Up Front
This
issue of The Motivator features two interesting topics. The first article
is about accessible travel and gives insightful information on how to travel,
where to stay, what to bring, and who to contact.
Regarding accessible travel, I can talk first-hand about some of the challenges faced by individuals with special needs when away from the comforts of home. As some of you already know, my son suffers from a genetic condition that causes his bones to break easily. Traveling with my son in a wheelchair was frequently difficult and hard to manage. Many areas were not conducive for a wheelchair, and I can remember struggling over cobblestones and creating a line whenever boarding a bus, train, or plane. Exhibits and museums often meant low walls and railings, blocking the view for a child in a wheelchair. Every-where we traveled, every activity we chose, had to accommodate a wheelchair, along with any other special requirements we needed at the time.
Fortunately, even in just the one decade since my son was small, much has changed for individuals traveling with disabilities. Many companies have greater understanding of special needs and now provide additional services and customized facilities for increased accessibility, comfort, and safety. The internet has enabled many to easily find out about the companies and services that best fit their needs. The general public has made a shift in attitude as well, becoming more aware of those with special needs, more patient with individuals who experience mobility difficulties, and more cognizant of handicapped spaces – keeping them open for the people who need them.
The second feature article highlights MSAA’s five areas of programs and services. It provides a full listing of how MSAA assists clients, family members, and care partners to ease their day-to-day challenges.
As a human service organization dedicated to helping individuals with MS, we listen to clients, their care partners, families and friends. We listen to medical professionals, researchers, and our newly formed Healthcare Advisory Council. We gather all the input, and from that, identify needs within the MS community. Under the guidance of our Board of Directors, we then design and implement programs and services to bridge the gaps, making life easier, safer, and more comfortable for people whose lives have been challenged by the effects of this disorder.
Perhaps an individual is in need of an MRI for help with initial diagnosis or to evaluate the success of a treatment. MSAA’s two MRI programs can help to acquire insurance approval or even provide funding. Maybe an individual with a wheelchair can’t get in and out of the house because doorways are too narrow or a ramp is needed. Our Pathways for Independence Program can make the necessary home modifications by widening doorways or building a ramp. Needs for emotional support, information about the disease and its treatments, and referrals to MS centers, can all be handled through our toll-free Helpline. And the list goes on and on.
None of this would be possible without the generous donations from companies and individuals like you. On behalf of everyone at MSAA, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for the kindness of others and the assistance we have received – both financially and in terms of volunteer hours. Without these, we could not fulfill our vital mission.
The future is bright for MSAA. Our greatest hope is that researchers will soon find a cause and a cure for MS. Until then, individuals affected by this disease may rest assured that MSAA will be doing everything within the organization’s power to serve, assist, and ultimately enhance life for the MS community.