2-22-2023 ALS ADVOCACY UPDATE

In a BIG WIN for the ALS Community and thanks to advocates like you, Medicare announced its proposed decision to cover seat elevation systems for power wheelchairs! Medicare is now asking for public comments before they make their decision final. The ALS Association is collecting comments from the ALS Community and sharing them with Medicare. You can join in support, add your personalized comments, and share why coverage for seat elevation in power wheelchairs is important to you. If you are a person living with ALS, you could share how seat elevation in power wheelchairs is medically necessary and would improve your quality of life. If you are a caregiver, you could share how seat elevation in power wheelchairs does or would improve your life. Take Action Today and share your comments with us! 
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Who We Are…….ALSSO 2023

The ALS Service Organization (ALSSO)

ALSSO (The ALS Service Organization) was originally organized in Spokane, WA in 2003 by a group of individuals with family members diagnosed with ALS for the benefit of supporting each other through friendship and support group meetings.

We received our non-profit status in December of 2008.  Originally, our goal was to meet and share concerns and experiences. Over the years and with support through donations and fundraisers, we were able to expand by helping with financial assistance for adaptive equipment, vans, home modification projects, caregiving expenses and other needed financial help within our means and by-laws.

All members of ALSSO are volunteers. Our governing board is all volunteer.  Over 99% of our donations go directly to people living with ALS in our region which covers Eastern Washington, North Idaho and Western Montana.

We meet monthly to allow those with ALS, along with their loved ones and supporters, time to share their struggles and solutions with one another.  It is a time of much needed emotional support.

We are pleased to be able to work alongside the other area foundations and groups which support people living with ALS, such as The ALS Association (ALSA), Matt’s Place Foundation, Catholic Charities, Team Gleason, and The Providence Spokane ALS Clinic at St. Luke’s.

Often time ALSSO is confused with The ALS Association (ALSA).  While we work with them (currently, Glen Garcia is their Patient Care Coordinator who is our contact and advocate), we are not associated with them in any other way.  We are a totally separate organization with different missions.  While they can work with you to provide professional help and a loan locker, we are about the friendship and interpersonal relationships to help one another.

We hope this helps you understand our ALS Service Organization (ALSSO).

March 2023 Monthly meeting

Click on this link to join our ALSSO Monthly Zoom Meeting .

Our in person meeting will be held at:

THE GLEASON INSTITUTE FOR NEUROSCIENCE, E. 325 SPRAGUE, SPOKANE.

Join us every month on the First Wednesday of the month at 5:30 pm. Please add this to your calendar so you can plan to join us!

Hence, the next meeting is scheduled for March 1st, 2023 at 05:30 PM.

     Additionally, our upcoming meetings will be scheduled at 5:30 pm as follows:  April 5th, 2023, May 3rd, 2023, and June 7th, 2023.

For information: call Debbie king at 509-467-8761  

We are a group of ALS patients, family members of patients, and volunteers whose lives have been impacted by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALSSO is a non-profit organization to serve the ALS community in the Inland Northwest. ALSSO offers assistance to other non-profit organizations that help families with ALS.

We joined together in the belief that together we make a difference in the quality of the lives of those currently living with ALS.

Our experience with ALS allows us to offer support in many forms. We can help in the following ways: provide meals, rides,shopping, chores, social calls, fun activities, home modification projects, and installation of adaptive equipment. When requested by patients and families, we share our experiences of what worked for us and provide other needed assistance within our capabilities.

ALS Service Organization

alsso.org EIN 26-2613591

P.O.Box 48177 Spokane, Wa. 99228-1177 509-467-8761