ACA and Ossur

[fox1010 at comcast.net]

Here Here.  I agree with Linday on Many levels.  When you've been an amputee
for 20+ years, and all through your childhood, and you see the advances that
prosthetic have made in that time, you thank you luck stars that someone is
doing something right.  I know nothing about this guy Collier.  However, I
can attest to the products his company makes.  I had NEVER used their
products until the last 6 months. I can truly say that the foot I have
(Ceterus), and the liner, (Ossur Dermo) have changed my life.  I have back
activity levels that I was in pain to have when I was 17.  I think all we
can do is hope that even if Ossur is in with the ACA, that they are doing
the right thing from an advocacy standpoint.  If he is an amp., then he
atleast under stands to an extent where each and everyone of us is coming
from.  At least you don't have some jerk with 2 real legs or arms telling
you how he can relate. I'm happy there is an organization like the ACA out
there for us.  I'm also there is a company like ossur that makes products
with the technology and quality they do.  I've used lots of other companies
stuff, and they do not rank up.  They may cost a few dollars more, but in
the end, the back yard soccer game or the hike up the mountain with my 4
year old makes it worth it.

Sorry if you don't see it my way, but that's why we're all here.

DAVE

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lindsay Nielsen" <lanielsen at mindspring.com>
To: "Amputee Information Network" <amp-l at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2003 10:33 AM
Subject: Re: ACA and Ossur


> Hi All,
>
> Here's what I know about Curt Collier. He is an amputee, he is an
> athlete, he is a prosthetist, he works for Ossur, and he now also does
> this work for the ACA. The ACA work looks kind of thankless and quite
> tiring to me, and I sure wouldn't be signing up for it but...
>
> Here's what I think about the ACA. I do get the points about conflict of
> interest, and about the complex issues the ACA is facing and those not
> yet being faced. Most of the ACA works on volunteerism. People are
> giving their time and energy. It started as grassroots and is IMO still
> in that transition between professional and non-professional. I think
> they do a lot really well. I wish I had the ACA to turn to when I first
> became an amputee and wished I had learned of it a lot earlier than I
> did, because I was forever changed during my first conference, when I
> was for the first time among so many other amps. They also don't do some
> things well which is why we need to stay vocal and be as effective as we
> all can be about feedback and ideas for change and continued
> development.
>
> How the competition between Prosthetic organizations plays out is not
> positive for us. As some of you know I am biased about Flex-foot/Ossur
> because I feel like the technology and frankly the generosity of the
> company has allowed me to take back my athletic life, and lots of other
> amputees athletic lives as well. I went to Glacier this past month with
> my family and could climb with no difficulty. Part of that is the
> fitmess I have from running (which I can do in part because of the foot
> I use) and it was due to the technology of my walking foot. That gave me
> time with my family that 10 years ago, I couldn't manage. Again, in my
> opinion, they were the first company to break out of the rut of
> mediocrity, that meant my life got better.
>
> None of this speaks to the politics and ethics of competition when
> peoples well being is at stake.
>
> For what it's worth. I'm not sitting on this, not editing it, and not
> trying to come at it from all the legitimate different sides, just
> sayin'...
>
> Lindsay
>