Vol.6, No.10

November 2001

URGENT
Academy Members Asked to Call Congress to Save the Limited Funding of O&P Schools

Both the House and Senate have passed differing versions of the 2002 Labor, HHS and Related Agencies spending bill. Key members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committee will now work out the differences in a conference committee. Academy and NAPOE (National Association of Prosthetic and Orthotic Educators) members are being asked to provide one last push for a $1.5 million increase in funding of schools to train providers who care for millions of Americans in need of artificial limbs and orthotic braces.

The Academy's effort is part of Project Quantum Leap initiated at its Annual Meeting last year. According to an NCOPE study, the demand for O&P practitioners is expected to increase by 25% for orthotic care and 47% for prosthetic care by 2020. Currently, only eight institutions nationwide offer training of O&P practitioners. Without federal funding for training programs, the needs of millions of Americans with disabilities will go unmet. The Academy is also seeking partial funding of consensus conferences that will lead to Clinical Standards of Practice, and additional government funding of applied O&P research.

The U.S. Dept of Education's Rehabilitative Services Administration (RSA), which had been providing a small amount of funding to O&P schools, announced it no longer has funding to continue supporting the California State University training program. Scott Hornbeak, director of the program at Cal State-Dominguez Hills said this would have a devastating impact on the school that trains 15% of the O&P practitioners in the U.S. Next year, RESA plans to cut off funding to two additional schools.

More information about Project Quantum Leap can be found on the Academy's website at www.oandp.org

Academy Ornament Sparks Interest Among Members

Academy Active Members are receiving a beautiful one-of-a-kind holiday ornament in the mail simply for renewing their membership before the deadline mentioned in the renewal notice. (Two dates were identified as deadlines to handle the anticipated response.) Approximately 450 have been mailed already and a second mailing will occur before the end of November. "Members seem to really like the ornament," said Academy Executive Director Tom Gorski, CAE. "And thanks to a suggestion from one of our members, we're also offering a $15 discount on a meeting registration for those individuals that would prefer something different,". The original design by a renowned local artist was created expressly for the Academy and the mold will be destroyed after the ornaments are created thereby increasing its value. It measures approximately 3 inches, is made from solid brass, finished in 24-karat gold, screen printed in three colors and assembled by hand. Because of many requests the Academy is offering additional ornaments for $18. Members may call the Academy Bookstore at (301) 617-7805.

Early Deadlines Mean You Should Begin Making Plans Now for Orlando

Circle your planning calendar for February 27 as the day when your hotel room reservations for attending the Academy's Annual Meeting at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort should be completed. The $168 Academy room rate is about the same as when the association was in Orlando in 1996. Disney has agreed to offer the same special low rates for three days before and after the meeting to allow attendees to extend their visit. See lots of pictures of the hotel and its many activities on the Walt Disney World website at www.disneyworld.com. And be sure to visit the Academy's website (www.oandp.org) and click on the special link to Disney's Delegate Deals where you'll find savings of at least $75 on Park Hopper ® packages for your family. You'll also want to note the special lower rates for the parks after 2 pm. But you must make your plans before Feb 27. These rates will not be offered on site. The scientific sessions will mostly end around 3 or 4 pm allowing you time to join your family for late afternoon and evening adventures. The planning committee has declared this meeting to be a Family-Friendly schedule of sessions.

Who Should I Call When I have a Problem?

Next issue of the Academician: January 2002