FLASH: The speaker at our June meeting was Mr. James Aberson, ADA Coordinator Chatham County.

                        He gave a very informative and detailed description of what our rights were and what we should

                        expect from businesses and buildings we encounter. He asked that we e-mail him with any problems

                        we find where ADA regulations are not met. His e-mail address is: JEAberso@chathamcounty.org

    Coastal Empire Polio Survivors Association, Inc. is a non-profit organization developed in 1997 in Savannah, Georgia by three polio survivors, who were experiencing “The Late Effects of Polio.” Our group has grown to about thirty-five active and forty inactive members, who live in Georgia and South Carolina. Most of us are experiencing the common symptoms of Post-Polio Syndrome, which include; increased fatigue, new muscular weakness and muscle and/or joint pain. Other symptoms are breathing and swallowing difficulties, sleeping problems, muscle twitching, decreased endurance and cold intolerance.

CEPSA serves as a vital resource for polio survivors, their families and friends, and the medical community. Our main objective is to locate polio survivors to offer assistance, encouragement, support, fellowship and Post-Polio Syndrome information. Our meetings focus on a wide variety of health issues that polio survivors may be facing. Some of our speakers include physicians, occupational and physical therapists, nutritionists, orthotists and experts on Medicare, Social Security, emergency preparedness, Americans with Disabilities Act and independent living. We network by sharing information regarding the cause and treatment of Post-Polio Syndrome through our monthly meetings, our group discussion time, S.O.S. - Sharing Our Strengths, and our newsletter, The Lighthouse. We mail over one hundred and thirty-five monthly newsletters to polio survivors, sponsors, and other interested individuals through-out Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. Our goal is to promote awareness of polio and Post-Polio Syndrome; to help make Savannah and surrounding areas more accessible; and to help the International Post-Polio Task Force motto become a reality:

"Every Child Vaccinated,

                                                   Every Survivor and Doctor Educated."