~To empower, educate and connect those living with bilateral upper limb loss or difference |
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Executive Director's Message
We hope your summer is off to a good start! We strive to ensure that Enhancing Skills for Life continues to be able to achieve our mission of empowering, educating and connecting individuals missing both arms or all four limbs.
Did you know that Enhancing Skills for Life is an AmazonSmile Charity (smile.amazon.com)? Read below for more detailed information. Have you ever heard of the term GuideStar and wondered what it meant? GuideStar is the world's largest source of information about nonprofit organizations they have given us a Silver Star of Transparency! Seals of transparency give funders insights into our organization, enabling educated donation and grant giving decisions. AmazonSmile and GuideStar are just two of the many ways we can educate the public on what we do and who we support. We have new limb loss individuals join our community almost weekly... please help us spread the word so those that need our assistance can find us quickly and easily!
Our Annual ESFL Board of Directors Meeting is coming up on Thursday, August, 12, 2022 at 4:00pm central. Save the date and be on the lookout for the zoom link if you would like to attend. Additional information will be available on our website, social media and August newsletter as the time gets closer.
Keep reading for more information on our exciting Makerspace project, updates on our Skills for Life events in 2021 and 2022, our Adaptive Equipment Publication, how to connect with us on Social Media and more!
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Makerspace: Submit a Problem &
We Will Try Our Best to Solve It!
You might have heard of a makerspace. It’s a buzzword that’s been floating around for a few years now. But what, exactly, is it? A makerspace is a room that contains tools and components, allowing people to enter with an idea and leave with a complete project.
Is there something you want to do on your own, but just can’t? Let us help you figure out a different way!
Maybe a solution already exists that we can share with you? But, if not, here are some cool opportunities. Share your challenges with us between now and virtual SFL 5.5 in October 2021. You will then be assigned to work with a team over the next few months. At SFL 6, October 2022 (in person), solutions to projects from SFL 5.5 will be presented/delivered. Limb loss individuals will also have the opportunity
to share additional or new problems at SFL 6. If you are interested in submitting a project idea or participating as a maker (prizes!), contact Levin Sliker at levin@pointdesignsllc.com.
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Enhancing Skills for Life is an AmazonSmile Charity!
What is AmazonSmile and how do I shop there?
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization. You can choose from nearly one million organizations to support. To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.
Can I use my existing Amazon.com account on AmazonSmile?
Yes, you use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile. Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and other account settings are also the same. Currently only available in the US.
How do I select a charitable organization to support when shopping on AmazonSmile?
On your first visit to AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), you need to select a charitable organization to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. We will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation.
Can I change my charity?
Yes, you can change your charity any time. Your AmazonSmile purchases after the change count towards your newly selected charity. To change your charity, Click Here or sign in to smile.amazon.com on your desktop or mobile phone browser and simply select “Change your Charity” in “Your Account.”
How much of my purchase does Amazon donate?
The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. The purchase price is the amount paid for the item minus any rebates and excluding shipping & handling, gift-wrapping fees, taxes, or service charges. From time to time, Amazon may offer special, limited time promotions that increase the donation amount on one or more products or services or provide for additional donations to charitable organizations. Special terms and restrictions may apply. Please see the relevant promotion for complete details.
Can I receive a tax deduction for amounts donated from my purchases on AmazonSmile?
Donations are made by the AmazonSmile Foundation and are not tax deductible by you.
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ESFL Social Media - Did You Know?
Enhancing Skills for Life has a website. Come learn all about us and how we started. We also have a Facebook Page for public info and sharing of resources as well as a Facebook Private Group for support and sharing of tips & tricks. We have Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn as well!! Make sure to get connected with us by bookmarking, following or liking us!
We also have a young, but growing YouTube Channel!! Playlists have been created so you can search by topic (dressing, cooking, sports) or level of limb loss/absence (above or below elbow, congenital, quad). Big thanks to Samoana Matagi (The No-Handed Bandit) for his help on this project! The ESFL channel hopes to be a central place to go to find videos from the members of our Skills for Life community. Do you have your own YouTube Channel? Make sure it is listed it as a Peer Channel on our ESFL Channel. If it is not listed, contact us, we would love to add you!
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Adaptive Equipment Catalog
Enhancing Skills for Life's Adaptive Equipment Publication is moving along nicely. For those who may not be aware, we have 20 Occupational Therapy students from Texas Women's University in Houston who are helping us move the project forward with obtaining image permissions from the various manufacturers when we don't have a personal picture from our community. Their work has been invaluable and will allow us to send the compiled document to our graphic designer once we have permission for all images. Thanks to everyone who has submitted photos or ideas to date!
There are several happy accidents that have come up along the way from this project... including future OT's being more knowledge of the needs of the bilateral upper/quad limb loss community, spreading that info to their OT peers, as well as raising awareness of our SFL community with the manufacturers. They are super excited to hear how their products are being utilized and many have sent (or plan to send) samples to distribute or use as raffle items at future workshops. To date, Kinsman Enterprises has sent out a new version of button hooks for trial and Bestie Brands has sent out several hands free blow dryer holders!
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Skills for Life 5 1/2 Virtual Bilateral Upper Limb Loss Workshop will take place online October 15-16, 2021. Click here to register. The program is still in process, it will be updated and modified regularly to reflect current status.
Share your Skills at the Virtual Skills for Life event!
Do you have a tip for cutting food? What about cracking an egg, washing your hair, putting on pants or brushing your teeth? If you answered yes, then we would love for you to share your tips at the Virtual Skills for Life event via a pre-recorded video. Contact Us if you are interested in sharing/presenting your way of doing daily tasks.
Mark Your Calendars!! Skills for Life 6 will take place in Houston, TX October 5-9, 2022. The in person workshops only happen every 3 years. It is such a fun reunion when we get together after so much time apart! If you learned a new trick or gained new insight from a SFL workshop in the past, please consider PAYING IT FORWARD by attending SFL 6 in person in 2022. By sharing your experiences and knowledge, you will be helping someone who may just be getting started on their limb loss journey and letting them see they are not alone. There are many new individuals who join our SFL community between workshops and they will greatly benefit from your knowledge and experience.
Skills for Life Workshop Recordings
Are you interested in recordings from previous workshops? Skills for Life Videos from workshop #2, 4 and 5 are available to purchase online. Click Here to order your copies today. They are a great resource for new bilateral upper limb loss individuals, family members/caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
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Come Volunteer with ESFL!
Are you looking to volunteer or get involved in Enhancing Skills for Life? Do you have a passion for helping others who are missing both arms or all four limbs? We need you!! We have several projects and/or programs that would benefit from everyone's skill sets, creativity and positive energy. Contact Us today if any of the below opportunities sound interesting to you or you have other ideas for getting involved!
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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, Secretary
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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.
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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? 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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