WELCOME!
President
First off, I would like to take the time to thank each one of you as you have supported OPAF and participated in our events over the years. Without you, OPAF would not be able to provide the life-changing services that we do. These past 2 years have been unexpectedly challenging, and we are very disappointed that we could not bring you programming. However, please know that we continued to work tirelessly on ourselves as an organization; that way, when it was time to host programming again, we would be ready to do so appropriately while keeping all our participants safe, happy, and healthy. As we ring in the new year, there are many projects coming ahead that you will notice. First, our new website will launch in mid-February! With this launch, you will have more engagement with OPAF as an organization, and you will also receive information about our future events and ways you can donate. We will welcome all feedback once the website is launched, and it will continue to evolve and be a labor of love as our needs change and grow.
I am excited to announce that we will return to programming this year and will keep our calendar updated as that information is released. We hope to see you all at the 48th Academy Annual Academy National Meeting & Scientific Symposium in Atlanta, GA, from March 2nd-5th. Please make sure to stop by the booth and check out our silent auction and raffle items, some of which will be available online as well. I would also like to announce the return of Feet First, our prosthetic foot shell decorating contest. If you are interested in participating, please email me at [email protected]. The registration fee is $30, and we will provide you with the foot shell, courtesy of our partners at Kingsley Manufacturing. Your entry will be due back to us on February 28, as we will present it at our auction for bidding. An online voting platform will be utilized to determine the best-designed foot shell, and the winner will be presented with a $100 Amazon Gift Card. To check out previous designs and winners, follow our Instagram account.
Thank you again to everyone who has stood by patiently for the return of the First Clinics, and I hope to see you at a clinic soon!
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
While we await the return of clinics, we want to take the time to introduce you to some of our partners, who believe in and support the OPAF Mission. This month we would like to spotlight The Liner Wand. The Liner wand is an amputee liner sanitizing solution that can be applied to TPE, Silicone, Urethane, and Pelite liners. Each year they have released an Amputee Community Survey, and this year if you complete the survey by January 31, one lucky person will be selected to win a Levitate Sports Blade. The survey takes around 15 minutes to complete, and the survey closes on February 18. After the survey, one additional person will be chosen to receive a prize pack containing: $100 Amazon Gift Card, a Liner Wand annual subscription, an annual subscription to Cosi Talks’ Strong Body series; or amputee-friendly clothing from Socket Socks, No Limits jeans, or Uniterable Inclusive Fashions. Everyone who participates in the survey will receive a 20% off coupon to use on their first Liner Wand purchase.
As part of our partnership with The Liner Wand, you can use code OPAF25 at checkout to receive 25% off your first Liner Wand kit. A portion of sales goes to OPAF to support our various programs. OPAF does not endorse any product, but merely provides access and awareness of resources available to O&P users.
BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS
OPAF would like to welcome three new board members, Deborah Plescia, Taushima Nixon, and Jacob Calvert, for 2022. The Board would like to thank Neal Siegfried for his service with the Board of Directors over the past 2 years. Neal, we deeply appreciate your dedication and service to OPAF during such a vital time in our history.
Deborah (Debbie) Merritt Plescia is the clinical specialist for Ottobock Orthopedic Services. She is a Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist and a Northwestern University Prosthetic and Orthotic Program graduate. In addition to her national certification, she is licensed to practice in eight states. With over 35 years of clinical and managerial experience in Orthotics and Prosthetics, Debbie provides comprehensive care and claim management for patients and providers. Her affiliation with Ottobock helps fulfill their mutual goal to help people maintain or regain their freedom of movement. Debbie volunteers as an examiner for the Clinical Patient Management exam with the American Board for Certification in Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Pedorthic (ABC). She served eight years on the ABC Board of Directors and distinguished herself from being elected the first female president of ABC in 2018. Debbie is also an Ironman athlete who enjoys the challenge and discipline of competition. She finds great pleasure in spending time with her two sons and three grandchildren as often as possible.
Taushima (Shima)Nixon graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor of Science in Recreational Therapy with a minor in Spanish. She loves adaptive sports, with wheelchair basketball being her all-time favorite. Although, being a bilateral lower extremity amputee is not her personal identity, learning how to walk again after a traumatic car accident is one of her many accomplishments that motivates her daily. Shima is currently the class President for Cohort 9 at Alabama State University’s MSOP Program. One of her major goals is not to be rich but to be a stepping stone for someone else and see the joy and smile on someone else’s face. Sports changed her life, and she would love to be the reason it can change someone else’s. Shima enjoys playing guitar, piano, and drums while raising a very energetic puppy named Ace.
Jacob Calvert recently became fully certified and is a Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO) in the DC, Maryland, Virginia area. Raised in the Baltimore area, he graduated with his degree in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland in 2015 and went on to the University of Pittsburgh for graduate school. Always avid about fitness, Jacob most recently ran his first marathon in October 2021. In addition to this, Jacob’s hobbies include snowboarding, hunting/fishing, HIIIT classes, and starting up his side hustle BBQ business, Hazy Fog BBQ. With the help of a colleague, Jacob also started and co-directs an adaptive sports program in the DC area. When the opportunity to help out with OPAF came along, Jacob felt that it aligned perfectly with how he loves to help others participate in fitness-related activities.
GET INVOLVED
Research study on the benefits of scuba diving for people with physical disabilities
Clemson University is conducting a research study and invites all adaptive divers and people with physical disabilities to participate in their study. Anyone with a physical disability aged 18+ and a scuba diver can participate. As part of the study, you will complete an online survey with questions about your experience as a scuba diver, your health, health-related quality of life, self-efficacy, disability level, and personality (the survey takes approximately 30 minutes).
You can complete the survey using this link: https://clemson.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1RnAERa50zImLBQ
This research study is conducted by Tania Santiago Perez, PhD student of Recreational Therapy at Clemson University, and Director of Florida International University’s Recreational Therapy Program.
If you are interested in hosting an OPAF First Clinic or participating in one, please contact us via email at: [email protected]