Activists Unite in Support of Parity

The Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) national campaign experienced an exciting boost in April. Both New York and Pennsylvania held rallies in support of prosthetic parity bills, and a new state has stepped forward in the fight for parity.

On April 17, activists from all over New York State came together in Albany to demonstrate their support for Assembly Bill 1274 and Senate Bill 1672. Buses came from both the Hudson Valley Region and New York City. Speakers included the bills lead sponsor, Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther; activist and Eugenia Tice-Shepard, PT, DPT, and an array of other individuals.

One week later, on April 24, a rally was held at the Pennsylvania state capitol in Harrisburg. The Pennsylvania campaign committee, along with the Amputee Support Team, a local support group, held a Day of Action at the end of March in preparation for the rally. They made calls to local activists to publicize the event, helped enter data from the very successful statewide petition drive, and completed an outreach mailing to ACA members.

The amazing dedication of our activists truly makes a difference! The rally was a huge success. The lead sponsor and several other legislators have committed to passing HB 317 this year!

Buses came in from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and local facilities closed for the day to allow their staff members to attend. Speakers included Rep. Bernie ONeill, Rep. Fred McIlhattan, and Sean Brame, a fifth grader and a trilateral amputee who lost both feet, his right hand, and most of his left hand to an infection. Sean is a truly courageous individual. We are proud to fight alongside him for this important bill!

In other news, Maryland is joining the fight for prosthetic parity. The ACA is holding an organizing meeting in June to bring together local activists and healthcare professionals to launch a campaign with the goal of introducing a bill in the 2008 legislative session. This makes Maryland the 24 th state to join the national campaign. We are also talking with activists in Arizona, Vermont, and Montana.

Morgan Sheets is the national advocacy director for ACAs Action Plan for People with Limb Loss (APPLL) initiative. She can be reached at APPLL@amputee-coalition.org . For more information, visit www.amputee-coalition.org/advocacy/index.html .

Activists Unite in Support of Parity

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