http://alsa.orgCopyright 2005 Business Wire, Inc.
Business Wire
September 7, 2005 Wednesday 8:53 PM GMT
DISTRIBUTION: News Editors
LENGTH: 228 words
DATELINE: CALABASAS, Calif. Sept. 7, 2005

Among those displaced by Hurricane Katrina are people living with ALS, commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, who have special needs that must be addressed quickly.

Many of these same people have been relocated and may be unfamiliar with the services and programs offered by The ALS Association's (ALSA) national network of chapters near their temporary residences.

The wide range of services and programs offered by ALSA chapters can include patient education programs, support groups, telephone information/referral service, equipment loan programs, augmentative communications device programs, respite programs, programs of information and support for caregivers and family members and referrals to ALS clinics.

For assistance, people with ALS should call the National Office of ALSA toll-free number at 800-782-4747. Information also is available on our website at www.alsa.org or by e-mailing us at alsinfo@alsa-national.org.

The mission of ALSA is to find a cure for and improve living with ALS. ALSA is the only national, not-for-profit voluntary health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS. ALSA is the largest source of private specially targeted research into ALS. ALSA and its local chapters and support groups wage battle against the disease.