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By November, 1986 a letter from Easter Seals confirmed that the relationship with them was ended. We were on our own and began to put into practice our determination to reach out to the polio community, first with a poster which was hung in as many public places as could be found, and then by a newsletter run off at the March of Dimes office. By February of 1987 there were 61 members. Attention then turned to the medical needs of the polio community. There were not only no post-polio clinics, there were very few doctors who were aware of post-polio as a discrete diagnosis. Dr. Robert Brown, a neurologist at MGH, was interested in the late effects of polio and offered to be a liaison person between MGH, the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and our group to initiate plans for a clinic for polio and post-polio patients. With his help, a proposal was submitted to Spaulding for a clinic operated by a team of personnel including a physiatrist, a neurologist, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, an orthotics specialist and a psychotherapist. Our proposal to Spaulding was approved, and they announced that a post-polio clinic would open on June 1 and would be available intially for one half-day a month. Requests for appointments came pouring in. Demand grew so rapidly that more clinic time was made available, and there was a long list of people waiting to be seen. Meanwhile, the Association's monthly meetings were attracting more new people. ...

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