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ACA Meeting Provides Education, Inspiration
By Tonja Randolph  Held July 18-21 in Anaheim, California, the event
brought together about 600 amputees, legislators, government staff
members, healthcare providers, and others.
The opening ceremonies were a grand event, featuring the actor
Robert David Hall as master of ceremonies. A bilateral amputee for
many years, he has not allowed his disability to hinder his
profession. He has appeared in many television programs, including
"The Practice" and, currently, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." He
was fit with an Otto Bock C-Leg in June and hopes to be off
crutches by September. Hall also emceed the closing ceremonies.
Michael E. Bird, a highly respected national public health
consultant and the first native American to serve as president of
the American Public Health Association (APHA), was keynote speaker.
He was both funny and extremely inspirational. Some of his comments
included: "Loss is not less. One can be physically whole, but still
lacking. The basic needs for the success of any group or
organization are: love, trust, respect, honesty, and
reciprocity."
Mary P. Novotny, who, with other female amputees, founded the
ACA in 1986, was honored with the Ernest M. Burgess Award for her
contributions to improving the lives of people with limb loss.
An Inspirational Meeting
This being my first visit to an ACA conference, I was both
inspired and awed by the amputees, the professionalism of the ACA,
and the exhibitors, who were all there to interact in a comfortable
arena. For ACA members, it must be incredibly rewarding to spend a
few days with others who have experienced similar difficulties and
triumphs.
The conference attracted 69 young people between 8-18 years old.
They visited Disneyland and swam endlessly in the pool, played
basketball, rollerbladed, learned martial arts, and spent hours
"just being kids." The bio-fit clinic was filled with fitness,
education, and fun activities for youth with limb differences.
The conference offered such excellent sessions that it was
difficult to choose which to attend. The organizers of the event
brought in the best of the best to make them interesting,
informative, and inspirational. Spanish translations were offered
for the educational sessions.
The social events organized were enjoyable. Ossur sponsored a
facility tour and fiesta celebration, which offered a hands-on look
at the manufacturing and distribution processes of a large
corporation.
The closing ceremonies ended the conference on a high note. With
the conference theme, "Reaching for the Stars," the ceremonies
remembered the events of September 11. Featured were bilateral
amputee skydiver Dana Bowman, Sgt. First Class (Ret.); SSG Matthew
F. Hess, who lost his leg recently in Afghanistan; William Glenn
Malmskog, a below-knee amputee and firefighter, stuntman, and
personal trainer; Jay Yepp, an above-knee amputee and classically
trained tenor who has appeared in film, television, and stage
productions; and Carl Brashear, the first African-American Navy
SEAL master diver, whose life was the subject of the Fox 2000
movie, "Men of Honor." Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding, Jr., was
cast as Brashear, and Robert DeNiro was cast as Master Chief Navy
Diver Billy Sunday. Brashear lost his left leg below the knee in an
accident in the course of duty.
Next year's event is scheduled for July 4-6 in Boston,
Massachusetts. What a wonderful place to spend the Fourth of
July-and with such a wonderful group of people. I can't wait! 
Table Of Contents - September 2002
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