One of ABC's goals is to develop strategic relationships with associations, coalitions, foundations, consumer groups, and related organizations that share ABC's vision for quality health care and which will work to enhance the O&P profession.

ABC-certified practitioners concern themselves with wound care on a regular basis. Woundcarenet.com is an on-line source for information related to the care of wounds. It contains a product resource directory, information on the journal Advances in Skin & Wound Care, related books on the topic, breaking news, and a calendar of events.

Like ABC, The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD) strives for the highest possibible quality of life for people with disabilities. At NCPAD, it is believed that exercise is for every body, and everyone can reap benefits from regular physical activity. Having a disability does not mean you cannot be healthy. The NCPAD offers a variety of resources to help people with disabilities become more active.

The World Association of Persons with Disabilities (WAPD) advances the interests of persons with disabilities with the firm belief that all are entitled to high quality of life. WAPD links the "disAbled" and supporters to current leading edge disAbility information via various mediums of communication.


In celebration of the 10^th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities created the website www.disAbility.gov as a one-stop online information source for people with disabilities. Its mission is to bring information on Federal programs, services, and resources to Americans with disabilities, their families, employers, and service providers. It also seeks to promote awareness of disAbility issues to the general public.

The International Polio Network (IPN) provides information to polio survivors, their families, and the health care community and promotes networking among the post-polio community. The IPN publishes a Post-Polio Directory and Polio Network News, Polio and Post-Polio Fact Sheet, as well as other publications. Custom-made orthoses fitted by ABC-certified orthotists help improve functioning in polio patients.

An organization that concerns itself with amputation is the American Professional Wound Care Association. It is also interested in preserving and/or enhancing the quality of life for these patients, regardless of the cause of the amputation. Of course, ABC shares this goal.

One of ABC's goals is to educate the public about O & P. Along those lines, ABC has developed a relationship with an organization that educates people about disabilities and provides news and information. The Disability News Service, Inc. is the first for-profit, disabled-owned news service in the United States to regularly provide disability-related news and information to the national media. The company was founded in 1997 and offers news, resources, a listserv, event calender for consumers, and promotes employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

The mission of the Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange (CIRRIE) is to facilitate the sharing of information and expertise in rehabilitation research between the U.S. and other countries. ABC now has a representative to CIRRIE, Mr. Jonathan Bowman, CPO, and is proud to offer information on orthotics and prosthetics for dissemination throughout the United States and beyond.



One such alliance is with the Case Management Society of America (CMSA), an organization that is participating actively in shaping the current and emerging healthcare environment to promote the development of high quality healthcare services. As you know, many patient referrals come from case managers.

Another organization with which ABC is working to build a relationship is the National Association For Home Care  (NAHC).  Like ABC, the NAHC works to foster as much independence as possible for individuals with disabilities, in this case, through the intervention of home services.  ABC strives to reach out to these physical and occupational therapists, nurses, case managers and others who take part in delivering home care to persons with disabilities.  Many of these individuals are involved in the process of referring patients to orthotists and prosthetists.   As an organization, ABC’s goal is to familiarize the NAHC with ABC’s credentials so that these referrals are to ABC-certified practitioners and ABC-accredited facilities. 

Another organization with which ABC is working to build a relationship is the National Association For Home Care  (NAHC).  Like ABC, the NAHC works to foster as much independence as possible for individuals with disabilities, in this case, through the intervention of home services.  ABC strives to reach out to these physical and occupational therapists, nurses, case managers and others who take part in delivering home care to persons with disabilities.  Many of these individuals are involved in the process of referring patients to orthotists and prosthetists.   As an organization, ABC’s goal is to familiarize the NAHC with ABC’s credentials so that these referrals are to ABC-certified practitioners and ABC-accredited facilities. 

Two important aspects of the mission of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners are to establish health care standards and promote access to quality health care.  ABC shares these with the AANP as we work to provide the best possible quality of life for persons who need orthotic and prosthetic care.  It is important that we command the attention of the nurse practitioners, as they refer patients to orthotists and prosthetists. 

Another healthcare organization with which ABC has much in common is the American Academy of Wound Management (AAWM).  It is also a 501c6 organization that credentials multidisciplinary practitioners in the field of wound management.  It is important that the AAWM seek out ABC- certified practitioners in ABC-accredited facilities.

Webofcare.com is a website targeting both professional caregivers and non-professional family caregivers in long-term healthcare.  It is a source of healthcare products, family support solutions pertaining to long-term care, healthcare information, chats, cost-saving tools, and discussion boards.  Through a relationship with webofcare.com, the ABC is encouraging referral to ABC-credentialed practitioners and facilities. 

The International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM) is an organization that, like ABC, is working to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities.  It is the major scientific and educational international society for practitioners in the field of physical and rehabilitation medicine.  With this shared goal, ABC and the ISPRM compliment one another – ABC in setting standards and the ISPRM in working to improve physicians’ understanding of the dynamics of disabilities. 

One organization that has been around for quite a long time – since just after Congress passed the National Rehabilitation Act of 1920 – is the National Rehabilitation Association (NRA).  ABC wants to reach out to their members, which include rehabilitation counselors, physical, speech and occupational therapists, independent living instructors, job trainers, and others with the ABC message regarding certification and accreditation. 

Rehabilitation nurses play an important role in making referrals to orthotists and prosthetists.  Along these lines, ABC is working to build a relationship with the major national rehabilitation nurses organization, the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN).  This organization works to help prepare nurses with the skills and acumen they need to provide rehabilitative care to patients.  Through their work, they help improve the quality of life for persons with disability and chronic illness.