The Organization

Since its founding in 1950, the Muscular Dystrophy Association has become one of the nation’s largest and best-known voluntary health agencies. MDA provides comprehensive medical services to tens of thousands of people with neuromuscular diseases at some 225 hospital-affiliated clinics across the country. The Association’s worldwide research program, which funds some 400 individual scientific investigations annually, represents the largest single effort to advance knowledge of neuromuscular diseases and to find cures and treatments for them.

Clinics

At facilities in MDA’s nationwide network of hospital-affiliated clinics, individuals receive diagnostic and follow-up care from specialists in neuromuscular disease. In conjunction with this medical care, MDA — through some 160 chapters in the United States and Puerto Rico — provides many other direct services, including assistance with the purchase and repair of wheelchairs and leg braces, assistance with the purchase of communication devices, summer camps for youngsters and support groups.

Research

MDA supports more research on neuromuscular diseases than any other private-sector organization in the world, seeking causes of, and cures and treatments for, neuromuscular disorders. MDA-funded scientists are in the forefront of cell-based therapy research and are testing potential treatments for several neuromuscular disorders.

Education

MDA conducts far-reaching educational programs for the public and for medical professionals. To foster public understanding of neuromuscular disease, the Association produces and distributes a wide variety of print and audiovisual materials and maintains three Web sites. To increase knowledge of neuromuscular disease among medical professionals, MDA sponsors scientific symposia and other meetings of neuromuscular specialists.

Funding

MDA’s programs are funded almost entirely by the voluntary contributions of concerned individuals and cooperating organizations.