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Newsletter
AST - AMPUTEE SUPPORT TEAM - February, 2005 NEWSLETTER
AST is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit limb loss support group.
PALS and AST:
PALS (Promoting Amputee Life Skills) and AST are working together
on a nation wide groundbreaking research study sponsored by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg
School of Public Health and the University of Washington, along with the
Amputee Coalition of America (ACA), are leading this study. The results
of this study will show how well PALS can work to improve the life of
people with limb loss.
WHAT & WHEN: AST is honored to be selected as one of twenty-five
support groups from across the United States, to be a part of this study.
At our last regular AST Meeting on January 12, one of our members, Don
Hossler, spoke to us about his being recruited and trained by PALS to
conduct a series of PALS educational classes one evening a week, beginning
at our next AST Meeting, Wednesday, March 9, and meeting each following
Wednesday, skipping May 4, and ending with the final meeting, which will
also be a regular AST Meeting, on Wednesday, May 11. Except for March
9, the groups will decide on the session's starting time.
THE PROGRAM: The program will consist of 10 to15 members from
our AST, to learn skills that build on each others strengths. Each week,
the specific topic contains information on a particular issue, relevant
to members of our group. Participants will then work together in the two
hour meeting as a group to learn and practice self-management skills related
to the topic of that particular meeting. Except for the first meeting
on Wednesday, March 9, the next meeting nights will be each Wednesday
through April 24. After a week off (no meeting May 1 - 7), a Graduation
Meeting (Booster Session) will be held Wednesday May 11.
NOTE: Only limb loss persons will be considered for the study.
All others, such as spouses, partners, family members, caregivers, transporters,
are invited to wait in the second floor waiting area of HealthSouth. Refreshments,
reading material, games, and TV will be available.
The sessions will be led and instructed by AST member Don Hossler and
the facilitator will be AST President, Richard Nickle, who will be concerned
with the logistics of the meetings.
INTERESTED?: AST members should soon be receiving a letter from
ACA inquiring of their interest in participating in this study. If you
agree to participate in the study it is expected that you will attend
and participate in all sessions, which are held at HealthSouth in Mechanicsburg,
where we have most of our regular meetings.
INTERVIEWS: Group participants will be asked to complete confidential
telephone follow-up interviews conducted by the PALS Study about their
limb loss and its effect on the different areas of their lives as a part
of the study. There will be an interview before the group session starts
and then three follow up interviews at 10 weeks, 6 months, and 9 months
after the last group session. After the interviews are completed, each
participant will receive $100.00.
NEED INFO: For further information, contact Don Hossler or Dick
Nickle.
Don: at home 717-944-2250 / at work 717-783-0296 / E-mail dhossler@state.pa.us
Dick: 717-258-6849 / dicknickle@aol.com / amputeesupportteam@earthlink.net
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