As you know, May is ALS Awareness Month, and this year, you will see a lot about advocacy and becoming an ALS Advocate. We are often asked what exactly this means, so we prepared a brief Q&A to help you understand how you can make a difference!
What does Advocacy mean?
It means stepping up for those who can no longer walk, speaking up for those who have lost their voices, and sharing your ALS story. While writing letters and meeting with members of Congress is part of this, all awareness is advocacy. Anytime you share your ALS story, you are helping to bring greater awareness to the disease and reminding people why we need their help to create a world without ALS.
What does it mean to be an ALS Advocate?
Simply doing the things above. Regardless of whether you are living with ALS or you’re a family member, friend or supporter, raising awareness of ALS helps make a difference. The key is getting involved with the Texas Chapter—signing up to help with events, care services, advocacy, and fundraising. While being an ALS Advocate means communicating with your members of Congress and sharing your ALS story, there are many other opportunities to get involved.
What is the National ALS Advocacy Day and Public Policy Conference?
This annual conference is the largest gathering of the ALS community. The three-day conference includes the latest information on research, provides a networking opportunity, and most importantly brings our message and fight directly to Capitol Hill. You can follow this year’s conference online through The Association’s Public Policy Twitter account our Texas Chapter delegation.
What can I do now?
- Get involved, by volunteering, signing up to become an advocate or making a donation.
- Share what advocacy means to you by printing out this sign, writing your personal story and taking a photo. Share your photo on social media using the hashtag #ALSTexas.
