~To empower, educate and connect those living with bilateral upper limb loss |
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Executive Director's Message
When the world came to a halt last March/April because of COVID, we began hosting zoom sessions in May to keep everyone in our Skills for Life community connected. Over this last year, we have held 15 meetings and impacted approximately 170 individuals from 6 different countries!! You can view any of our recorded Skills for Life Zooms anytime on our Enhancing Skills for Life YouTube Channel!
After looking back, I'm excited to look forward as well. We have built new partnerships and forged new connections, all in the spirit of serving this amazing community. We want to keep sharing the resources we have gathered, so for May, please take a minute and forward this email to someone who would value the connection and information. Thank you for being a Skills for Life ambassador!
Keep reading below for more information as well as important updates about our monthly Zooms, general info on SFL 5.5 and an interesting opportunity for our healthcare professionals hosted by Sepsis Alliance.
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Pressing "pause" on Zoom Meetings |
As the October 15-16 virtual Skills for Life 5 1/2 event approaches, we are focusing on creating the best experience possible for all of you, and are pressing "pause" on our Zoom education for now. We had a great response to our Zoom calls while the pandemic kept us more isolated, and we are making the recordings available on our YouTube Channel so you can always feel connected and informed.
Wayne Moorehead had already recorded his “Wayne's World of Driving” Zoom which was scheduled for May 19 (see link below) so make sure you go check it out! Inger Brueckner, PT was originally scheduled to present on a new therapy technique on May 26. This session will be recorded and a link will be provided sometime in the upcoming months. Please note, in some cases, we have not recorded or shared sensitive topics. Also be aware that some links below will be "unlisted" and some will be public on our ESFL YouTube channel. Unlisted means you must have the link to view the video, so consider saving this email or bookmarking the links you would like to come back to, as you will not be able to search our channel for any of the private zoom sessions.
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Zoom Sessions May 2020-May 2021
Click on a thumbnail below and if it was recorded, it will take you to the YouTube link.
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June 2020 Technology Hacks |
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Oct 2020 Take Care of Caretaker |
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November 2020 Coping & Grief |
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January 2021 Hair & Make-Up |
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February 2021 Caregivers Only |
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March 2021 Adapted Sports |
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January 2021 COVID-19 & BULL |
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April 2021 BULL Resources |
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Sepsis Tech & Faces of Sepsis |
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For our healthcare professionals, we wanted to make sure you are aware of the Sepsis Tech & Innovation Conference, hosted by Sepsis Alliance. This virtual conference will take place on June 22-23, 2021 and it will bring together thought-leaders, innovators, and decision makers from all over the country to share new technologies and innovations in sepsis diagnostics, therapeutics, and beyond. Additionally, it will cover technology and innovations helping to reduce the burden of sepsis and COVID-19. We hope you will join us for these two days of learning and networking. You can learn more and register at SepsisTech.org.
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Sepsis Alliance is still looking for individuals to be part of their "Faces of Sepsis" campaign. Please click here to read other stories of survivors as well as tributes to loved ones who passed. You can also submit your own story for their campaign through the same link.
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The program will take place on October 15-16, 2021, specific times and agenda will be released closer to the event. Even though we can't be together in person this year, we are trying our best to make this experience the best it can be and get everyone excited for Skills for Life 6 2022 in Houston, TX!
Keep in mind, the in person workshops typically only happen every 3 years. If you learned a new trick or gained new insight from a Skills for Life workshop in the past, please consider PAYING IT FORWARD by attending the in person workshop (SFL 6) in 2022. By sharing your experiences and knowledge, you will be helping someone who may just be getting started on their journey. There are many new folks who join our SFL community between workshops and they will greatly benefit from your willingness to share!
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Become a Sponsor
Many thanks to Coapt, Handspring, Hanger, Point Designs, TIRR Memorial Hermann, Ossur, Fillauer and USISPO for being Skills for Life 5 1/2 Sponsors! Please make sure to visit all of our amazing SPONSORS at the end of this newsletter and thank them for their support!
The Skills for Life workshop is only possible because of the generosity of our sponsors! We still have spots available and would love to include you in our virtual Exhibit Hall, so please click on the information link below to learn about options and click HERE to start the sponsor registration process.
By being a sponsor, you will help us keep our community connected and be a part of our "Meet the Sponsors" Zoom scheduled for September 2021. We will make sure to promote you in our sponsor section at the bottom of this monthly newsletter and on our social media. Click here for additional information about sponsorships and the button below to become a sponsor. Please contact us with any questions or to discuss opportunities.
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Shawn Swanson Johnson, OT (co-chair)
Kristi Turner, OT (co-chair)
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Diane Atkins, OTR
John Dombo
Wendy Hill, OT
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Scott Hosie, CP
Danielle Melton, MD
Eric Nelson
Levin Sliker, PhD
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Fanny Schultea, CP
Mike St Onge
Patricia Tully, OT
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Mike St Onge, Chair
Jeff Mulvogue, Treasurer
Annae Jones
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Harold Sears, PhD
Gerry Stark, CP
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Samoana Matagi
Karen Lundquist
Mara Herschbach
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Thank you SFL 5 1/2 Sponsors!
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Help us continue to provide meaningful connections!
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Financial Assistance
Limb loss individuals may apply for scholarships to attend Skills for Life workshops or other events where there are opportunities for face to face interaction with individuals missing at least both arms or all four limbs (Amputee Coalition National Conference, Quad Squad Muster, Camp No Limits, etc). Financial aid requests need to be completed and submitted online by clicking HERE. COVID-19 financial aid is also still available for those in need. Please be as thorough as possible in your applications and provide good contact information as follow up emails or phone calls may be necessary. Please contact Kristi Turner with any questions.
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ESFL is an AmazonSmile Charity
Consider choosing Enhancing Skills for Life as your 501c3 charity on AmazonSmile! When customers shop on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to Enhancing Skills for Life. When first visiting AmazonSmile, you will be prompted to select a charitable organization. Why not choose Enhancing Skills for Life? OR click here to change your current AmazonSmile charity to ESFL today!
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Contact Us | 713-240-8336 | Email
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