In 2005, the American Stroke Association began supporting a group of survivors and other stakeholders in Illinois to establish Stroke Survivors Empowering Each Other (SSEEO) , an active, educated and motivated stroke-focused education and advocacy group. SSEEO is working to become a state-wide umbrella group comprised of local stakeholder groups and individuals, that will focus on educating survivors and others on relevant topics and providing a strong, common voice for people whose ideas, accomplishments and needs have previously received little or no public recognition.
SSEEO's Mission : " In collaboration with the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, we work to support each other, educate the public and bring about policy change to make life easier for ourselves, our families and future generations." |
At present, the American Stroke Association is unaware of any other grassroots-driven network of its kind in the country. While SSEEO is concentrating its efforts in Illinois in the short-term, its leadership envisions building momentum for a national forum for stroke survivors to take on federal policies on the treatment and prevention of stroke and to change general perceptions of stroke and life after stroke. |
