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New York City MDA 
I have had the pleasure of meeting many of you at the weekly MDA/ALS Clinics at Columbia Presbyterian or at one of the ALS support groups. In this issue of the ALS Newsletter I would like to tell you about the services offered by The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) for ALS patients and their families.
While MDA’s primary goal is funding research to find treatments and cures, MDA provides extensive clinical and support services to ALS patients. MDA does this by funding research all over the country. In fact, MDA supports more research in ALS than any other private-sector organization in the world. We are committed to eradicating ALS.
MDA also provides services to those living with ALS and other neuromuscular diseases. A major contribution of MDA is the funding of area clinics. One of the largest MDA funded clinics is The Eleanor & Lou Gehrig MDA/ALS Center. In addition to the services offered at the clinic, MDA also provides:
- One physical therapist visit, one occupational therapist visit, one respiratory therapist visit and one speech therapy visit per year when prescribed by a clinic physician.
- Transportation to and from clinic up to four times a year when no family, public or other community resource is available.
- Up to $2,000 toward the purchase of a wheelchair or leg braces every 5 years.*
- $500 a year toward repairs of wheelchairs and leg braces.
- A monthly ALS Support Group in NY City and Westchester County.
- A loan closet for those in need of hospital beds, walkers, wheelchairs, lifts and other accessories. (These items are subject to availability)
- A comprehensive website with updated research information at www.als.mdausa.org as well as a bi-monthly national ALS newsletter, the quarterly national magazine, Quest, a complimentary book entitled When a Loved One Has ALS, and an informational packet provided at clinic about your local resources.
*If primary and/or secondary insurance does not cover the cost.
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