There are so many nonprofits doing good work on behalf of amputees that it seems impossible to keep track of them all. But we’re going to try anyway. Every week we’ll highlight one organization or person that’s out there trying to make life better for amputees. This week’s Worthy Cause: Mission Gait Foundation.
Name: Mission Gait Foundation
Founder: In 30 years as a physical therapist, David Lawrence developed a gift for serving amputees and other people with complex gait issues. He also discovered that most PTs lack the experience and specialized knowledge to help leg amputees maintain their mobility. To make up that deficit, Lawrence established Mission Gait in 2016 with the goal of transforming the way health professionals work with gait-challenged patients. The organization also directly supports amputees as they reintegrate into their communities and maintain active, healthy lifestyles.
What they do: Mission Gait offers robust professional development courses, including a gait certification program. It also maintains an online reference library and a set of instructional videos, publishes research studies in peer-reviewed medical journals, and holds activity clinics for amputees and practitioners.
Who they serve: Leg amputees and the health professionals (physical therapists, occupational therapists, rehab specialists, etc.) who help them regain and maintain their mobility.
In their own words: “We have an issue in the profession in how we deal with complex gait problems. We need a system that can educate therapists, practitioners, and doctors to do the best job possible for patients we these types of problems. We still have a [healthcare] system that doesn’t focus on quality, one-on-one care that offers the time necessary for complex patients to be successful. That’s what Mission Gait is about. It’s about the philosophy of taking the time and effort to do the best job possible.”
Make a donation: https://www.missiongait.org/donate
Connect with the Mission Gait Foundation: On Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Other Worthy Causes:
Victoria Hand Project
Heather Abbott Foundation
LN4 Hand Project
Abled Amputees Foundation
Range of Motion Project
Right to Walk Foundation
Steps of Faith Foundation
Born to Run Foundation
Move for Jenn Foundation
Jordan Thomas Foundation
Limbitless Solutions
Forrest Stump
Penta Prosthetics
Ayúdame3D
Less Leg More Heart
Looking for the Helpers (July/August 2020 issue of Amplitude)