People with MS Share How They Are Stronger Than MS and Maintain Independence on World MS Day May 25

                                                                  

We Are Strong and Independent 
World MS Day, led by the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, unites MS organizations globally to raise awareness of multiple sclerosis and those affected by it in order to improve public understanding and support that will move us closer a world free of this unpredictable disease.

The 2016 World MS Day theme is “independence,” celebrating all the ways people affected by MS maintain independence and move their lives forward. This year some 70 MS organizations around the globe, including the National MS Society, have events planned and are encouraging people to join together and share their experiences with independence in order to help people better understand the complex nature of MS. Everyone in the global MS movement is sharing their “MS doesn’t stop me” story with the hashtag #strongerthanMS now displaying on worldmsday.org/stories.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s awareness campaign “Together We Are Stronger” engages people across the country to raise awareness and share experiences and solutions to live their best lives—many of which are focused on personal independence—with the hashtag#WeAreStrongerThanMS. These stories are being aggregated and shared atWeAreStrongerThanMS.org.

Tools, services and facilities that help build and maintain independence are essential for people with MS to live their best lives. The National MS Society provides direct assistance or connections to community services for thousands of individuals living with MS across the country. These services include help with physical therapy, home modifications, durable medical equipment, health and wellness support, and other resources that allow people with MS to maintain their independence, safety, health and quality of life.

Connect To Support Independence On World MS Day:

• Know the facts – The MSIF’s second Global MS Employment Report is based on survey responses from more than 12,000 individuals representing 93 countries. The study collected information on the employment status and opportunities for those living with MS. Key among the survey findings:
  • 43% of people with MS who were not employed had stopped working within three years of diagnosis. This figure rose to 70% after 10 years.
  • 62% of people with MS who were not employed said fatigue prevented them from staying in work – far less than the 85% reported in 2010.
  • Fewer people had reduced their working hours or taken a short term absence, and more people reported not needing to change their working pattern, compared to 2010 data.
• Celebrate independence – If you are living with MS or care about someone who is, think about the challenges to independence that people with MS face, and then share the solutions you’ve found and how each experience makes you stronger than MS:
• Share your “MS doesn’t stop me …” stories of independence at worldmsday.org using the hashtag #strongerthanMS
• Share solutions for living your best life at WeAreStrongerThanMS.org using the hashtag#WeAreStrongerThanMS
• For instance, Judy in Raleigh, North Carolina shared how she credits much of her independence to exercise: “I’m able to do a lot of the things that I do because I am very physically active.” Her story includes tips like how to get started—like walking with colleagues—and how to keep going—through partnership with her husband and motivation from her active sons—to move your goals forward.

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