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Disability Inclusion at Specialized Bicycle Components: Riding For Focus

Disability Inclusion at Specialized Bicycle Components: Riding For Focus

by Nicole Ver Kuilen | May 24, 2019 | Disability Inclusion

Disability inclusion is more than just encouraging people with disabilities to participate. It’s about removing the barriers that limit participation. Nicole Ver Kuilen Founder, Forrest Stump Taking a stand on disability inclusion doesn’t have to be a daunting task....
Disability Inclusion at Specialized Bicycle Components: Innovation Center / R&D Test Lab

Disability Inclusion at Specialized Bicycle Components: Innovation Center / R&D Test Lab

by Nicole Ver Kuilen | May 24, 2019 | Disability Inclusion

Disability inclusion is more than just encouraging people with disabilities to participate. It’s about removing the barriers that limit participation. Nicole Ver Kuilen Founder, Forrest Stump Taking a stand on disability inclusion doesn’t have to be a daunting task....
Disability Inclusion at Specialized Bicycle Components: Retül Fit Program

Disability Inclusion at Specialized Bicycle Components: Retül Fit Program

by Nicole Ver Kuilen | May 24, 2019 | Disability Inclusion

Disability inclusion is more than just encouraging people with disabilities to participate. It’s about removing the barriers that limit participation. Nicole Ver Kuilen Founder, Forrest Stump Taking a stand on disability inclusion doesn’t have to be a daunting task....
Disability Inclusion at Specialized Bicycle Components: What can I do?

Disability Inclusion at Specialized Bicycle Components: What can I do?

by Nicole Ver Kuilen | May 24, 2019 | Disability Inclusion

Disability inclusion is more than just encouraging people with disabilities to participate. It’s about removing the barriers that limit participation. Nicole Ver Kuilen Founder, Forrest Stump Taking a stand on disability inclusion doesn’t have to be a daunting task....

runforreststump
Wow, wow, wow! What an incredible past few days of Wow, wow, wow! What an incredible past few days of meetings on Capitol Hill with @american_oandp! As a team, we held over 90 meetings (in 1️⃣ day 😵‍💫🦾), represented 30 states, and had over 100 passionate individuals using their voice to uplift the disability community. Time and time again, what stands out to me about this group of people - the O&P (Orthotics & Prosthetics) field - is the passion, humility, and compassion they have for this work. In this first photo I’m standing next to Shima @shima0329 and Riley @riigreer who are studying to be CPOs (certified prosthetist orthotists) at @alabamastateuniversity and @thecsu… 2 of the 13 Masters programs across the country. Out of all the careers they could have chosen, they chose this one! To help patients like me. That is incredible. My success is a direct result of their success and their ability to help me achieve my goals. I’m excited to share that cosponsors on HR 1990/ S 2556 are starting to roll in! This bill is truly patient centered and I’m excited for the opportunity it will bring for the future if we can get this past the finish line. Let’s keep going! #RunForrestStump #AOPAPolicyForum #WeAreOAndP #Advocate #Policy #HR1990 #S2556 #Orthotics #Prosthetics #Amputee #Access #WashingtonDC #CapitolHill #Disability #DisabilityRights #PatientCentered #Voice #Advocacy #Healthcare #Mobility
DC, we’ve arrived! Time to advocate for the Medi DC, we’ve arrived! Time to advocate for the Medicare O&P Patient Centered Care Act with @american_oandp at the #AOPAPolicyForum! One of my favorite things is being on Capitol Hill and having the opportunity to advocate for something I believe in. Add on top of that, joining along with 100+ other passionate individuals in a field I care so deeply about (and that has literally changed my life having access to prosthetic care)… well, you have a recipe for a powerful result! Excited to share more on this incredible journey. Follow along on @american_oandp for more as we come together to educate, advocate, and help expand access to O&P care! #RunForrestStump #WeAreOAndP #Advocate #Educate #Access #Orthotics #Prosthetics #WashingtonDC #Amputee #Disability #DisabilityRights #Medicare #Patient #Care #Healthcare
So proud of my sister @kylie.verkuilen on her grad So proud of my sister @kylie.verkuilen on her graduation from the University of Wisconsin - Madison this weekend! When Kylie was just a year old, she picked up a pen and started writing (well, at first scribbling 😂) and hasn’t put it down since! Growing up, she always had her head in a book - absorbing new information, challenging her perspective, and transporting herself into another world. She’s used her love of words and ability to communicate to not only advocate for herself, but to uplift the voices of others. To stand up for what she believes in. This weekend, she graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism with a minor in Reporting, Gender Studies, and Digital Studies. As her big sis, I couldn’t be prouder! To see the journey she’s been on since a child has been an absolute privilege to witness. And she can still pick me up!! 😉 Watch out world, another Ver Kuilen sister is coming at ya! I can’t wait to see what she does next! Love you Ky! #RunForrestStump #Graduation #Celebration #Sister #Proud #Madison #UWGrad #classof2022 #Journalism #Communications #Advocate #Writer #babysister #sister #sisters #amputee #prosthetic #disability #prosthesis
Throwback to April and the opportunity to go to DC Throwback to April and the opportunity to go to DC with this #DreamTeam as part of Limb Loss Awareness Month! I’m excited to be back to Capitol Hill next week with the @american_oandp for the 2022 #AOPAPolicyForum! Every advocacy experience is special. Seeing individuals use their voice to advocate for themselves and others is truly a gift and I was absolutely honored to be a witness to Hannah Cvancara’s @hannahcvancara story unfolding as she came to DC with AOPA and @evergreenpando to fight for her ability to join the Navy Nurse Corps as an amputee. Unfortunately, current policy limits someone who is missing a limb from joining the military. But Hannah has passed all the physical requirements, even doubling the scores in some areas! She is fit and ready to serve; her disability does not mean she’s without ability! We met with members of Congress to help tell Hannah’s story and find a way to change this. What was also incredible was seeing the teamwork that naturally unfolded to support Hannah. Her prosthetist Alex Gates @thegreatgatsey flew all the way from Washington state to DC to support her in these efforts, while also advocating for the O&P profession. To be a small part of this journey has been so special. It certainly feels like a calling to help others find their voice and tell their story. I’m excited to see more individuals find their inner “advocate” next week at AOPA’s Policy Forum! DC here we come! #RunForrestStump #WeAreOAndP #Advocate #Policy #WashingtonDC #Advocacy #Amputee #Disability #Access #Prosthetics #Orthotics #Military #Navy #Nurse #CapitolHill #DisabledButNotReally #DisabilityRights #FightForInclusion #Access #TBT #ThrowbackThursday
16 mile training run in the books today and well o 16 mile training run in the books today and well on my way to my second ever marathon… and the 1st with my best bud @catiefox26.2! We’re running the @missoulamarathon in June! The last marathon I trained for I gave myself 8 weeks… 🤦‍♀️ not enough time at all and it was pretty painful. This time I doubled it and have been following a 16 week training program. Wow, what a difference that makes! 😂 Procrastination won’t get the better of me this time. But I did have some major stump pain today and I’m calling all amputee and prosthetist friends to weigh in with some advice if you can!👇At mile 10 I started to experience some major pain in my residual limb. When I took my leg off it was completely numb. I did a quick massage, slapped it a few times and kept going. Same issue - completely numb. I tried to change my sock ply and tried a 1 ply, 2 ply, and even a 0 ply (no sock). Surprisingly, not wearing any sock helped regain some feeling in my limb, but then I was hitting the bone on the bottom. As a last resort, I ended up increasing my pace by more than a minute/mile and that actually seemed to do the trick! Blood started flowing back in and it was less painful. A really crazy, unique experience and I’m looking for answers! If this has ever happened to you or someone you’ve worked with, let me know. Help an amp sis out! Also special shout out to @alavram for being my sag wagon on the bike and 📸 man. ❤️ What a beautiful day to run and bike together! #RunForrestStump #DoGood #MarathonTraining #Marathon #MissoulaMarathon #BostonQualifier #Runner #Running #ILoveRunning #Run #LakeMichigan #Michigan #Amputee #RunningBlade #Prosthesis #Disability #Nature #Adaptive #IAmAdaptive #Stump #LifeWithoutLimitations
What a month it has been celebrating limb loss awa What a month it has been celebrating limb loss awareness! I think it’s important to recognize that word: “loss.” When you lose your mobility through an amputation - or any injury - it feels like an incredible loss of one’s self. Your identity, your independence, your health, your ability to do the things that bring you joy in life. Someone wise once told me that the role of a prosthetist is to “treat the greatest perceived loss” in their patient. Prosthetic care allows someone to turn grief into acceptance and move forward in their life. My greatest perceived loss at 10 years old was my identity as an athlete. It took 16 years to get that back once I got my running blade, and for that I am forever grateful. We look at disability often as being solely physical. But we must remember it is mental, it’s emotional, it’s social too. Our “loss” permeates each of those boundaries. And until we connect those dots within our healthcare system, people will continue to hold onto their loss for more years than they need to. So, this month I’m celebrating what it took to overcome my loss, my prosthetists who have helped me along my journey, and the advocacy that is still needed so our community can fully realize our potential! If you’re someone who is struggling in your limb loss journey or identifying how you can treat your “greatest perceived loss,” please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Being a support for other amputees like me has brought me so much joy and purpose, and I’d be happy to be a friend to you. And thanks to all of our allies out there who continue to uplift our community and move our efforts forward toward equal rights. We believe #MobilityIsNotALuxury. #RunForrestStump #Advocacy #Amputee #Prosthetics #Prosthetist #Run #Runner #Running #MobilityForAll #DisabilityRights #MovementIsMedicine #Athlete #IAmAdaptive #AdaptiveSports
So excited to share that my interview with @shelby So excited to share that my interview with @shelbystanger for @REI Wild Ideas Worth Living podcast dropped this week! I’d be honored if you listened to it! WIWL is one of my TOP FAVORITE podcasts that I listen to on @applepodcasts. Nat actually found it in 2017 and we were immediately hooked listening to Shelby and her amazing guests who’ve accomplished wild adventures all over the world. I can picture all the moments when these episodes changed me, inspired me, and pushed me forward in my own wild adventure as a disability advocate… Whether I was listening while running on the track in Edmonds, driving on I-5 back to Seattle, or walking around Lake Washington, WIWL has been with me every step of the way. So to be invited on this podcast! I mean wow, I was honored. To say it’s been a highlight of my 2022 is an understatement! Meeting Shelby was everything I dreamed it to be. She was so friendly and curious… I felt like I was chatting with a lifelong friend. Having @anniejof come to our home to record the podcast was so cool! Their entire team did an amazing job putting this together and a number of my family and friends have already reached out to share how it’s made them smile and brought them tears of joy. All that to say, I hope you listen to it! We take you back to our Forrest Stump 1,500 miles with @natharold @kathleenexplores and my mom. And I also chat about my work as a Do Good ambassador with @cotopaxi and @rompglobal! Check it out at the link in my bio and let me know what you think! I hope it inspires you to live your own wild adventure! 💚🌲 📸: @ajwells #RunForrestStump #DoGood #REI #REICoOp #WildIdeasWorthLiving #ShelbyStanger #Amputee #Prosthetics #RunningBlade #Disability #Access #Advocate #Healthcare #Adventure #Wild #Nature #Sunrise #Goals #Live
This photo melts my heart and confirms just how sm This photo melts my heart and confirms just how small and beautiful this world is! This story is almost too kismet to believe it… Tomorrow, I head to Washington DC with @american_oandp to join @hannahcvancara (pictured on the left) to help advocate on Capitol Hill for the limb loss community and disability inclusion in the military. Hannah arrived yesterday and while walking around DC was approached by the woman on the right, asking for directions. This is the text I got from Hannah after they met: “Guess who I ran into on the street?! She asked me randomly for directions and she noticed my prosthetic leg, mentioned that she knew a girl who started a nonprofit called Forrest Stump. We freaked out and talked about our goals here in DC and all the work you’ve been doing! She really wished she could see you! I guess Julie played softball with you??” When I got this message, I immediately had the biggest smile on my face! You see, the woman on the right is Julie @jpetty61 an amazing woman and friend from when I lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan and who I played softball with. But not just any softball team, these ladies were MY PEOPLE! So supportive and loving. They embraced me fully and treated me as their own. And to bring this story even more full circle, it was a question I was asked in the dugout after one of our softball games that contributed to me starting Forrest Stump! One of the ladies asked, “Can I see your other prosthetic legs?” To which I answered, I only have one. What you see in the media is not the reality for most amputees; most amputees only get one prosthesis - just for walking - because that’s all insurance will pay for. I realized then that there was much needed awareness on this issue. Thank you Hannah and Julie for making my day! I love how small and beautiful this world is. And, Julie I wish I could have run into you in person. Next time I’m in Ann Arbor, we’ve got to get the team back together! Go Coleman’s! Looking forward to riding this high note into the week and for all of our meetings on Capitol Hill tomorrow and Tuesday! #RunForrestStump #LLLDAM #WashingtonDC #Advocacy #Amputee #Access #Prosthetics #LimbLoss
Thank you @cotopaxi for helping to uplift my story Thank you @cotopaxi for helping to uplift my story - and that of millions of other amputees - fighting for our ability to access the prosthetic care we need to live our lives without limitations. Proud to share this message on #InternationalWomensDay and in support of @rompglobal! • #repost • An Outside Perspective “When it gets to the point where I forget that I’m even an amputee, this has allowed me to transcend to a world in which I’m experiencing reality, just like everyone else.” Nicole Ver Kuilen is fighting for the fundamental rights of amputees. Through her work with the Range of Motion Project (@rompglobal), @runforreststump is helping to raise global awareness and provide prosthetics to amputees without access. Vid: @oster.jacob and @jacob.callaghan #gearforgood #internationalwomensday
“People who do things differently spark our curi “People who do things differently spark our curiosity, and this season we’re on a journey to chase that spark.” I am honored to be featured in @cotopaxi Spring ‘22 campaign to share my work as a disability advocate and the incredible work of the Range of Motion Project (ROMP) @rompglobal to provide prosthetic care to those in need! Disability representation in the media and among corporate brands matters. But how often does that representation call attention to the discriminatory policies and access challenges our community faces on a daily basis? Let’s be honest, it’s less than 1%. The narrative you’re fed often sidesteps the realities of people like me, using our inspirational stories to entertain or gain goodwill, discarding disabled people once they’re no longer inspirational. Very rarely do these stories bring awareness to our realities, forcing viewers to examine their own complicity in the disability community’s endless battle for equal rights. I am honored to say Cotopaxi is one who is doing it right! Through their Spring campaign, I was able to speak my truth and bring the real narrative to the forefront. Not only that, but as a #BCorp, they are funding this very message, helping uplift people out of poverty through ROMP’s great work providing access to prosthetic care in Latin America. Check out the link in my bio to see the entire campaign, watch the amazing short film they created, and the beautiful article written by @carolinemaahs! This campaign would not be possible without the creatives behind it, doing things differently and bringing their own spark to this magic! Huge kudos to: Director: @oster.jacob Producer: @matkestle DP/Edit/Music/Sound + Color: @jacob.callaghan Photographer: @ajwells Art Director: @ainsperl And shout out to the beautiful humans who I had the privilege of doing this shoot with, bringing so much joy and laughter to my life, my friends @kiontestorey and @linagarada! #DoGood #RunForrestStump #Spring22
I’m excited to share a new step in my career and I’m excited to share a new step in my career and life mission as a #DisabilityAdvocate! I have joined the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) @american_oandp as Manager of Public Engagement! Back in 2017, when we started #ForrestStump, one of the first groups I connected with was AOPA. They were incredibly supportive of our work to push running blades and other activity-specific prosthetics, orthotics, and beyond as medically necessary healthcare for the disability community. Even when others couldn’t see the inequity or said “this isn’t possible,” AOPA always encouraged us forward. As soon as we were done with our 1,500 Mile journey, @natharold and I packed our bags and took a red eye flight on Spirit ✈️😝 joining AOPA in Washington, DC for their policy forum. Our first time meeting with members of Congress!! In the five years since then, I’ve partnered with the AOPA team regularly and have always been inspired by their work to be a trusted partner, advocating for and serving the O&P community. As someone who has - for the past 20 years - had my life transformed by access to a prosthesis, there is no greater mission to me than working to expand that to others! I’m excited to join AOPA in this new role to help communicate the importance of orthotic and prosthetic care, and help raise the profile of O&P. Bringing my nonprofit and communications background, it is my goal to raise the public awareness and knowledge about the world of O&P, ultimately helping to ensure equitable access, promoting innovative care, and transforming lives like mine! 🦾🦿 Here’s to an exciting new chapter and more visits to DC! (I’ll still be working remotely from Washington state 👩🏼‍💻🌲⛰). Huge kudos and thank you to all who have been on this journey with me! 📸cred: @ajwells Shot for: @cotopaxi #RunForrestStump #Advocate #Disability #DisabilityRights #Access #Prosthetics #AOPA #WeAreOandP #WashingtonDC #Advocacy #Nonprofit #Communications #Equity #Advance #Equality #Amputee
20 years!! What a day to celebrate being alive! Tw 20 years!! What a day to celebrate being alive! Twenty years that I have been cancer free. Twenty years since my amputation saved my life. This portrait, on this day, my #ampuversary (01.21.2002) means everything to me. It shows what I lost. But more than that, it shows what I’ve gained. Just 5 years ago, I would not have shown my stump to anyone, let alone on here - the biggest stage of all. For the majority of my life, I hid my disability, ashamed of what my body had become. Acquiring a disability comes with it not only the physical trauma to your body, but the societal trauma as well. The stares. The shame. The minimization and misjudgment. To be able to stand before you today without hiding who I am - all of me - is the greatest gift I could ever give myself. The confidence to share my body in all of its beauty. In all of its strength. Thank you to the incredible 📸 @ajwells for capturing this journey to self-love and helping me see myself in this beautiful light. This is something I will cherish forever. For those of you who are grieving, or afraid to share your full self, it’s ok. Losing a limb or acquiring any type of physical disability is a long-term grief process. The grief never leaves you; you just learn to carry it. Healing does not have a time limit. But I want you to know that feeling good about your disability is in reach. Being proud of your body is possible. So, here’s to another year… showing off my stump, being proud of who I am, and moving my body in all the ways that make me feel alive! Let’s go! #ShowYourStump #RunForrestStump #BodyPositive #SelfLove #Love #Amputee #Amputation #20Years #Remission #CancerSucks #Cancer #Chemo #CancerSurvivor #Life #Celebrate #Disability #DisabilityAwareness #Nature #Athlete #Run #Hike #Outdoors #Grateful #Alive
Who knew 5 years could feel like one day with you! Who knew 5 years could feel like one day with you! 🥰❤️ Thank you @natharold for being my adventure buddy, life partner, and everything in between. Here’s to more mountain tops, beach walks, cross-country triathlons, and dreaming the biggest dreams with you by my side! #RunForrestStump #Love #HappyAnniversary #Partner #Pride #LGBTQ🌈 #Goals #Dreams #Hike #Triathlon #Adventure #Nature #OutandOutside
Today is International Day of Persons with Disabil Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities #IDPD, a day which aims to promote the rights and well-being of people like me in all spheres of society and development. It also happens to be ROMP’s biggest event of the year to raise funds, awareness, and support for people living with limb loss who don’t have access to prosthetic care! Coincidence? I think not! One of the most magical moments of my life this past year was going to Guatemala with @rompglobal and meeting Candelaria @candyvelasquez2 and Sheidy @sheidy_lopez14 pictured here. Two young women who both lost their legs to osteosarcoma just like me. To be a small part of their journey and helping to advocate for their dream to run again was such a privilege. I’m so incredibly proud of them and proud of the work ROMP is doing to restore mobility to those most in need. Tonight, we’ll be celebrating just that and I hope you’ll join me!! The event - #ROMPLevelUp - is at 8pm CT. It’s virtual, it’s free, and there are going to be so many joyful moments. Bring your Kleenexes! We can truly honor IDPD today by celebrating the disability community and giving back to those in need. I hope you’ll join me! *link in bio to register* #RunForrestStump #ROMPGlobal #WeJustFeltLikeRunning #MobilityForAll #Amputee #Prosthetic #Advocate #Disability #DisabilityRights #Access #HumanRight #Run #Athlete #RunningBlade
Happy 21st Birthday to my little brother Simon! My Happy 21st Birthday to my little brother Simon! My bald buddy since 2000. 🙃🙂 Simon visited me this summer in Seattle on his way to Alaska. He drove over 8,000 miles by himself to pursue a lifelong dream of his: being a hunting guide in the Alaska wild. His adventure had bumps along the way with grizzlies, COVID-19 border-crossing challenges, and some unexpected personalities. But he persevered through it all and embraced the adventure. I’m excited to see him now chasing his dreams in Grand Marais, Minnesota where he sees wolves and moose on the daily. Adventure must run in the family! 🤔🐻 I’m so proud of him. His trek reminded me a lot of 2017 when we set off on #ForrestStump and our 1,500 miles. A motto that @kathleenexplores @natharold and I adopted on our journey: “Start Before You’re Ready!” 😝 We knew we’d never feel completely prepared, qualified, or ready to start… especially knowing all that was up against us. How do you ride a bike? (Kathleen) What if my prosthesis breaks? (Nicole) Where are we actually going? (Nat) It’s a good reminder… The biggest challenge is simply to start! Take the first step. Embrace the tornado of excitement and confusion at the same time. Lean into the discomfort of fear. Right now is a good enough time as any to get going on your wildest idea! Thank you Simon for inspiring me and happy birthday!! 🥳 #RunForrestStump #StartBeforeYoureReady #Birthday #Hiking #Seattle #PNW #Prosthesis #Amputee #Disability #Brother #Adventure #Hike #Nature #Outdoor #Cancer #CancerSucks #Chemo #Inspiration
Wow! What an honor!! Huge thanks to @merrell and @ Wow! What an honor!! Huge thanks to @merrell and @vice for naming me one of three Grand Prize Winners for their Future 40 Under 40 Changemakers campaign! I was honored to share my story and passion for #ForrestStump and @rompglobal and the work we’re doing to build a more inclusive and sustainable outdoor environment for all. A snippet from the VICE article: ➡️Her advocacy has intended to spark a fundamental question in people’s minds: The technology to help those in need of mobility assistance is already available, so why do nine out of 10 disabled people in the world not have access to those truly life-changing options? This injustice is what continues to animate Nicole. She shared, “I believe we can accomplish, with policy and advocacy, expanded access to assistive technologies. I truly believe that is possible. We can envision a future where mobility aids can be as commonplace as grocery carts at supermarkets. If all of us as a society can take a sense of accountability about access and provide those things to individuals.” ⬅️ Hope for the future is what drives me forward. I love that one of the foundations of the #Future40 initiative is “a stubborn dream that the best is yet to come.” I believe it is. Together, we can make it happen. Read the full article by VICE “Running Down a Dream: Nicole Ver Kuilen Can’t Be Stopped” at the link in my bio! Thank you Merrell for the work you do to elevate the disability community! #RunForrestStump #ROMPGlobal #MobilityForAll #Prosthetics #Access #Merrell #VICE #OutdoorsForAll #Inclusion #Access #AssistiveTechnology #Future40Under40 #40Under40 #Run #Trail #Nature #Accessibility #Disability
What an incredible weekend filming and modeling wi What an incredible weekend filming and modeling with @cotopaxi! I’m coming off such a high from being around amazingly positive and talented people for this photo and video shoot. If Cotopaxi isn’t yet your favorite brand, they need to be! “Do Good” is more than a motto, it’s truly who they are to the core. I was honored to have been asked to share my story and life purpose as part of their upcoming campaign and bring more attention to @rompglobal and the disability community. To have @linagarada and @kiontestorey, two amazing individuals with disabilities, by my side meant the world to me. Can’t wait to share this film with all of you! It’s going to be magical. @oster.jacob and @jacob.callaghan are the brains and brawn behind it all! Plus, some stunning photography and moments that could only be captured by @ajwells. 🎥 📸 I want to thank @matkestle and @ainsperl for their work lifting up the disability community through this shoot. They live and breathe the Cotopaxi mission and it was such a pleasure to work with them. Excited for their Spring ‘22 catalog to come out! There is some amazing new gear so get your 🛒 ready!! The colors are on point!!👌 #RunForrestStump #Cotopaxi #GearForGood #ROMPGlobal #MobilityForAll #DisabilityRights #Disability #Amputee #Healthcare #Access #DoGood
So honored to have been the Keynote speaker alongs So honored to have been the Keynote speaker alongside Congressman Erik Paulsen at AOPA’s National Assembly last week in Boston! It was a truly surreal and special experience. It’s been 18 months, almost to the day, since I’ve been at a conference or spoken in public. To be back sharing my story and advocating for the disability community was a blessing. And to be able to share the stage with a fellow Minnesotan and outdoor enthusiast, whose Congressional district was the very district I grew up in and where I was diagnosed with cancer!! I mean, it doesn’t feel more like home than that. I have to admit, I was a bit anxious going into it. I was out of practice and Zoom presentations don’t feel quite the same as being on stage. But as my Mom reminded me, I’m just a messenger. This message is bigger than me. This message is bigger than all of us! My speech was a culmination of 4 years of hard work, dedication, and persistence to this message by so many incredible people. Something we started in 2017, four women swimming, biking, and running down the Pacific coast to now almost 10,000 people signing a petition to support. I could not be prouder of what I shared and all the people who have helped me refine this message over the past four years. One of my favorite lines from my speech was this: “It’s been 50 years since running blades were introduced to the O&P community; three decades since microprocessor knees hit the market. How much longer are we going to wait? How many more generations will we allow to go without access? At what point will this become the standard of care?” It’s time for the disability community to take center stage. To have access to the adaptive sports and fitness devices we need to be physically active and included in all facets of society. I’m excited for what’s to come in the years ahead. It’s a blessing to have been able to have found this calling as an advocate and to join so many others in the pursuit of freedom for people with disabilities. #RunForrestStump #WeJustFeltLikeRunning #Advocacy #Amputee #Prosthetics #Speaking #Keynote #Disability #DisabilityRights #Run #Swim #Bike #1500Miles #ForrestStump #AOPA2021 #Boston
Thank you to everyone who made my birthday today s Thank you to everyone who made my birthday today so special 🥳… from the texts, calls, posts and messages! To the 37 donors who raised more than $2,250 for ROMP! To the entire team at @cuboulder Biomechanics Lab (Dr Alena Grabowski, Kara Ashcraft, Stephen Allen, Ang Montgomery) for the opportunity to bike and run all day in the name of science. What better way to spend my 30th birthday than in the name of research for the amputee community!🤘🧪 Today and tomorrow I’m taking part in two research studies working to advance the O&P industry’s knowledge for optimum prosthetic prescription and set-up for activity-specific prosthetics, specifically running and cycling legs! The first study is for female amputee runners, helping to identify optimum stiffness categories of running blades for women. This is such a huge study in that it’s focusing on the female body and how we can best make running blades for women. For the cycling leg study, we will be playing around with different pylon and crank arm lengths and measuring their impact on performance and comfort. There’s so much room for growth and opportunity in both of these areas and it’s exciting to be able to be a small part of this work… I’ll be supplying the sweat, and lots of saliva. 😂😝 Thank you again to everyone who made today special and wished me happy birthday! It was an incredible way to ring in the big 3️⃣0️⃣!!! 📸 cred: @kara.ashcraft6 #RunForrestStump #Amputee #Prosthetics #Run #Bike #biomechanics #boulder #colorado #mobility #runningblade #disability #disabledandproud #research #science
Tomorrow I turn the big 30 and I feel so blessed t Tomorrow I turn the big 30 and I feel so blessed to have spent three decades on this incredible Earth, living life to the fullest! That opportunity wouldn’t be possible without my incredible family, and the doctors, nurses, prosthetists, and nonprofits who helped cure me from cancer and gave me back my mobility. For my birthday, I’d love to pay this gift forward to someone else who needs it most. My goal is to raise $1,500 to provide one prosthesis to a Range of Motion Project @rompglobal patient in Guatemala, who I will be working with firsthand in October! In October, I will be traveling to Guatemala with Natalie Harold @natharold, Stephanie Harold @stephharold, and Katya Madden @katya.madden, to volunteer for a week in our clinic. Nat and Katya will be casting, fitting, and fabricating prostheses all week long. Steph and I will be assisting in that process, as well as helping our patients’ voices be heard! I also look forward to serving as a peer mentor to these new amputees who may need a helping hand, kind smile, and someone to tell them that the journey gets easier. If you’d like to help me celebrate 30 years of life and giving mobility to others, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to ROMP here. Thank you for your support!! #RunForrestStump #ROMPGlobal #MobilityForAll #amputee #prosthetic #birthday #fundraiser #giveback #payitforward #walk #hike #move #ecuador #guatemala
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