When you or a loved one is diagnosed with ALS, your whole world implodes. You find yourself on a traumatic and isolating journey, having to come to terms with this terrible disease. ALS is a club you never want to be in, but you’re not alone.
It is estimated that there are 1,495 people living with ALS in Texas currently. This does not include the many caregivers, young adults, and children who love someone living with ALS. For all these individuals, the emotional burden is something no one should bear alone.
One of the best ways to cope with the emotional struggle of ALS is by connecting with others who understand what you are going through. Finding those people though can be the hard part, and that is where ALS Texas comes in.
We facilitate vital groups to help connect you with other individuals who are battling this disease. Today, we are connected now more than ever before with the rise of virtual support groups.
Virtual Platforms Extend Our Community
ALS Texas moved to virtual support groups last year for the safety of our ALS community amidst the pandemic. This not only allowed our community to stay connected during a difficult year, but also showed us greater possibilities with our support group reach.
In 2020, 1,633 people joined 160 virtual support groups and online presentations and that number is only growing! In the past, in-person connection groups were not always accessible. Some families did not have the available transportation. Others lived too far away to make the travel worth it. And as the disease progresses, leaving the home becomes more difficult.
Our in-person groups were only centralized by city. Now people can connect from the Panhandle to the Valley at the click of a button. Virtual groups allowed niche groups in our ALS community to come together in ways they hadn’t before. Now EVERYONE on the ALS journey can find a group to meet their needs.
A Group for EVERYONE on the ALS Journey
From those living with ALS to their caregivers, to their children, grandchildren, and everyone in between, every member of every ALS family needs a hand to hold as they walk along the ALS journey.
Our virtual groups are an emotional lifeline for the ALS community. Norman Jones, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2018 shared how these groups have impacted his life. “You’re able to express your emotion and your struggle. And then you get advice from others how they handle their struggles.”
Like many ALS families, they benefit from localized ALS Connection Groups that allow anyone affected by ALS to connect with those in their city. Several of those cities also facilitate localized Caregiver Groups. For those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, we host quarterly Bereavement Groups, helping support our community through every step of the ALS journey.
In the last year we have launched SIX new virtual groups with TWO more launching this fall! Each of these groups are geared to serve an emerging need in our community as follows:
Niche Caregiver Groups
- Women’s Caregiver Group
- Men’s Caregiver Group
- Spanish-Speaking Caregiver Group [Launching October 5]
Youth and Children Groups
- Youth Peer Support Group for Ages 8 – 13
- Young Adult Peer Support Group
Specialty Groups
- Veteran’s Group
- ALS & FTD Group [Launching this Fall]
We are constantly looking for ways to better support our ALS community. If you think there is another type of group that might be helpful to others, we would love to hear your ideas! Visit the contact us page to get started.
The Future of Virtual Groups
ALS Texas is here to support your emotional needs on the ALS journey, but it all starts with you. Those living with ALS and caring for those living with ALS have the most wisdom to pass to others who will experience this disease. Take it from ALS family, Mike & Mary Busch, who shared, “When you get further into the journey, you realize you have valuable experience that you can share with others.”
Director of Community Programs, Tonya Hitschmann is excited to see the growing connection group opportunities for our ALS families.
Connection groups are the way out of isolation island! ALS does not define an individual- the power to choose how life is truly lived comes from within. Every ALS Texas connection group creates an environment to meet new friends – those that understand the ALS journey, and those with common interests. Connection groups open the door to meaningful conversations and relationships, help combat loneliness and depression, and create a space for sharing information, experiences, insight, and encouragement.
It is true that we are better together than we are alone. Join a virtual group today!