~To empower, educate and connect those living without both arms or more |
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November Spotlight
Julie Dombo
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Faces of ESFL
Have you met Julie Dombo at a Skills for Life or Amputee Coalition meeting? At a prosthetists office? Or on Facebook? Or possibly a Kansas City Chiefs football game like Taylor Swift got to?
On August 11, 2015, Julie Dombo was shot twice during a store robbery in Wichita, KS. Due to complications from the shooting, she lost both hands and both legs below her knees, 2/3 of her right lung and hearing in her left ear. She died twice in the ER.
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*Each month, we will try to highlight different people in our community. Contact us if you would like to share your story with our newsletter audience.
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Message from the Executive Director | |
Holiday Season
Halloween has come and gone, so now we enter the mad rush to the holidays and the end of the year. We wish our Canadian friends a belated Happy Thanksgiving on October 9 and our US friends a Happy Thanksgiving on November 23.
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Please Welcome...
After serving on our ESFL board of directors since 2019, Karen Lundquist is joining our staff in a part-time and role as Director of Communication & Partnership. I have known Karen since 2003 when we worked together at Ottobock and then again during her time with the Amputee Coalition. She has been doing so much behind the scenes so it's fun to be colleagues again officially! Please help me welcome Karen to our team.
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Peter Nohre is joining our board of directors, bringing his expertise in healthcare strategy and leadership. His work at Ossur and Ottobock fueled his passion for helping people to live the life they choose and he is looking forward to helping to expand community and resources. He enjoys all four seasons at his home in Minnesota, spending time outdoors all year with his wife and two children. He looks forward to guiding ESFL growth and to meeting the community we serve. Please add your welcome to mine! | |
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Giving Tuesday/Year End Giving, Sponsorships, Partnerships
For Giving Tuesday, please help us share the resources we offer. Our goal is to make sure everyone has access, and we're starting with the newsletter. Please share this link with others who may want to subscribe to our newsletter. If you are inspired to donate, we have a secure link for that too.
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We aren't skipping Thanksgiving though. We couldn't create the ESFL community without you! THANK YOU!
Please keep reading below for important information and updates.
Warm regards,
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Andy Mattox 1st Annual Rock & Bowl Fundraiser | |
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Andy's Rock & Bowl Fundraiser!!!
After the final tally's, Andy's fundraiser event benefitting ESFL raised $31,197.44!! Mark your calendar's now and come join us for Andy's 2nd Annual Rock & Bowl fundraiser happening September 30-October 1, 2024!!
We still can't stop thinking and talking about Andy's Rock & Bowl weekend. There were lots of strikes (lots of gutter balls and dropped balls too), lots of brand new bowlers, lots of body contortions hoping the ball will move in the right direction, lots of sharing ADL tips, lots of gobbles, lots of smiles, lots of fun and lots of laughter. Getting to spend time with each other was awesome and we hope you will join us next time! Click here for a photo and video slideshow that gives a great overview of all the fun that was had in Ohio at Andy's fundraising event!.
Andy, you and your Medina, OH community/family set the bar pretty high for your first ever fundraiser. Thank you for ensuring we can keep making these gatherings possible.
Photos and videos from the weekend can be found by clicking here.
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Victoria's Secret Adaptive Clothing
Victoria's Secret, for the first time, has introduced a collection of bras and panties specifically designed to meet the needs of women with disabilities. The retailer announced the launch of the VS & PINK Adaptive line on Tuesday and said the merchandise is now available to customers online and in select stores nationwide. Among the collection's adaptive features are magnetic closures, sensory-friendly fabric, fully adjustable and convertible front straps and panties specially designed with magnetic side closures. Read More
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Sexual Health & Intimacy Guide
Thank you to those who have provided feedback so far, we are still looking for feedback on our Sexual Health & Intimacy Guide which is specifically geared towards our ESFL community. Contact us to receive the first draft. Those who provide feedback (anonymous input also welcome) will be listed as a contributor in our acknowledgement section!
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Guest Contributor
Sandy Crisp, LPC-A, CRC, LCDC
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Mental Health Matters: Loneliness
Many of us experienced social isolation during the pandemic. And none of us will deny that those days and weeks were very hard. Thankfully, the pandemic is over, and life for most of us has returned to normal. But for some people, social isolation didn’t go away; it is a part of their “normal” existence. Loneliness isn't merely the absence of company; it's a complicated emotional status that affects millions of people. It is deeply distressing, affecting people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. It is not defined by the number of people present, but rather by the lack of...
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November Public Zoom
We are looking forward to our November zoom "Disability Benefits 101" with special guest Victoria Powell, RN, CCM. Please make plans to join us on Wednesday, November 15th at 7:00pm central. These zooms are open to anyone and are promoted publicly on our social media. The topic is more US focused, but there still might be some helpful tips for those outside the US.
- How to apply
- What to do before you apply
- Retroactive pay
- Insurance coverage once you are on disability
- Difference in SSDI and SSI
- Common reasons for denial
- Factors which affect your SSD benefits
- Can I work while on disability?
BOOKMARK ZOOM LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/97649737361?pwd=Q1pqMmEwa1pIOUtXVWkxbkh6UnZnQT09
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December Private Zoom: Taking a Break
We will take a break in December, but in preparation for the holidays, please enjoy this awesome video from Erica on how she wraps Christmas presents.
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Upcoming Events & Programs |
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Bionic Reconstruction Conference
Join us at NYU, and our esteemed national and international faculty, to address advances in upper limb surgical and state-of-the-art prosthetic technology. Our Keynotes include Oskar Aszmann, MD and Paul Cederna, MD. This conference will be multidisciplinary in its approach and will set the stage for future research and study.
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Get Involved!
Thank you to those who contacted us over the past few months! We are still looking for help, so let us know if you have time, experience, resources, or referrals/connections with any of the below.
- Grant Writing/Development
- SFL 7 Planning Committee
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Board of Directors. Nomination Form
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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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