National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Pacific South Coast Chapter

Working toward a world free of multiple sclerosis, the mission of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is to mobilize people and resources so that everyone affected by MS can live their best lives as we stop MS in its tracks, restore what has been lost, and end MS forever. For those affected by this unpredictable and disabling disease, symptoms range from visual impairment and cognitive dysfunction, to loss of muscle coordination and paralysis. While most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, MS is the most common neurological disease leading to disability in younger adults, and more than 80% of those diagnosed with the disease are women. In order to achieve a world free of MS, the Society's strategic goals and related objectives for 2016-2018 include: People have effective treatment choices and solutions to the challenges of living with MS: 1) To expand investments and worldwide collaboration to accelerate research; 2) To seize opportunities and build pathways with government, communities, and the private sector so people with MS get what they need; and 3) To influence, lead, and collaborate to expand resources to ensure access to health care. People affected by MS connect to the individuals, information, and resources they need to move their lives forward: 1) To connect people affected by MS to one another and share life experiences and solutions; and 2) To connect people to information and resources so that they can take fully informed actions. Consistent with the Society's mission, the Pacific South Coast Chapter supports MS research and delivers programs and services to an estimated 7,300 individuals with MS and their families in the Orange, San Diego, and Imperial Counties, and the state of Hawaii; more than 3,000 people with MS reside in Orange County.