Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month 2026
MSAA is proud to support Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month during the month of March and is offering several digital educational activities – including a podcast series, educational video, blog posts, the launch of our annual Art Showcase, and coverage across MSAA’s various communication platforms.
MSAA’s 2026 MS Awareness Month campaign titled Your MS, Your Voice: The Power of Self-Advocacy focuses on what advocating for oneself really looks like in everyday life. This year, we are exploring self-advocacy from both the clinician and lived-experience perspective, along with meaningful conversations between individuals living with MS and healthcare providers. Together, these programs aim to build trust, strengthen communication, and share practical tools to help individuals, care partners, and providers work together more effectively. Please join us for the following free MS Awareness Month activities and continue to check this page throughout March.
In addition to our educational activities, during the month of March, all donations made in honor of MS Awareness Month will be matched up to $90,000.
MS Awareness Month Podcast Episodes
Beyond the Chart: Strengthening Self-Advocacy Through Communication
A two-part series featuring Annette Howard, MD and patient advocate Kate Durack, MPS
Join us for a special 2-episode MSAA Podcast series — a conversation between our guests as they explore how clear, honest communication empowers people living with MS to advocate for themselves in care. Dr. Howard is the Medical Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Institute of Texas in Houston and a dedicated advocate for health equity and patient self-advocacy through her role on MSAA’s African American Advisory Board. Kate Durack serves as Director of MSIN Communication & Patient Focus at MSAA and brings both professional experience in disability support services and lived expertise, having been diagnosed with MS 10 years ago.
Sign up now for an email alert announcing the availability of upcoming episodes and updates on future MSAA Podcast programs.
“Beyond the Chart: Strengthening Self-Advocacy Through Communication – Part 1”
This initial episode featuring Dr. Annette Howard and MSAA’s Kate Durack highlights practical ways patients can ensure their voices are heard beyond what’s written in the chart and what actually helps create meaningful human connection between patients and their healthcare providers.
▶️ Listen Now
“Beyond the Chart: Strengthening Self-Advocacy Through Communication – Part 2”
In this final episode in our series, “Beyond the Chart,” our esteemed guests Dr. Howard and Kate Durack dive in more on what happens after the doctor’s appointment and how to keep the conversation going between visits – and beyond the chart.
▶️ Listen Now
MS Awareness Month Educational Video
“Advocacy Starts with You”
featuring Erica Rivas, MD and Anita Williams, MSc
This on-demand video conversation explores how people living with MS can effectively advocate for themselves within their families, communities, and healthcare settings – empowering informed decision-making and stronger support systems. Our guest speakers, lived-experience advocate Anita Williams and MS specialist Dr. Erica Rivas, bring both personal and clinical perspectives to the conversation, offering practical insights and encouragement.
▶️ Watch Now
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Make Double the Impact in March
The MS community depends on MSAA for vital programs. Every donation makes a difference in helping people who need our support this MS Awareness Month, and beyond.
Additional MS Awareness Month Resources
- Educational Programs and Events – check out our Calendar of Events for more information about in-person and digital educational programs along with other events
- MSAA’s MS Awareness Month press release
- MS Conversations blog – read new posts from MSAA and our guest bloggers during MS Awareness Month
- My MSAA Community – join our growing online community platform and share your own story about MS during March
MSAA Art Showcase 2026-27
MSAA is very proud to recognize the work of artists living with multiple sclerosis. Enjoy the many wonderful and inspiring submissions from artists with MS, including our latest Artist of the Month.
Learn More About MS
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. A variety of symptoms are possible, often beginning with periods of flare-ups and remissions. The prevalence of MS is estimated at nearly one million people nationwide and most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50.