A proposed new Department of Transportation (DOT) rule, spearheaded by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, aims to address the issue of air travel for passengers who rely on wheelchairs, including people living with ALS.

We've shared the story of Wendy and Michael Wilson, a family affected by ALS; but, they both still volunteer their time with us, serving on the local community leadership council in Oklahoma and other committees focused on care services and caregiving.

Dr. Ileana Howard is the Medical Co-Director of VA Puget Sound, an ALS Association Certified Treatment Center of Excellence, and will be joining us at our ALS Nexus conference to share her insights while exploring actionable steps to dismantle barriers to access, from advocating for policy changes to fostering community partnerships, to ensure everyone living with ALS has access to state-of-the-art care.

Dana Julian's great grandfather passed away from ALS and is part of her "why" she volunteers for the cause. Read more about how she got involved with the ALS Association.

Renovation Hunters joined the fight against ALS when they took on an extensive cabin renovation to help a family impacted by the disease in Pennsylvania. The series includes three exciting episodes of the reno beginning tomorrow, April 5, at 8:30 p.m. on the Outdoor Channel. Read more about the family’s journey and don’t forget to tune in to watch!

In recognition of National Volunteer Month, we’re shining a spotlight on the many different ways you can get involved by providing help, support, and hope to the ALS community. Volunteering is a powerful way to make a positive impact in any community. And when it comes to supporting people impacted by ALS, each and every volunteer action makes a difference.

This month, Calaneet Balas, ALS Association President and CEO, and Scott Kauffman, Association Board Chair, joined several board members with ALS and some who have lost loved ones to the disease to meet with members of Congress in House and Senate leadership positions and participate on appropriations committees that will decide how federal dollars are to be spent.

ALS presents its own set of nutritional challenges that must be addressed when considering what makes up a healthy diet, and these challenges change as the disease progresses. As we approach the end of National Nutrition Month, we wanted to take a look at some of the many nutritional needs for people living with ALS and how they are sometimes different.

Thanks to our Seed Grant Program, 16 ALS researchers now have up to $50,000 each to gather the preliminary data they need to propel their research in promising new directions, which can ultimately lead to new treatment options, approaches that optimize current care, or ways to help prevent ALS altogether.

ALS Nexus brings together the perspectives of the ALS community to connect, collaborate, and change the future of ALS. This is more than a conference – it’s an opportunity to spark new ideas and accelerate progress towards our goal of making ALS a livable disease until we can cure it.

When Jules and Maria started a podcast in 2019 to tell their story it wasn’t about ALS. But even though Jules’ ALS diagnosis in 2020 would change that, their story is still about so much more—including life, love, and even comedy.

Paying attention to the big moments of life, while not forgetting to pay attention to the little things, is what palliative care is all about. By definition, palliative care is a whole-person approach to care that focuses on quality of life, relief from pain and symptoms, and reducing emotional distress for a person living with a serious illness or disease like ALS.

Today is Rare Disease Day, an event that takes place worldwide, typically on the last day of February each year, to help raise awareness among policymakers and the public about rare diseases and their impact on patients’ lives. In recognition today, Kristina shares what it’s like to be a ALS caregiver for her husband, Lamar, and her unique perspective on the rarity of ALS.

The physical impact of living with ALS presents many challenges, especially as the disease progresses. With the help of assistive technologies, people living with ALS can maintain their independence and pursue their passions for as long as possible.

Amanda Howard has always used writing to process things personally and professionally. When she faced the challenges of living with ALS, she started blogging about it - at first for herself, and then for the community.

We urgently need more and better ALS treatments. Because of this, getting promising therapies out of the laboratory and into clinical testing as quickly as possible is key to making ALS a livable disease.

Our grandfather, Herbert Hoffman, died from ALS in February 1943. This was less than two years after Lou Gehrig passed away and his name became forever attached to this disease. We never knew our grandfather. But we knew and loved and treasured our time with our uncle, Hugh Hoffman. Our uncle’s incredible donation will be spent to expand access to existing multidisciplinary ALS clinics and to certify new ones. In addition, the donation will fund new and promising clinical trials.

Wendy and Michael Wilson live in Oklahoma City with their daughter, Londyn. Michael was diagnosed with ALS in 2017 at the age of 35. When she was just 10 years old, Londyn made sure her parents could celebrate their anniversary in style. Wendy tells us how.

February 11th marks the ninth annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which serves as an opportunity to recognize the achievements of women working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. To celebrate, we are shining a spotlight on Annie Collins, one of our 2023 Milton Safenowitz Postdoctoral Fellows, and how she is helping move the development of new ALS treatments forward.

In most people’s journey with ALS, they will be confronted with the decision of using a feeding tube to help maintain proper nutrition and enhance their quality of life. As part of the ALS care planning process, people with ALS should discuss the various options with their multidisciplinary care team, weigh the pros and cons, and understand how their decision may impact their overall health.