MSAA Commemorates 35 Years

Everyone affiliated with the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is proud and pleased to be a part of its 35th anniversary commemoration. This milestone year marks three-and-a-half decades, from 1970 to 2005, of serving individuals whose lives have been affected by MS.

1970s

Founded on June 6, 1970, the Multiple Sclerosis Association (MSA) began as a small, grassroots organization where MS clients and their families banded together to offer care and service to those in need. Armed with first-hand knowledge of the disease and its effects on the family, the all-volunteer Board and staff were eager to reach out and bring a new level of hope, service, and support to the MS community.

In its first few years, MSA aggressively worked to establish several core services which addressed the needs and day-to-day challenges of individuals with MS. These included: the Equipment Loan Program, where clients could receive a wide array of items for safety and mobility; monthly support groups; and a peer-to-peer telephone support line which offered information, referrals, and, most importantly, encouragement to those who called.

In 1976, MSA secured a sizable grant from a local foundation to purchase its own office and activity center in the small town of Oaklyn, New Jersey. With this new office, MSA was able to increase visibility and fundraising efforts. This led to the development of new services including a 12-page bimonthly newsletter, a local transportation program, exercise and therapy classes, and increased client events such as workshops, seminars, and holiday dinners.

1980s

As MSA entered its second decade of service, program delivery spread across the Greater Delaware Valley. This included New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, and eventually carried over to many of the states throughout the Northeast.

Recognizing the necessity for accessible housing, MSA established the Barrier-Free Housing Program. MSA then secured two million dollars in funding through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the construction of a 41-unit, fully accessible apartment complex. The facility, which promotes safe, independent living, opened its doors in early 1986. The success of this program initiative led to the funding and construction of four additional housing complexes. Of these five apartment complexes, four are located in New Jersey and the fifth is in North Carolina.

In 1988, MSA became a national non-profit organization and incorporated "of America" into its name. MSA was now officially renamed the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA).

1990s

The decade began with the opening of two regional offices to help meet the ever-growing demand for services. MSAA's first regional offices were the Mid-Atlantic Region in Washington, DC and the Midwest Region in Cleveland, Ohio. A few years later MSAA opened the Northwest Region in Great Falls, Montana. By the late 1990's, MSAA added the Mid-South Region in Little Rock, Arkansas, the California Region in Beverly Hills, California, and the Southwest Region in Phoenix, Arizona.

In the early 1990's, MSAA collaborated with many prominent MS medical centers and established a partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to further advance the use of microclimate cooling (a spin-off technology from the Apollo missions) as a therapy for MS. Through the success of these studies, MSAA established the Cooling Program, which provides clients with a variety of cool suits, vests, and other garments that help counteract the devastating effects of heat stress on individuals with MS.

The MRI Diagnostic Fund and the Home Ramp Program were added to MSAA's increasing list of services. The MRI Diagnostic Fund covers the expense of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test for those who are suspected of having MS but cannot afford the exam. The Home Ramp Program provides clients with lightweight, portable ramps for home access.

As rapid growth and expansion continued toward the decade's end, MSAA's Board of Directors used this opportunity to re-examine, re-evaluate, and recommend changes, ensuring that the organization would achieve the greatest success possible for the new millennium and beyond. These changes enabled MSAA to improve its operational procedures to maximize efficiency and provide the highest quality of service possible to its MS constituency.

2000s

With the arrival of the new millennium, MSAA developed a five-year strategic plan and a working blueprint for improvement in all departments. MSAA revised its formal mission statement to fully describe the role which the organization plays in the MS community. MSAA's mission "to ease the day-to-day challenges of individuals with multiple sclerosis and their care partners" is considered in all aspects of the organization's initiatives.

MSAA expanded the scope of published materials in an effort to provide comprehensive, educational literature in an attractive and easy-to-understand format. MSAA's bimonthly newsletter, The Motivator, evolved into a 52-page, four-color, quarterly magazine. New editions of MSAA's publications, The Process and Medical Treatments and Managing Symptoms, were produced. MSAA published two new booklets titled All About Multiple Sclerosis and MSAA Programs and Services Guide. Another booklet titled Multiple Sclerosis and Cooling was redesigned and a new edition was published.

New programs were created. These included the Home Modification Program, the Networking Program, MSAA's Lending Library, the MRI Institute, as well as upgrades to the Equipment Loan, Cooling, and MRI Diagnostic Programs.

The number of regional offices was increased, with the addition of the Northeast, Southeast, and Western Regional Offices (located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey; St. Petersburg, Florida; and San Francisco, California, respectively). Field offices were opened in Connecticut and Chicago. The Mid-South Region moved to Mesquite, Texas and was renamed the South-Central Region, while adding a field office in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The reach and number of support groups, educational events, and service delivery were increased as well, while the services were expanded to better meet the needs of those affected by MS.

In 2001, neurologist and MS specialist Jack Burks, MD joined MSAA as part-time staff in the role of chief medical officer. Dr. Burks oversees all medical information written and distributed by MSAA, in addition to writing a column for MSAA's magazine, The Motivator.

Also in 2001, the Healthcare Advisory Council (HAC) was formed. Headed by Dr. Jack Burks, the HAC is a group of healthcare professionals from several disciplines. This group is dedicated to addressing MSAA's work as it relates to the different areas of medical treatments, information, and the development of an optimal overall healthcare plan.

During these years, MSAA also developed private-sector fundraising by establishing successful relationships with pharmaceutical and other medical companies. This led to open discussion of how to best help individuals with MS, and ultimately brought financial grants to help fund vital client programs and services.

During this time the client services department increased its professional staff. In 2003, the department extended Helpline hours, providing evening access for individuals in the eastern portion of the country, as well as availability until 5:00 pm for clients on the west coast. In 2004, a bilingual consultant was added to assist with calls received from the Spanish-speaking community.

MSAA redesigned its website, www.msaa.com, and launched a new and improved site in June of 2004. The new site includes descriptions and applications for each MSAA program, important research information, MSAA publications (which can be downloaded), regional events and support groups, ways to support MSAA through volunteering and donating online, and is easily navigated and linked to multiple other sites.

MSAA approached other MS organizations with the intention of developing positive working relationships to benefit the entire MS community. Discovering how each organization can best serve individuals affected by MS, as well as avoiding a duplication of services, are two of MSAA's goals. MSAA continues to meet regularly and hold valuable discussions with other national organizations such as the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC), and the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (MSF).

Until a cure is found, MSAA is steadfast in its efforts to help as many in need as possible, and to find new and better ways in which to assist people affected by this challenging disease. The year 2005 is a milestone for MSAA and the people it serves. As this important anniversary is commemorated, everyone at MSAA continues to look to the future for even greater accomplishments.

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