Resources for PALS and their families
This collaborative page was created to provide resources for people living with ALS so that their journey is a little easier than the journey of those that experienced ALS before them. It was also created to help people living with ALS learn about their treatment options and connect with other people living with ALS.
Many thanks to the attendees of the SLO ALS support group for motivating the resources on this page. We would like to specifically thank Leslie Sands and her daughters, Laura and Kathryn, for their pro tips :).
Want to add a resource that helped you overcome ALS challenges that you faced? Fill out the comment box at the bottom of the page and we will communicate your wisdom!
ALS News Today has inspiring vignettes written by ALS patients themselves.
ALS support groups near me: ALSA.org
Learn about treatments other people with ALS are trying: PatientsLikeMe.com
Read blogs created by people living with ALS:
Kim Hughes, a renowned ALS professional, has teamed up ALS families to bring you this incredible website of ALS resources.
Household Bill Discounts
Do you use any medical devices that burn through your electrical bill? Check out the PG&E Medical Baseline Allowance Program. It will save you $$! Keep in mind that the PG&E MBA Application states at the bottom of Part B, that the application must be MAILED to the provided address in Stockton. However, Leslie Sands contacted PG&E Customer Service via email to inquire about FAX NUMBERS for submitting completed applications. Here they are: 1-209-476-7697 or 1-209-476-7694.
But wait! There is another way to get a break in your bills, especially when the weather gets cooler. Apply for the SoCalGas Medical Baseline Allowance and experience lower gas bills during the winter months. We all know that experiencing the cold while living with ALS is no fun. Final note: Yes, you can benefit from the PG&E and SoCalGas Medical Baseline Allowances at the same time.
Medical Bills
Did you know that there is a nonprofit foundation that will pay for FDA approved ALS treatments? The HealthWell Foundation will cover the following treatment options for ALS:
Free Parking
Have you filled out the DMV Application for Disabled Person Placard or Plates (DPP) yet? This is a great way to save time and energy when getting around town. Leslie Sands did the leg work to learn that once you get your DPP you do not even need to pay the meter since “parking in any on-street metered parking space at no charge” is allowed per California Vehicle Code. Amazing! Click the link below to download a blank application form. Keep in mind the filled out application MUST BE THE ORIGINAL when you submit it to the DMV. Copies and scans will not be accepted. Wet ink signatures are a must. Advocates are working hard to get this changed but for now, make sure you use snail mail to send the form in OR submit them in person at the DMV. Be sure to make a DMV appointment or bring a good book :).
Blank Application for Disabled Person Placard or Plates [reg195]
ALS Registry Info
Have you registered with the ALS registry? Your participation as an ALS patient is very important. The more demographic data and scientific data researchers know about ALS patients, the quicker treatment options can be developed.
Because ALS is such a rapidly progressing disease, there is often no time to wait for the FDA to approve a new drug. Dr. Richard Bedlack at Duke University understands this and has established standard operative procedures (SOPs) and evidence tables for specific AOTs. His project is called “ALS Untangled.”
The ALS Therapy Development Institute “Endpoints Podcast” is a great source of information regarding everything from mesenchymal stem cell treatments to inspirational ALS patient testimonies.
ALS Untangled ALS Endpoints Podcast
Printable ALS Cards
Living with ALS makes communication difficult and exhausting. Leslie Sands and her daughters, Laura and Kathryn, have generously shared their downloadable and easy-to-print ALS cards. Each card contains facts about ALS and informs your communication partner that you have ALS. The cards vary based on the personal information you want to give out on the back of the card and the amount of cards you want to print at once. They are double sided :).
I AM ALS is a patient-led and patient-centric community organization. Their Navigation team includes health professionals who can help you navigate the uncertainties of ALS and connect you with resources such as financial assistance, emotional support, adaptive technology, clinical trials and more. Aditi Narayan Minkoff runs the I AM ALS Navigation program. Feel free to reach out to her at gethelp@iamals.org or 866-942-6257 extension 111. She will help to support you and your loved ones in every way she can.
