Biennium report 2023

BIENNIUM REPORT 2021-2023 20 Mariette is the secretary of ISPO and the chair of the membership committee. She is part of several activities internationally and nationally to promote membership involvement and education within the prosthetics and orthotics profession. She started working as a clinician and after starting as a lecturer at the Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa she served on the Health Professions Council within the Occupational, Arts Therapist and Orthotics and Prosthetics Board. Membership Committee Mariette Deist Secretary ISPO and Chair, Membership Committee What does ISPO represent for you? ISPO represents a commitment to advance the field of prosthetics and orthotics. This will improve the lives of people with disabilities and promote a greater understanding and acceptance of disability in society. This is the only association that represents the entire multi- disciplinary team within one organisation. With one goal and mission, the multi-disciplinary team can work together to present the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and evidence-based practice. How does your committee contribute to ISPO’s mission and vision? The membership committee consists of 10 members. Each member is responsible to create a good communication platform between the national membership societies and the executive board. The mission and vision are to serve people with disabilities through orthotics and prosthetics. By building this association with more individuals caring for this cause, people with disabilities have a larger group of people that can create solutions for the challenges that they have. This will create a greater understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities. This committee contributes to this by recruiting new members, retaining existing members, and encouraging participation from strong membership societies but also from underrepresented groups. The committee promotes diversity and inclusivity of all stakeholders. What were the main objectives and goals of the committee during the biennium? Contacting all the presidents of the membership societies at least once within the two years was a main goal. Growing the organisation after the COVID pandemic was important for us although we were aware of a lot of challenges that people experienced. Finances being a huge influencer for a lot of societies. The committee believes that a better communication channel and encouragement to be involved within each membership society will create a culture of awareness within a multidisciplinary team with the same vision to promote the use and availability of orthotics and prosthetics within a disabled population. Advocacy Committee 2021-2023 Elizabeth Mansfield (Chair) Ghosh Soikat Louise Puli Jean-Pierre Lissac Yeti Raj Niraula Yudith Chivata Rune Nilsen Gisela Nieto What’s your outlook/committee outlook for the next biennium? The future is very bright for the Advocacy & Awareness committee in the next biennium We have an engaged and enthusiastic committee with the relevant experience needed to support and enhance our advocacy efforts. We will be actively utilizing the new ISPO portal as well as continuing to expand our use of social media tools to efficiently maximize our awareness efforts. We will continue to promote ISPO “brand awareness” as a way to foster trust in ISPO, its National Member Societies, and the role of assistive technology, rehabilitation medicine and prosthetics and orthotics in improving the quality of lives around the globe.