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Orthotic & Prosthetic Technological Association (OPTA)
By Ronnie N. Graves, RTP, LPO, BOCO, Chairman, OPTA  We, as technical professionals in the orthotic and
prosthetic industry, have been striving for a long while to gain
more control over our futures.
There have been a lot of advances made throughout the years
towards getting technical education for us. A number of technicians
have dedicated a large portion of their time to teaching at various
state and national meetings.
All of this has led up to the point where we are now.
Five dedicated individuals met in Greenville, South Carolina,
last December to try to hammer out the type of organization we
could be proud of.
Ronnie N. Graves, Prosthetics Research
Specialists, Inc., was elected chairman. Peter
Pananciulman, Scheck & Siress, was elected to be vice
chair. Steve Hill, OTS, is the secretary. Jeff
Green, Southern Prosthetics Supply, is the treasurer. Tony
Wickman, Freedom Fabrication, is the political
liaison.
How do we as an organization, achieve our goals? What goals do
we set?
- Some of us already have a library of technical education
literature and materials. We need to consolidate these resources
and offer them to any technical person who wants them.
- We need to develop a presence on the web and provide learning
opportunities.
- We need a way for technicians to test their capabilities and
earn higher standards of recognition for each step they
complete.
- We need to educate businesses that it is in their best interest
to hire and keep a credentialed technician to supervise their
technical staff.
- We already have one company which provides on-the-road
learning. There are a couple more who provide education in their
learning centers. We all need to take full advantage of these.
- There are many state and national meetings that offer
education. In order for us to improve on our own, we need to attend
these. It gives us a more balanced look at how devices are
fabricated around the country.
- Always try to improve yourself.
A lot of phone calls have already been received praising OPTA
for starting this endeavor. A lot of questions have been asked. Not
only are technical staff members hungry for knowledge, they also
want to actively help. Here's how:
- We need to know how fabricators are doing things. Write down
your techniques, take a few photos, and send them to us. The
library will consist of many ways to do the same jobs. It will be a
library of techniques. For a truly scientific approach, each task
will need to be able to be duplicated, repeatedly producing a
quality product. Write the techniques down as if you were training
someone who had absolutely no knowledge of how to do it. This will
help to train people in the future.
- We need manufacturers to supply us with instructions for all of
their products. Imagine how useful it would be to have the
instructions all in one location on the web or in one facility and
to be able to fax, "snail-mail," or e-mail them.
- We need sponsors to help us make this a reality that will last
long-term. It takes teamwork.
- We need fabricators, repair people for machinery, and leaders
who have set up labs before to assist us in providing education
across the country.
We also need to thank the organizations that have helped to
bring technical education to where it is today: ABC [American Board
for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics], AOPA [American
Orthotic & Prosthetic Association], and AAOP [American Academy
of Orthotists and Prosthetists].
Contact Ronnie Graves at Prosthetic Research Specialists, 720
Southland Avenue, Bushnell, Florida 33513-8394; 800.952.6744; RGraves405@aol.com. 
Table Of Contents - June 2003
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