About MSAA

The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is a national nonprofit organization and leading resource for the entire MS community, improving lives today through vital services and support. MSAA provides free programs and services, such as: a Helpline with trained specialists; award-winning publications, including, The Motivator; MSAA’s nationally recognized website, featuring educational videos, webinars, and research updates; a mobile phone app, My MS Manager™; safety and mobility equipment products; cooling accessories for heat-sensitive individuals; MRI funding; My MSAA Community, a peer-to-peer online support forum; MS Conversations blog; a clinical trial search tool; podcasts; and more. For additional information, please visit www.mymsaa.org or call (800) 532-7667.

Your MS, Your Voice: The Power of Self-Advocacy — MS Awareness Month Highlights & Resources

MS Awareness Month 2026 badge to signify that March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month

MSAA proudly recognizes March as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month and is pleased to present the MS community with helpful and encouraging resources and programs throughout the month.

Our MS Awareness Month theme in 2026 – Your MS, Your Voice: The Power of Self-Advocacy – focuses on what advocating for oneself really looks like in everyday life. Throughout March, explore self-advocacy from both the clinician and lived-experience perspective as we share practical tools to help the MS community. Please join us for the following free MS Awareness Month activities:

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Ask the Expert: Visual Disorders

Featuring Barry A. Hendin, MD

MSAA’s Chief Medical Officer

Headshot of doctor Barry Hendin, chief medical officer for MSAA
Barry Hendin, MD

Question: What types of visual disorders may be caused by MS, and are any types of visual issues not typically associated with MS?

Answer: Visual signs and symptoms are common in multiple sclerosis and ultimately affect the majority of people with MS at some time in their lives. Problems occur when there is demyelination of the optic nerve or the brain stem centers that control eye movements. 

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Connection and Compassion: My MS Journey

By Dr. Eva Jackson

Seeking Answers and Facing Uncertainty

For many years, my health declined, and I found myself searching desperately for answers. I reached out to my healthcare team, at times pleading for their help to uncover what was causing my condition to worsen. Initially, I was diagnosed with dystonia, not multiple sclerosis (MS). As I sought second opinions, it became clear to me that many people struggle to advocate for themselves within the healthcare system. I also realized that healthcare professionals may feel threatened when patients seek external advice or opinions.

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Intention & Expectations

By Stacie Prada

Lately, I’ve been pausing periodically throughout each day to ask myself, “How do I want to show up today?”

It only takes a moment, just enough time for a brief inhale and exhale. It allows me to shake loose whatever thoughts are running through my mind and start fresh. I like to imagine I’m shaking a marked-up Etch-A-Sketch toy to create a clean surface ready for whatever I want to draw.

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Self-Connection

By Angel Blair

When we hear the word relationships we often think about the connections we have to others. Bonds with our family, friends,  significant others, etc. So we tend to forget one of the most important but commonly overlooked relationships we have, and that’s the one we hold with ourselves. We work hard to maintain and foster the relationships that we have with other people in our lives, but the relationship we have with ourselves deserves the same attention and compassion. This is a concept that can get lost in the shuffle of juggling life’s demands, but it has earned the right to be found. 

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Virtual Friendships and Feeling Less Alone

When living with a chronic illness like multiple sclerosis, building a community for yourself of people who truly get it is incredibly valuable. Having a support network in your life of people who are there for you in easy times and hard can make all the difference. A support network can be made up of neighbors, friends, and family members you see regularly. And, with the variety of digital options, your support network can easily be found in virtual forums, like MSAA’s My MSAA Community.

picture of young african american women at her laptop searching My MSAA Community site
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Shana Stern – MSAA’s February 2026 Artist of the Month

MSAA features the work of many talented artists affected by multiple sclerosis as part of our annual MSAA Art Showcase. Each month we share these artists’ inspiring stories and beautiful artwork with you as our Artist of the Month. This month, we celebrate Shana Stern as February’s Artist of the Month.  Shana is from Los Angeles, CA.

Feels Like Lightning

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The Power of Intentions Over Traditional Goal Setting

By: Dr. Eva Jackson

Rethinking Goal Setting in Our Community

For the past 15 years, members of my community have routinely organized vision board parties toward the end of the year or at the start of the new year, with an emphasis on goal setting. Personally, I have often felt uncomfortable during this period, as traditional goal setting has never resonated with me. I tend to set ambitious goals but frequently find myself unable to achieve them, despite starting with clear intentions. This recurring pattern leads me to believe that perhaps my goals are often unrealistic.

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Vision & Values

By Stacie Prada

I created a vision board years ago that included images of women doing yoga poses I couldn’t do. I attended yoga classes weekly, and I loved how it combined calming breathwork with some of the gymnastics, athleticism, and flexibility that my multiple sclerosis issues had curtailed.

I placed the collage vision board near my makeup vanity, and I didn’t put a lot of effort into tracking it. About a year later, I looked up, and I was startled to realize I could do all the poses on my vision board! Without realizing it, I slowly worked my way toward poses that seemed completely out of reach a year prior. Dancer, feathered peacock, and crane pose had become regular movements in my yoga practice without any periodic notice or celebration. With this realization, my glee absolutely overflowed.

Looking back, I think about how dreaming and acknowledging my aspirations, combined with regularly showing up to yoga class, were the key. They helped me achieve things I hadn’t been convinced I would ever do.

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Making Plans on Your Terms

By Angel Blair

I always considered myself a planner. I constantly made lists; I carefully thought out decisions, big or small, to get to the most optimal outcome. I loved comparing the pros and cons of possibilities for things to come. Though I have to say since having kids, the planner in me has changed a bit. I still try to plan and prepare the best that I can, but I’ve had to come to the very real fact that plans change – no matter how much you prepare otherwise. 

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