News

UpperEx.Com will keep you informed with the most current and up-to-date news that affects the upper extremity amputee community. Whether it's news in the medical field, prosthetics industry, or right from the UEA community, this is where you'll find it.

If you have any breaking news send us email at newsevents@upperex.com.

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Posted 4-10-08

Skills for Life II:  Bilateral Upper Extremity Limb Loss Workshop

 

We hope you will be able to join us for Skills for Life II:  Bilateral Upper Extremity Limb Loss Workshop.  The event will be held October 9-12, 2008 in Denver, CO.  Please forward this email on to others you think may be interested.

 

Please see the attached document and weblink for more information: http://www.ottobockus.com/ABOUT/PRESS-RELEASES/skills_for_life.asp

 

The website will be updated as more items are added (agenda, pre-workshop OT session, etc…)

If you have any questions please contact:

Shawn(shawn.swanson@ottobock.com) or Erin(RHM3office@aol.com) 

 

Download the flyer

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Posted 4-4-08

Amputee Coalition of America and UpperEx National Outreach Coalition Collaborate to Meet Needs of People With Upper-Extremity Limb Loss

 

Knoxville, TN, and Minneapolis, MN—April 4, 2008—The Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) and the UpperEx National Outreach Coalition (UNOC) today announced that they are working collaboratively to benefit people living with upper-extremity limb loss. The two national organizations will work together to disseminate information and resources, further expand the ACA’s internationally recognized peer visitation program to people with upper-extremity limb loss, and maximize the resources of both organizations in meeting the needs of the amputee community.

 

“At the ACA, we are always looking for ways to work with other organizations that can help us provide the most up-to-date information and support to our constituents,” stated Paddy Rossbach, ACA’s president and CEO. “We are looking forward to working with the UNOC and benefiting from their unique and personal experience with upper-extremity limb loss.”

 

“We are pleased to be working with the ACA to expand the quality and quantity of information available to the upper-extremity population,” said Eric Westover, chairman and Executive Director of the UNOC. “We are committed to building relationships that benefit our stakeholders and the amputee community as a whole. This partnership exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and cooperation to benefit the greater good.”

 

The first collaboration of this new partnership will be seen at the 2008 ACA Annual Conference as the UpperEx National Outreach Coalition leads a new upper-extremity track. Eight new educational sessions will focus on living with an upper-extremity limb difference. Many of the presentations will be conducted by members of the UNOC staff and its board of directors. A preliminary schedule of the 2008 program will be posted on both organizations’ Web sites by mid-April.

 

”The ACA is delighted to increase the educational opportunities for the amputee community through the shared resources of our two organizations,” said Vicki Foster, ACA outreach/special events manager.

 

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Posted 2-26-08

 

UNOC acquires UpperEx.Com

Minneapolis – February 25, 2008 - In a move that will streamline operations and further their mission, The UpperEx National Outreach Coalition (UNOC) has acquired ownership of UpperEx.Com, LLC through a donation made by Eric Westover, Founder and CEO of UpperEx.Com. The donation is valued at approximately $20,000.00 and includes the UpperEx.Com web site, magazine, and web store along with all other assets and intellectual property.

“This is a natural progression in the evolution and growth of the UNOC as the leading advocate and voice for those affected by an upper extremity limb difference”, said Westover, Founder and CEO of UpperEx.Com, LLC and UNOC. “Donating UpperEx.Com, LLC is the right thing to do. It furthers the mission of the UNOC in serving the upper extremity amputee community and gives the UNOC additional avenues to deliver information to stakeholders and constituents in an established media package.”

UpperEx.Com was founded in October of 2004 and published its first issue in May of 2005 to twenty subscribers. Today, UpperEx.Com reaches over 3,000 people each month from 30 different countries around the world and is the premiere resource for those affected by upper extremity limb loss or difference and those who work with them.  After being completely redesigned in 2006, it has grown to include video tips and tricks, current news, events, resources, and a one-of-a-kind online glove swap plus much more. UpperEx.Com continues to grow every month in scope and size with new features set to launch later this year.

“UpperEx.Com was never a means for profit”, Westover said, “It has always been about providing information, helping others, and giving back to a community that helped me. The UNOC sprang from the people I met and the stories I heard traveling around the country in support of UpperEx.Com. It made me realize that there wasn’t an organization out there advocating specifically for those affected by an upper extremity limb loss or difference.”

The transition is slated to be completed by the end of the summer. The only noticeable difference will be a melding of web sites and a consistent organizational branding platform.

The UNOC can be contacted at 800-573-6329 ext. 1.  They invite inquiries from amputees, their families, sponsors and donors. You can also go to the Foundation web site at www.UpperEx.org or email info@UpperEx.org.

 

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Posted 1-28-07

Adaptive Fishing Kit

Check out this video of the Adaptive Fishing Kit in motion. The AFK was featured in the January 2007 issue of UpperEx.Com. Please allow a few moments for the video to load. Those with a dial up connection might have a longer wait.

Click here to see the video.

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National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, D.C.

The National Rehab Hospital is looking for upper extremity amputees who use a prosthesis to be a part of a study testing the use of movement with a prosthesis. This is a first in a series of reserach studies going on at their new Upper Extremity Reserach Center.

For more information click here.

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Northwestern University Patient Models

I am the director of Northwestern University's Prosthetics Orthotics Center. (www.nupoc.northwestern.edu). Our program offers a post-graduate certificate in prosthetics and orthotics to students who have chosen P&O as their health profession career.

We are associated with Northwestern University's Prosthetic Research Laboratory which is one of the leaders in upper limb prosthetic research and development.

We are on the Chicago medical campus and utilize both upper limb and lower limb amputee "education models" for our program. We are always looking for people who wear upper limb prostheses to assist us in our program.

Anything you can do to help us recruit people to help our program would be appreciated.

Best Regards,
Mike Michael Brncick M.Ed.
CPO Administrative Director Northwestern University Prosthetics Orthotics Center

If you’re interested in becoming a patient model, please contact Ken Harris at 312-238-8006 You’d be helping to train tomorrow’s prosthetist today!

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University of Toronto Survey

Researchers at the University of Toronto and around the world want to know about your experiences with upper limb absence. This anonymous survey will ask about your lifestyle, your healthcare experiences, and your views on upper limb prostheses. By filling it out, you will help us understand what you want (or don't want) in your future healthcare and/or prostheses. You will contribute to important research and have the chance to share your experiences and opinions. Plus, you could win a great prize valued at $250!

If you would like to complete the survey, it can be found online at:

www.prismlab.org/survey.htm

The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete and is available in English, Spanish, French and Dutch. We would love to hear from you and we will communicate the opinions voiced to healthcare providers, prosthesis designers and of course, our participants worldwide through conferences, journals, and public reports.

Elaine Biddiss, Survey Coordinator
University of Toronto, PRISM Lab
Bloorview Kids Rehab, 150 Kilgour Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4G 1R8
T: 1-416-425-6220 x3270 or 1-800-363-2440 x3270 (toll-free)
F: 1-416-425-1634
E-mail: esurvey@prismlab.org