For most of my life, my motto has been “No limb, no problem.” Born without hands and with only one leg, I’ve faced my share of challenges. But nothing has tested me like the threat we now face: the proposed elimination of $4.2 million in funding for the National Limb Loss Resource Center (LLRC), which accounts for over half of the Amputee Coalition’s annual operating budget.
That funding doesn’t just keep an organization running—it sustains the hope, health, and independence of over 5.6 million Americans who have limb loss and limb difference. The LLRC was instrumental in my own journey. It introduced me to a network of peer mentors, rehabilitation experts, and inspiring role models—firefighters, teachers, combat veterans—who showed me what was possible. Because of these connections, my limb difference became an inconvenience, not a limitation.
I am now pursuing a graduate degree in Social Studies and preparing for a career as a high school teacher. My success is built on the foundation of support I received through Amputee Coalition programs—camps, youth development programs, peer groups, and guidance on rehabilitation and prosthetic care. These resources made it possible for me to walk, to live independently, to learn, and to thrive.
Each year, the LLRC serves thousands of individuals who have limb loss, helping them access high-quality prosthetics, rehabilitation, health navigation, and peer support. This work restores mobility, dignity, and the belief that life after limb loss can be full and vibrant. Without this support, thousands of people—many of them newly adjusting to limb loss—would be left adrift, without the critical services that make recovery possible. This is the only federally funded program that provides these services and programs.
Cutting this funding isn’t just shortsighted—it’s cruel. People who have limb loss are students, veterans , workers, and leaders in our communities. We are fully capable of contributing to society, but only when we have access to the resources that help us succeed. The LLRC doesn’t just offer information—it offers a pathway to succeeding in life.
Congress must act to level fund the National Limb Loss Resource Center (4.2M) for fiscal year 2026 (FY26) in the Labor Health and Human Services (LHHS) Appropriations Bill. For us, this is not about dollars—it’s about independence, dignity, and being part of the mainstream in American society.
If we want to live in a country where disability doesn’t mean defeat, then we must preserve the institutions that make resilience possible. The LLRC ensures that for people like me, “No limb, no problem” can remain true.
Nicky Halberstam is a Youth Leadership Council Member at the Amputee Coalition.
