Thousands of individuals nationwide are joining a grassroots movement of MS activism. We give voice to people living with MS. We raise awareness for the challenges of MS and call for change.
Together, MS activists take action and shape health policies to benefit people living with MS.
As a grassroots MS activist, you will receive:
- The information and tools you need to understand the issues, the best ways to act on them, and how to reach out in your community.
- An MS Action Alert e-mail when an important issue or piece of legislation calls for your immediate attention.
- Our monthly Federal Focus e-newsletter—an update on MS activism successes, timely legislation, and emerging issues.
MS activists work with the public and private sectors to benefit the lives of people with MS and their families. Most of our advocacy is directed toward the public sector: federal, state and local units of governments. Private sector advocacy could involve urging a health care insurer to fairly cover MS treatments or requesting a local business to remove physical barriers to hiring people with disabilities.
Be an MS activist. Join the movement at www.nationalMSsociety.org/MSactivist.
History of National MS Society Advocacy
For more than 55 years, the National MS Society has been one thing people with MS can count on: on a personal level and in the public arena. In 1946 — before advocacy was a household word — the National MS Society began advocating for people with multiple sclerosis. Our first victory came four years later: in 1950, Congress established the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Work at NINDS impacts millions of Americans and it receives over $1.3 billion in federal funds annually. Nearly $60 million of that money goes directly to MS research.