Mike will never forget receiving a phone call telling him that his best friend, Matt, had been diagnosed with ALS. The first event Mike attended for The ALS Association was a golf event in Janesville with Matt. That one event has now become years of walks and third-party events supporting The ALS Association Wisconsin Chapter.
Expanded Access, or “compassionate use” as it is often referred, allows patients with a terminal diagnosis early access to new therapeutics that show promise – even if the patient is not involved in the ongoing clinical trial – or if the medication has not yet been approved by the FDA.
We recently spoke with Jeff Elbert, volunteer and board member for The ALS Association Florida Chapter, to learn more about his personal connection to ALS and his fight to bring more critical care and support to people living with ALS and their families.
For more than ten years, Donna has worked with The ALS Association Greater Philadelphia Chapter as Director of Development. She has also been a constant advocate, supporting the chapter’s ALS families through fundraising initiatives, and a caring, compassionate ally throughout their ALS journey. Hayley and Felicia joined Donna in her mission to help people impacted by ALS when they were young girls.
We recently spoke with Jo-Ann Clynch, volunteer and board member for The ALS Association Florida Chapter, to learn more about her personal connection to ALS and her passion to join the fight against the disease.
Occupational therapists are key members of the clinic team for individuals living with ALS. As ALS progresses, most people gradually lose their ability to use their hands and their arms as their muscles weaken. Occupational therapists help to provide expertise and creativity to help patients better manage daily activities for as long as possible.
We recently caught up with Lindsay Litterini, volunteer and board member for The ALS Association Western Pennsylvania Chapter, to learn more about her personal connection to ALS and her passion to join the fight against the disease.
The ALS Association is accepting applications for The Jane Calmes ALS Scholarship Fund, which was established in 2019 to support post-high school education for students whose lives have been impacted by ALS. Scholarship recipients receive up to $5,000 per year to help cover the cost of education.
The American Academy of Neurology, The ALS Association and the American Brain Foundation have awarded the 2022 Sheila Essey Award to Matthew Kiernan of the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney in Australia and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. We recently caught up with Dr. Kiernan on Connecting ALS to discuss advances in ALS research since he first entered the field and how the Essey Award will help move his research forward.
Volunteering for The ALS Association is the longest I’ve ever done anything in my life. There’s always more to be done, but creating an environment, virtual or in-person, where people impacted by ALS feel welcome, empowered, and heard is so important.
On a recent Connecting ALS podcast episode, Maintaining Mobility, we sat down with Shannon Terrell, Doctor of Physical Therapy at the Kaiser ALS clinic in Colorado to learn more about her experience treating people living with ALS and get her thoughts about how she helps her patients manage their mobility.
Heidi Tarr Henson, diagnosed with ALS last spring, shares thoughts about her personal journey living with the disease, how she’s managing her personal changes in mobility and how she strives to just live in the moment.
Home modifications can be permanent or temporary, low‐tech or extremely sophisticated. To help address the many questions and concerns people and their families often have, The ALS Association has developed a series of educational videos to introduce and explain strategies to remain safe while living with the disease.
It is on us—those who have experienced this disease firsthand, those of us who are living with the disease, those who are serving as caregivers—to determine the value and quality of life with ALS. We need to stand up and object to discriminatory assessments that overlook the most important things that give life value.
Before Brett’s ALS diagnosis, he was an electrician, an outdoorsman and a musician. His hands were his livelihood, creative outlet and unfortunately, the first part of his body to be affected by the disease.
Finding ways to remain independent and prevent potential harms caused by everyday living activities can be a challenge for people living with ALS as their disease progresses. To help address the many questions and concerns people and their families often have, The ALS Association has developed a series of educational videos to introduce and explain strategies to remain safe while living with the disease.
Leaders in the fight against ALS held 250 virtual meetings with members of Congress last week to press for an exponential expansion of federal funding for ALS research and programs next year as part of The ALS Association’s annual fly-in conference.
Peter Sawyer of Mechanicsburg, PA is a military veteran and has been living with ALS for five years. He and his wife and caregiver, Lura, are tireless advocates for The ALS Association’s mission and exemplify true ALS heroes.
The ALS Association has launched a petition calling on public and private health insurers, as well as federal and state governments to prohibit the use of arbitrary, discriminatory value assessments that limit access to ALS drugs.
