ACA, UNOC Reach Collaboration Agreement

The Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) and the UpperEx National Outreach Coalition (UNOC) announced that they are working collaboratively to benefit people living with upper-extremity limb loss. The two national organizations said they will begin working together to disseminate information and resources, further expand the ACA's peer visitation program to people with upper-extremity limb loss, and maximize the resources of both organizations in meeting the needs of the amputee community.

"At the ACA, we are always looking for ways to work with other organizations that can help us provide the most up-to-date information and support to our constituents," said Paddy Rossbach, ACA's president and CEO. "We are looking forward to working with the UNOC and benefiting from its unique and personal experience with upper-extremity limb loss."

Eric Westover, chairman and executive director of the UNOC said: "We are pleased to be working with the ACA to expand the quality and quantity of information available to the upper-extremity population. We are committed to building relationships that benefit our stakeholders and the amputee community as a whole. This partnership exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and cooperation to benefit the greater good."

The organizations' first collaboration will be at the 2008 ACA Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, where the UNOC will lead a new upper-extremity track. Eight new educational sessions will focus on living with an upper-extremity limb difference. Many of the presentations will be conducted by members of the UNOC staff and its board of directors. A preliminary schedule of the 2008 program will be posted on both organizations' websites by mid April.