Who We Are
MSAA’s Mission and Overview
MSAA… Improving Lives Today!
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is a leading resource for the entire MS community, improving lives today through vital services and support.
MSAA is a national, nonprofit organization founded in 1970. Our organization is dedicated to improving lives today through ongoing support and direct services to individuals with MS, their families, and their care partners.
Overseeing MSAA’s activities is a national Board of Directors comprised of accomplished professionals from across the country, volunteering their time for MSAA. Providing medical consultation is MSAA’s Chief Medical Officer who reviews all of MSAA’s medical information.
MSAA’s Healthcare Advisory Council (HAC) includes leading members of the MS healthcare professional community and works in collaboration with MSAA’s Board of Directors and staff to advance and promote the organization’s mission and goals.
MSAA’s African American Advisory Board and Hispanic/Latinx Advisory Board are comprised of leading MS healthcare professionals, people with MS, and care partners. The Advisory Boards identify unmet needs and focus on developing comprehensive and innovative programmatic and educational initiatives to address those needs.
MSAA has an “A” rating as a Four-Star Charity from Charity Navigator, showing that supporters can give to our organization with confidence. MSAA has also achieved Platinum Level status with GuideStar, a national nonprofit agency that gathers, organizes, and distributes information about charities within the United States. Platinum is the highest level of recognition offered by GuideStar. MSAA is also a long-standing member of America’s Charities as well as a founding member of the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition (MSC), a collaborative affiliation of independent MS organizations dedicated to the enhancement of the quality of life for all those affected by MS.
MSAA’s Programs and Services
MSAA’s free programs and services improve lives. These include:
- Helpline and online chat with MSAA’s trained specialists
- Safety and mobility equipment products
- Cooling vests and accessories for heat-sensitive individuals
- Educational programs led by top healthcare professionals, providing vital information and insight
- Award-winning educational videos, webinars, and publications, including MSAA’s magazine, The Motivator
- My MSAA Community peer-to-peer online forum
- MS Conversations blog featuring timely discussions and topics relevant to the MS community
- Podcast episodes covering a range of topics
MSAA also offers additional digital tools to help manage the ever-changing course of multiple sclerosis. These tools are part of our Shared-Management philosophy, involving education, training, and use of technology to promote healthy outcomes. Shared Management is a concept whereby both the patient and healthcare providers work together to achieve the best possible health outcomes for the patient. MSAA offers the following Shared-Management tools:
- MSAA’s Ultimate MS Treatment Guide to help compare all FDA-approved MS treatments
- My MS Manager™, a mobile phone app to help manage and track disease activity.
Please be sure to visit the many sections of our website to learn more about multiple sclerosis, understand how our organization serves as a leading resource for the MS community, and find out how you can be a part of our important mission of Improving Lives Today!