mission, email us, let's talk!
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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 hands 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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