The ALS Association Greater Los Angeles Chapter: Greater Los Angeles Chapter Homepage

The ALS Association Greater Los Angeles Chapter

	OUR MISSION To lead the fight to cure and treat ALS through global, cutting-edge research, and to empower people with Lou Gehrig's Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support.
	WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ALS Register with the Greater Los Angeles Chapter today to begin receiving Free Services. Call (866) 750-ALSA (2572) or email us at info@alsala.org. The Greater Los Angeles Chapter is ready to serve you regardless of when you were diagnosed. We have a range of services and information to guide and assist you. Our patient services staff can arrange for you to access case managers, support groups, medical assistive equipment, and other services provided by the Chapter. Our staff is in the office Monday through Friday to answer any questions you may have. click here to get the latest Living with ALS Manual from The ALS Association click here for referrals, clinics, support groups, equipment loans and other information
	INFORMATION AND SERVICES FOR VETERANS WITH ALS The Greater Los Angeles Chapter is dedicated to serving military personnel who have Lou Gehrig’s Disease. We have a range of services, information, and support systems ready to help current or former service men and women cope with the treatment and management of ALS, including a Veterans Affairs Liaison on staff. We encourage newly diagnosed veterans to register with the Greater Los Angeles Chapter as soon as possible to begin receiving our services, all of which are provided Free of Charge. You will be assigned to a case manager who will work with you to determine your current and future needs. Call us today at 1-866-750-2572 or email us at info@alsala.org. click here for chapter resources and benefits information for Veterans with ALS
	GET READY FOR OUR FALL WALKS! Make a big step to help those suffering from Lou Gehrig's Disease. Register now to donate to one of our wonderful Fall Walk teams or form your own team! The Kern County Walk to Defeat ALS TM will be held in Bakersfield at The Park at River Walk on Saturday, October 3, 2009. The Long Beach Walk to Defeat ALS TM will be held in Long Beach at El Dorado Park on Saturday, October 10, 2009. The Los Angeles County Walk to Defeat ALS TM will be held in Pasadena at Central Park on Sunday, October 25, 2009. Contributing to our Walk to Defeat ALS TM is a fun and easy way to support the Greater Los Angeles Chapter and meet other people in your area. click here to donate to or register for the Kern County Walk in Bakersfield click here to donate to or register for the Long Beach Walk click here to donate to or register for the Los Angeles County Walk in Pasadena
	NEW GUIDELINES IDENTIFY BEST TREATMENTS TO HELP ALS PATIENTS New guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology identify the most effective treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often called Lou Gehrig's disease. According to the guidelines, the drug riluzole should be offered to people with ALS to slow the rate at which the disease progresses. Riluzole is the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ALS and has a modest effect on prolonging survival. The guidelines also state that life expectancy will likely increase and quality of life may increase for people with ALS who use an assisted-breathing device and a feeding tube. read more about best practices in ALS care
	LISTEN TO THE RADIO PODCAST WITH ALS PADDLEBOARD FUNDRAISER TOM HORTON Tom Horton discusses his participation in the Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race to raise money for The ALS Association Greater Los Angeles Chapter in honor of his mother Peacha, who died of ALS in 2005. Tom raced from Catalina Island to the Manhattan Beach Pier, braving winds, swells and sharks across 32 miles of open ocean to fight Lou Gehrig's Disease. Chapter President and CEO Fred Fisher is also interviewed about the latest ALS information and research, the importance of patient care, the need for a comprehensive treatment plan, and Chapter services available for Veterans with ALS. click here to hear the interview with Tom and Fred
	ALS PATIENT MICHAEL GAGNER TELLS HIS INSPIRING STORY "For 10 years, I have lived with ALS," begins Michael Gagner's courageous account of his struggle with Lou Gehrig's Disease, Finding my second wind, which he wrote using voice recognition software. The article appeared in the September 19, 2009 issue of The Bakersfield Californian. "I've had many bad days, but Feb. 20, 2008, stands out. I was attending the annual meeting of the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of The ALS Association, or ALSA. My wife Stacy Inman and I were being honored as volunteers of the year for our fundraising and advocacy efforts in Kern County. Little did the audience know that I was struggling to breathe." click here to read Michael Gagner's full article in The Bakersfield Californian
	TALKING WITH YOUR HANDS AND EYES: COMMUNICATION BOARDS Communication boards can be useful tools if you are no longer able to depend on speech or writing for all your communication needs. Some are "ready-made" while others can be customized to fit your needs and physical abilities. If you need to spell out messages, an alphabet board can be created, and can include your frequently used words and phrases. There are also picture boards, pain boards, and a number of other communication boards available. If you are having difficulty pointing with your finger, partner assisted scanning, eye linking, or eye pointing may be used to help you access letters and messages. click here to read more about communication boards
	THE SPRING 2009 MESSENGER NEWSLETTER HAS ARRIVED! The Greater Los Angeles Chapter's brand new 28-page Spring 2009 newsletter is packed with news and information! This issue includes features on our February Annual Meeting and 2009 Awards, CART's assistive technology services, our recent caregiver seminars and groups, two Walk to Defeat ALS TM events, reports on the Mick Asbury Sporting Clays Tournament, Cabaret of Hope, Autocross Challenge, and Grassroots Acoustica fundraisers, the results of the student-led Fashion Fest, Viewpoint Walk, and BMX Racing events, the latest Chapter grants and awards, our 2008-2009 Honor Roll of Donors, critical advocacy and research news that affects our ALS patients, their families and supporters, and much more! click here for a PDF of our new Spring 2009 Messenger newsletter
	DONATE BY SHOPPING -- REGISTER YOUR RALPHS OR FOOD 4 LESS CARDS Step 1: If you previously enrolled a Ralphs Club Card to benefit The ALS Association Greater Los Angeles Chapter, you will need to upgrade to the new Ralphs Rewards Card at any Ralphs store. If you already have a Food 4 Less Rewards Card, go to Step 2. If not, you can pick one up at any Food 4 Less grocery Store. Step 2: You need to register your Ralphs Rewards Card and Food 4 Less Rewards Card online. Be sure to enter our “Non-Profit Organization Number (NPO)”: 84371. A portion of your grocery bill will be donated to the ALS Association Greater Los Angeles Chapter every time you shop at Ralphs or Food 4 Less! To learn more, click the link below. click here to learn how to register your Ralphs or Food 4 Less card para las instrucciones en español de como registrar su tarjeta, haga clic aquí
	COMMUNITY OF HOPE TRIBUTE GIVING PROGRAM Make a gift that brings care, comfort and support to countless people in need while acknowledging someone important to you. Contribute to the Community of Hope Tribute Giving Program at The ALS Association Greater Los Angeles Chapter. click here to learn more about Community of Hope Tribute Giving
	CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE CHAPTER'S HISTORY AND SEE AN ONGOING PHOTO ALBUM OF OUR EVENTS
	RECENT FEATURES KBAK TV NEWS COVERS RV BUDDIES SHOW ABOUT PALS SANDY OLIVER -- JUNE 2009 STUDENTS TAKE OVER NORDSTROM FOR ALS BENEFIT FASHION FEST -- MAY 2009 CAREGIVER SEMINARS HELP THOSE WHO HELP OTHERS -- MAY 2009 ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT -- APRIL 2009 ANNUAL MEETING GETS TO THE HEART OF WHAT MATTERS -- MARCH 2009 SCOTT LEW KEEPS LAUGHING -- FEB 2009 TECHNOLOGIES HELP TUCKER STILLEY CREATE -- JAN 2009 TOM HORTON PADDLES FOR PEACHA WITH SHARKS -- DEC 2008 LEARNING TO TRAVEL WITH ALS -- NOV 2008 VENTURA COUNTY STAR SPOTLIGHTS CHAPTER -- OCT 2008 ASK THE EXPERTS “MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF ALS" SYMPOSIUM -- SEPT 2008 GET "NEVER GIVE UP" WRISTBANDS AS SEEN ON THE DR. PHIL SHOW IN OCT 2007 READ ABOUT THE OPENING OF THE CENTER FOR ALS CARE IN MAR 2007
	THE ALS GREATER LOS ANGELES CHAPTER is a proud member of Community Health Charities Combined Federal Campaign National Charity Support Foundation Cars 4 Causes Car Program LLC The ALS Association