At the Hanger Clinic in OKC a life changing workshop took place that drew in people from all over the world. The Bilateral Above the Knee Boot Camp kicked off on April 6th to help teach amputees how to utilize their prostheses. This was the three-day event’s tenth year, and like every year it took place during April—Limb Loss Awareness Month.
What Is Limb Loss Awareness Month?
It’s important to spread the word about limb loss. Education is one of the most critical keys to reducing the number of amputations in our country, and right now that number is pretty high. Around 185,000 people have amputations each year—that’s 507 people a day—and most people don’t even realize that many of these injuries are preventable through healthy eating or exercise. Over 50 percent of amputations in the US are caused by vascular disease.
Knowing how to prevent an amputation is an important part of Limb Loss Awareness Month, but it is also important to know what to do if you have lost a limb. There are over 2.1 million people living with limb loss in our country, and that number is expected to grow to 3.6 million by 2050. Some of these individuals are ambulatory, and can get along with their lives, but others need help.
Does Losing A Limb Qualify Me For SSDI?
Social programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) were designed to help people who can’t work due to a disability. The qualifications for the program are strict, and the application can be long, but SSI and SSDI are one of the best options for people who can no longer participate in the workforce.
To qualify for SSDI, the claimant must have amputations that include, but are not limited to: both hands, both lower extremities, an inability to use prostheses, or any combination of the loss of a hand and lower extremities. These injuries not only qualify the applicant for disability benefits, they can also qualify that claimant for an expedited application.
There is a lot you can learn about limb loss, amputation, and living a normal life with disabilities. Keep checking back with our blog, and look us up on Facebook and Twitter to learn more during this Limb Loss Awareness Month.
