American Foot Drop Association (AFDA) is a national nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness, providing support, and building resources for people living with Foot Drop, a mobility-limiting condition that affects thousands but is often misunderstood or overlooked.

Founded by people with lived experience, AFDA brings truth, tools, and visibility to a hidden disability. Through bold storytelling, community support, and practical information, we help people move through life with more dignity, confidence, and connection. From emotional support to daily adaptations, our work fills the gap between clinical care and real life.

Our flagship project, Braced Not Broken: A Beginners Guide to Foot Drop has already reached dozens of individuals and families across the U.S., with zero paid staff. We offer resources like:
- Real-talk guidance from someone living with foot drop, not a medical brochure
- Practical tools like adaptive tips and hacks, what to ask and symptom trackers
- Emotional support that speaks to grief, frustration, and resilience
- Peer-powered insight built with input from others walking the same path
- Dignity-centered design that treats readers as whole, capable, and powerful
- Connection to community through AFDA, support groups, and ongoing education

We are currently seeking grant support to expand our reach and increase accessibility by printing and distributing physical guides to:
- Orthotic & prosthetic clinics (like Hanger, Bionics, and local providers)
- Physical therapy centers (especially those working with post-stroke or neuro rehab)
- Neurology departments
- Disability-focused organizations (like Centers for Independent Living or United Spinal)
- Hospital discharge planners handling mobility-related handouts

This effort will also support building partnerships, referral systems, and community connections with providers, medical teams, and disability orgs . AFDA empowers people not just to survive drop foot but to live fully with it.

Because we are not broken. We’re just walking a different path.

What our grantee is saying: I’m honored and deeply grateful to receive the Awesome Disability award as a founder of the American Foot Drop Association. We can finally print and share the guide we wish someone handed us when we were first diagnosed with foot drop. With this support, we’ll be able to send guides directly to physical therapy clinics, orthotic providers, and neurology offices to reach people right at the start of their journey. As the guide says: “You’re not broken. You’re not less than. You’re still capable, still worthy, and still complete.” Kasey Gilmore, founder AFDA