The Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) and the Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund, Inc. (OPAF) are pleased to announce an agreement that will promote awareness of and participation in OPAF’s First Clinics across the country.

“By partnering with the Amputee Coalition of America, we believe we will see increased attendance at our First Clinics,” said Robin Burton, OPAF executive director. “We are building on a strong working relationship with the Amputee Coalition and see this agreement as benefiting both organizations.”

Under this agreement, OPAF will also promote Amputee Coalition of America membership through its First Clinics activities. “This exchange of good will also includes mutual promotion of each organization’s work within the orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) community, including the Amputee Coalition’s work toward fair insurance coverage for prosthetic devices,” said Burton.

Kendra Calhoun, Amputee Coalition president and CEO, agreed. “OPAF’s nationally recognized and award-winning First Clinics have been very successful in introducing or reintroducing people with limb loss to sports and activities that they may have thought lost to them,” said Calhoun. “The Amputee Coalition is working to enhance its community reintegration programs, and this partnership with OPAF will play an integral role in the area of wellness and fitness for people with limb loss.”

OPAF will premiere McKeever’s First Ride™, an introduction to equine therapy, at the Amputee Coalition of America National Conference this June in Atlanta, Georgia. “We are looking forward to beginning this new First Clinic and are confident that participants will enjoy the horses and learn about adaptive riding and horse care for fun, fellowship and fitness,” said Burton.

Other OPAF First Clinics include First Volley™ Adaptive Tennis Clinics, First Swim™, First Dive™ Intro to Scuba Clinics, and, in conjunction with the National Amputee Golf Association, First Swing/Learn to Golf clinics. First Clinics are held across the country and offered at no cost to the participants.

About OPAF

OPAF, serving with distinction as the official philanthropy of the U.S. Orthotic & Prosthetic Community, was founded in 1995 to support the 1996 Paralympic Games held in Atlanta. Since that time, the organization has worked to develop, implement and host adaptive recreational sports programs and clinics for those cared for by members of the O&P community. For more information on OPAF and its First Clinics, please contact OPAF at 215/752-5756 or rlb@opfund.org

About the Amputee Coalition of America                                                                                               The Amputee Coalition, based in Knoxville, Tennessee, is a national nonprofit organization that empowers people who have experienced amputation or are born with limb differences through education, support and advocacy. For more information about limb loss, to become an Amputee Coalition member, or to make a donation, please visit the Amputee Coalition’s Web site at www.amputee-coalition.org or call 888/267-5669.