Thank you to the over 600 people that descended on Capitol Hill on Tuesday during The ALS Association's 2017 Advocacy Conference. So many advocates shared their stories to inspire their local legislators to support important ALS initiatives.

More than 500 people have already registered for the 2017 National ALS Advocacy Conference and time is running out to sign up. This conference is an annual opportunity for our advocates – people living with ALS, their families, friends, doctors and researchers – to share the ALS story and let Members of Congress know the true nature of the disease and why it is important to take action immediately.

There is a need to continue to educate Members of Congress about ALS and its true impact on people living with ALS and their loved ones. This is where you and your voice come in. Advocates – people living with ALS, their families, friends, doctors and researchers – successfully sharing their stories with members of Congress will result in more legislative victories.

In preparation for this week’s ALS Association Advocacy Fly-In in Washington D.C., we are giving a preview of our 2017 legislative priorities. Here we focus on the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act, which was introduced last week in the Senate and United States House of Representatives (S.379/H.R.1171).

Our friend Ted Harada passed away this week. Many of you may have known him. Ted was first diagnosed with ALS in August 2010 and immediately became a tireless advocate, volunteer, and voice of the ALS community.

Barbara Dickinson, whose husband, Brian, lived with ALS for nine years, shared her thoughts and feelings about having a loved one with ALS. Barbara is a former national trustee of The ALS Association and president emeritus of The ALS Association's Rhode Island Chapter. Our thanks and gratitude go to Barbara for agreeing to let us put her words on our web site.