SEBCM Activation Celebration at AAOP 2026 & SEBCM Documentary Premiere Recap

SEBCM Activation Celebration and SEBCM Documentary Premiere at AAOP 2026 Recap

This month at the AAOP’s 52nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium, we hosted our biannual SEBCM Activation Celebration — and it was a night that reminded us just how far this movement has come. Standing in a room filled with advocates, coalition leaders, clinicians, partners, and legislators committed to fair and life-changing access to prosthetic, orthotic, and mobility care, we were reminded that this work is bigger than any one state, any one bill, or any one organization. It is a collective effort — and it is working.

With the support of our SEBCM Steering Committee partner, the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists, we proudly spotlighted our SEBCM Tennessee coalition and heard directly from local advocates and SEBCM Tennessee bill sponsor Senator Shane Reeves. His leadership reflects what thoughtful, collaborative policymaking looks like when legislators truly listen to their constituents. The Cole and Cooper families, part of the Jordan Thomas Foundation community, shared what fair access has meant for their daughters — grounding the evening in lived experience and reminding us that policy is ultimately about participation, opportunity, dignity, and community.

We are deeply grateful to the Jordan Thomas Foundation for their partnership and for inviting their families and community to lead and advocate alongside us. Their voices are shaping the future of access in Tennessee and beyond.

The evening concluded with the premiere of a fine cut of the SEBCM documentary — a powerful reflection on advocates and leaders across the country who are building this movement state by state. As the film played, the room grew still. You could feel the weight of what has been accomplished in just a few short years — and the responsibility of what comes next. The documentary captures more than legislative wins. It captures courage, persistence, collaboration, and the growing momentum toward passing legislation in 28 states by the LA 2028 Paralympic Games and laying down the foundation for federal reform.

We will be releasing the final version soon, along with details for a national tour and ways to host a screening in your own community.

From all of us at SEBCM, thank you to Cole Carlson and Tamarack HTI for sponsoring the celebration, to our SEBCM Tennessee leaders for their care and leadership in bringing it to life, and to AAOP for creating the space for our community to gather, reflect, and recommit to the work ahead.

Thank you to our Steering Committee – Amputee Coalition, AOPA, AAOP, and NAAOP, and our Vision Council – Bionic PO, Brain Robotics, Cascade, Click Medical, Hanger Clinic, and Rifton Equipment for their continued support of SEBCM!

Missed our Activation Celebration at AAOP ’26? Don’t worry. We’re bringing the SEBCM energy to AOPA’s National Assembly in Las Vegas this September — and we can’t wait to see you there.

Jordan Thomas, SEBCM Tennessee Lead Advocate & Foundation Founder & Hannah Howlington, SEBCM Tennessee Co-State Lead

Senator Shane Reeves, SEBCM Tennessee Bill Sponsor