A Night of Impact: SEBCM’s Activation Celebration at the 2025 AOPA National Assembly

Recap: So Every BODY Can Move Activation Celebration at the 2025 AOPA National Assembly

On Thursday, September 4, So Every BODY Can Move (SEBCM) partnered with the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA), with generous support from the International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics (IIOP), to host an unforgettable Activation Celebration at the AOPA National Assembly. The evening brought together clinicians, advocates, industry leaders, and legislators to honor the movement that is rewriting access to mobility care.

Kicking off the Night

The night opened with music, light refreshments, and a room buzzing with connection. Nicole Ver Kuilen, SEBCM’s Campaign Lead, set the tone with a powerful welcome and update on the movement’s mission, vision, and core values. She celebrated the advocates, core teams, state leads, advisors, and Steering Committee whose relentless work is turning policy ideas into real change.

Nicole shared our celebration of success—because the legislative strategy is working—while underscoring the urgency to keep the momentum alive. In just a few short years, 12 states have enacted SEBCM legislation, including four victories in 2025 alone, and 15 more introduced bills this year, demonstrating that the movement is gaining unstoppable momentum toward nationwide access to life-changing prosthetic and orthotic care.

Honoring Our Partners and Sponsors

The celebration honored the partners and sponsors whose support made the evening—and the broader SEBCM movement—possible. Bill Perno, Interim President & CEO of the Amputee Coalition (SEBCM’s backbone organization), opened this segment by highlighting their commitment to supporting SEBCM’s mission and the power of partnership in driving equitable healthcare. As a person with lived experience, Bill spoke from the heart about why the SEBCM movement is so critical for individuals who rely on access to prosthetic and orthotic care.

We were honored to welcome Arlene Gillis, founder of IIOP, who shared her dedication to SEBCM’s mission and how sponsor investment fuels both landmark events like this celebration and the nationwide effort to expand access to life-changing prosthetic and orthotic care. Brittany Jones followed with a moving personal story, sharing her journey to becoming a clinician at IIOP and an advocate for disability rights, illustrating the human impact behind the policies SEBCM is fighting to change.

Legislative Voices and State Leaders

Policy change is the heartbeat of SEBCM, and the evening spotlighted the lawmakers making it happen. We were honored to host Representative Monica Stonier, Washington State House Majority Leader and sponsor of SEBCM’s Washington legislation, who delivered a powerful keynote that underscored why this work matters now more than ever. She spoke about the unique strength of our grassroots advocacy and how the voices of people directly impacted by limb loss and limb difference—along with the clinicians, O&P professionals, and allied health providers who support them—are what drive legislative success.

Rep. Stonier reminded our community that even in today’s challenging political climate, meaningful progress is possible when communities stay organized, share their stories, and refuse to let politics stand in the way. She pointed to SEBCM’s strategy as a model of extraordinary grassroots advocacy, backed by a national organizing framework that keeps a hyper-local focus and tailors each campaign to the needs of individual states. This approach shows that access to life-changing prosthetic and orthotic care is a truly non-partisan issue.

Her remarks were both a celebration of what has been accomplished and a rallying call for advocates everywhere to keep showing up, speaking out, and proving that policy change is achievable

Honoring Florida State Leaders

Florida leaders Senator Carlos Guillermo-Smith and Representative Rita Harris were also honored for championing state-level reforms for disability rights. Both shared their motivation to support future SEBCM efforts in Florida, signaling strong momentum for the movement’s next chapter in the state.

Introducing the Vision Council

The celebration marked the launch of the SEBCM Vision Council, a new alliance of partners investing in the sustainability and growth of SEBCM. Leaders Brian Long of BrainRobotics, Jeff Collins of Cascade, Jimmy Capra of Click Medical, and Maggie Baumer of Hanger Clinic each shared why they are backing SEBCM and tied their remarks to SEBCM’s core values like Fierce Urgency of Now and We Rise by Lifting Each Other.

It was especially powerful to hear directly from these industry leaders and feel how deeply committed they are to supporting SEBCM’s mission. Their words reinforced that access to prosthetic and orthotic care is not only sound policy—it is a moral imperative that demands collective action and long-term investment.

Stories That Drive Change

One of the evening’s most powerful moments came during a fireside chat moderated by Nicole Ver Kuilen, who framed the conversation around what’s at stake when people can’t access the prosthetic and orthotic care they need—and what changes when they can.

Nicole welcomed two extraordinary advocates. Deana Darby, Oklahoma State Lead for SEBCM and Business Development Manager for Hanger Clinic, was born with a rare limb difference and has spent her life defying limits. From cheerleader to skier to relentless statehouse advocate, she’s proving that access to care is a lifeline, not a luxury.

Lynda Fisher, one of SEBCM’s first Georgia advocates, shared her journey of loss and resilience. A lifelong athlete and mother of four, Lynda lost her daughter Sophia and her leg in a tragic cycling accident. Through grief and recovery, she found purpose in ensuring no one faces isolation or barriers to care.

Together, Deana and Lynda showed that SEBCM is about far more than policy. Their stories revealed how movement restores dignity, protects mental health, and transforms lives—making clear that movement is medicine, and the need for change is urgent.

Closing the Night with Momentum

The evening ended with heartfelt thanks and a powerful call to action from Teri Kuffel, Executive Director of the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA)—one of SEBCM’s founding partners and a cornerstone of our Steering Committee. Teri also serves as SEBCM’s Minnesota State Lead and a key advisor on our legislative committee, bringing decades of advocacy experience to this movement.

Nicole first met Teri during a 2018 Capitol Hill visit, where Teri welcomed her into the Minnesota team and introduced her to the art of lobbying. That same trip included a photo with Representative Tim Walz—now Governor of Minnesota—who went on to sign SEBCM’s Minnesota bill into law six years later, a full-circle moment made possible by Teri’s mentorship and drive.

Teri shared AOPA’s commitment and unwavering partnership with SEBCM and urged everyone to keep pushing until every state guarantees access to life-changing prosthetic and orthotic care. Her words reflected both the progress we’ve made and the collective determination to finish the job.

We sincerely appreciate Teri’s leadership and the support from AOPA staff, Ashley Vande Bunte, and Joy Klapp for helping make this event a huge success!