July 2023

July Spotlight

Kevin Brennan

Faces of ESFL

Kevin Brennan was 11 years old when he was electrocuted. He lost both of his arms above his elbows. Kevin is now 57 and has used body-powered prosthetic arms for 46 years. Kevin demonstrates how he uses his snow blower in the winter and attaches his boat to a trailer in the summer.

*Each month, we will try to highlight different people in our community. Contact us if you would like to share with our newsletter audience.

Message from the Executive Director

Hello Everyone & Happy July!

We recently held our 2023 Annual Meeting which was open to the public. This was a great opportunity for our community to reflect, celebrate, and envision the path ahead. We were able to recognize our achievements and the impact ESFL has had on countless lives, their family members as well as the healthcare professionals who work with our community. For those unable to attend, but interested in watching a recording of the meeting, please see below.

I had the honor of attending my first Hanger Empowerfest, last week and was able to reconnect with several people from Skills for Life 6, including Mike St Onge, Gayle Fisk, Leticia Avila, Samoana Matagi and Marianne Groven. I met some new faces too and was excited to be able to share ESFL and the Skills for Life workshops with them. Thank you, Hanger, for letting me come share about ESFL and congratulations on such a successful event!

For those of you with fur babies, please make plans to join us via Zoom on Wednesday, July 26th at 7pm central. Samoana Matagi and Sandy Crisp will share some of their tips & tricks on taking care of their pets. See below for zoom meeting link.

Andy's Rock & Bowl Fundraiser is quickly approaching! Apply for your scholarship today and come join us for a weekend of fun while raising money for a good cause.

As we move through this month, let's, continue to celebrate, strengthen bonds, and collectively shape a possibilities-filled future. Together, we pledge to continue making a lasting difference for our Enhancing Skills for Life community.

Warm regards,

ESFL Annual Meeting



If you missed joining us live in June, you can watch the recorded meeting here. Come learn about our past, our accomplishments over the past year as well an overview of our current financial status.

Tips & Resources

Peer Connections/Resource Request

Are you new to the Enhancing Skills for Life community? Maybe you've been around awhile, but still looking to connect with someone similar? Are you a caregiver/family member looking to be introduced to others? Contact us or fill out this form and we will get you "hooked up" with the right people.

Adapted Clothing Resource List

Check out this preliminary list of manufacturers who make adapted clothing. Do you know of a company not on this list? Send the information to us so we can get them added. The list will be added to the ESFL resources section on our website in the future.

No Limbits

These pants are designed for anyone with a lower limb difference that makes traditional pants hard to wear or uncomfortable.

Tommy Adaptive

Fresh new Tommy styles with innovative design solutions that make getting dressed easier for everyone.

Magna Ready

We've magnetically infused our adaptive shirts to make getting dressed both quick and painless. No more fumbling with buttons!

Adapting Kids Clothing

We design the garments around what parents want for their children, what occupational therapists are asking for, what children are saying they’re most comfortable in,” says Sasha Radwan, founder of SpecialKids Company.

The Serious Side of Amputee Comedy

Amplitude Magazine features four amputee comedians in their July/August issue. Two of the comedians are living without both arms.

Read Full Article

Comedian

Tre Nubbs

Comedian

Courtney Gilmour

Guest Contributor: Mental Health Matters

Essential oils are highly concentrated phytochemicals that are distilled from plants, flowers and fruits. Herbs and plants have been used for thousands of years to address illness and disease in the body, and while essential oils have gained incredible popularity in recent years, they exist as an age-old remedy that has been passed down through generations.

Guest Contributor

Sandy Crisp, LPC-A, CRC, LCDC

Related Article

Upcoming Events & Programs

Change a Life, Donate Today



The Skills for Life workshop was developed in 2002 with a specific focus on people living without both arms or more and the unique set of circumstances they face on a daily basis. The nonprofit was founded in 2017 to ensure we could continue supporting the members of our community with programs, events, resources, and connections. Please click the Venmo or PayPal donate buttons in this section to donate. PayPal allows you to donate via your account or with a credit card. Venmo requires you to have an account. Donations can also be made via check, payable to Enhancing Skills for Life, 16111 Park Center Dr, Houston, TX 77059.

Any and all donations, large or small, are greatly appreciated! 

Enhancing Skills for Life, 501c3 Tax ID: 81-2619137. 

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