Covenant awards rehabilitation honors to local woman, area business

Teresa Jorgensen, of Waterloo, and Clark and Associates, an area business with offices in Waterloo, recently were honored as Rehabilitant of the Year and Community Rehabilitation Award recipients from Covenant Medical Center. Award recipients this year each demonstrated success in dealing with disability on a personal and professional level, each with accomplishments that demonstrated effectiveness of rehabilitation.

    Jorgensen, Rehabilitant of the Year award recipient, was born with spina-bifida and has faced challenges since childhood. She has undergone a number of surgeries to debulk tumors on her spinal cord and to close spinal fluid leakage. Jorgensen serves on the board of the Black Hawk Center for Independent Living. She routinely provides public service announcements airing on area radio stations encouraging people with disabilities to become involved as advocates. Most recently, Jorgensen has been influencing students via the Partners in Education initiative, working in area schools speaking with young people about how people with disabilities are valuable members of the community.

    The 2005 Community Rehabilitation Award was presented to Clark and Associates Prosthetics and Orthotics. The award is given to organizations that help facilitate the successful re-entry of people with disabilities back into the community.

Clark and Associates has served the community for nearly 45 years. Most recently, Dennis Clark, Andy Steele, John Costello, Dean Sturch, Matt Hutchings, Jill Roberts and Sean Wienke have worked to create an orthotic and prosthetic clinic at Covenant Medical Center. The clinic is offered once a month, with practitioners offering their services free of charge to evaluate amputee patients and others with rehabilitative device needs.

    Owners of Clark and Associates also have worked to provide charity care services for those without means to purchase equipment, allowing them to improve their independence. Most recently, Clark and Associates has worked with veterans returning from Iraq by providing care at Walter Reed Army Hospital, contacting outside agencies in support of military personnel.

Sponsored by Covenant Medical Center's Rehabilitation Program, the annual achievement awards are given to outstanding individuals and employers, educational institutions or organizations reaching beyond the limits of disabilities within the community.