PTU - Danish Society of Polio and Accident Victims/ Landsforeningen af Polio-, Trafik- og Ulykkesskadede

The Danish Society of Polio and Accident Victims works for the integration and equal opportunities of people suffering mobility disabilities as a result of polio, injuries to the spinal cord, whiplash and other injuries resulting from traffic and other accidents. Denmark is a small Scandinavian Country with no more than 5.5 million inhabitants. There are about 12,000 polio survivors; many are members of The Danish Society of Polio and Accident Victims - PTU.

PTU was founded in 1945 and has been a resource for polio survivors ever since. PTU is both an NGO and a service provider. PTU runs two rehabilitation centers situated in the two largest cities in Denmark, Copenhagen and Aarhus. PTU has a staff of doctors, physiotherapists, social workers, psychologists and administrative personal of about 100 persons, providing various services to our members and patients, medical consultations, physical training, legal and social counseling, and psychological support when needed.

The last and biggest polio epidemic occurred in 1952-53, where more than 7,000 persons contracted Polio. Denmark vaccinates its population against polio since 1960.

Members are elderly people with a unique history and a unique record of rehabilitation. More than 80 % of all Danish polio people have been part of the labor force with many years of active service in many sorts of professions, mostly as administrative personal. A great many of Members have had long and good lives with our families and children with interesting jobs, travels and much of the same experiences as our nondisabled neighbours. PTU provides a second rehabilitation for post-polio problems.