FALL 2012 PROGRAMS & SERVICES IN YOUR COMMUNITY
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
people whose voices aren’t being heard. Make sure yours is. National Voter Registration Day is September 25, 2012. Register yourself and learn how you can register others at www.usa. gov/Citizen/Topics/Voting/Register.shtml.
PREPARE TO VOTE ADVOCACY
MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT BY RENEE VANDLIK
Election Day 2012 is on the horizon, so get ready to cast your vote for who best represents the issues you care about. Here’s what you need to know to vote in the elections on November 6.
This year, citizens in 30 states will have to comply with voter identification laws. Contact your local polling precinct ahead of time to find out what you’ll need. Also ask about accessibility: you don’t want to show up, only to find out you can’t get in the door. Since 2005, The Help America Vote Act requires every precinct in the country to have at least one voting machine or system accessible to persons with disabilities, including those with vision impairments. Learn more at www.aapd.com/what-we-do/voting/. If it’s difficult to vote in-person, plan to vote absentee. Learn more at www. longdistancevoter.org.
THE BIG PICTURE
THE INFORMED VOTER
This fall, Americans will cast votes for the presidency, every member of the U.S. House of Representatives and one-third of the U.S. Senate. What’s different? Since the 2010 census, 15 million Americans became eligible to vote and an anticipated 50 million more will vote this November due to stronger engagement in national campaigns. However, people with disabilities register to vote at a 16 percent lower rate than other Americans. And with 1 in 10 eligible voters having a disability, that’s a lot of
Go to www.nationalMSsociety.org/advocacy to learn more about issues important to people with MS, such as health care, accessibility and medical research. Then find out where the candidates stand on those issues— www.yourcandidatesyourhealth.org is one place to start. Renee Vandlik is the Society’s director of State Government and Local Government Relations.
08 HORSE POWER: LIVING STRONG WITH MS 6-week series Thursdays, October 4 - November 8, 2012 10:00 - 11:30 AM DreamPower Barn at WoodMyst Farm 7460 Crews Road Gilroy, CA
DreamPower Horsemanship offers an equinefacilitated psychotherapy empowerment group for persons living with multiple sclerosis. Participants will have the chance to connect and share with others living with MS in a supportive, flexible, and fun outdoor environment. The realities of living life with MS will be safely processed within the context of the relationship with horses through grooming, leading, ground work exercises, and various other therapeutic and/or horsemanship activities. Participants will be offered the space to explore emotions and learn skills to increase feelings of self-reliance. Through learning how horses communicate and building relationships with horses, participants will be given the chance to increase their sense of personal power, self-efficacy, and well-being. At this program you will be able to: • • • •
Work on balance and movement. Maintain and increase physical ability. Practice self-care. Experience the power of Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy. • Increase self-knowledge and selfacceptance. • Renew peace of mind and have fun
PROGRAMS & SERVICES FALL 2012 outdoors while enjoying the company of horses. • Participate at your own functioning level. Pre-registration is required. To register, please call 800-344-4867, or visit us online at www. nationalMSsociety.org/can.
IT’S TIME TO TRIM THE TREE! Tuesday, November 13, 2012 6:00 - 9:00 PM Santa Clara Office 2589 Scott Blvd Santa Clara, CA
Break out your scissors, glue and glitter! Join us for a festive evening of making ornaments for the National MS Society’s first tree for Christmas in the Park. Christmas in the Park is an annual holiday tradition that takes place in the heart of Downtown San José at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez. For over 30 years, this whimsical event has brought people from all over the Bay Area together during the holidays. Each year, the two-acre park is transformed into a holiday fantasy with over 60 musical and animated exhibits, glittering lights and the 60-foot Community Giving Tree. Guests enter a winter wonderland of lights, songs and local entertainment while strolling through an enchanted forest of trees decorated by San José schools, community groups and businesses. Pre-registration is required. To register, please call 800-344-4867, or visit us online at www. nationalMSsociety.org/can.
REGISTER AT NATIONALMSSOCIETY.ORG/CAN | 1-800-344-4867
MIND, MYTH & MYELINATION
You are invited to become part of a scientific research project investigating how consciousness may affect Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS). Become part of an international study that examines various aspects of those with PPMS in an attempt to uncover the roots of myelin dissolution. If you have PPMS and would like to be interviewed for this study, please contact: Hannah Zinn M.D. at 510-200-3746 or zinn.hannah@ yahoo.de.
PAY IT FORWARD
1st Tuesday of Each Month October 2, November 6 & December 4, 2012 11:00 AM-12:30 PM Santa Clara Office 2589 Scott Blvd Santa Clara, CA Join us the first Tuesday of each month at the Santa Clara Office to connect with others, have a little snack and help out the Northern California Chapter with special projects in the office. The purpose of life is not to be happy - but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all. ~Leo Rosten
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SELF-HELP GROUPS SAN BENITO COUNTY Hollister Group Joann and Andrew 831-630-0266
SANTA CLARA COUNTY Milpitas Phyllis 408-509-8137
MONTEREY COUNTY Monterey Veronica 831-869-1684 Palo Alto George 650-281-7646 or Kathy 408-921-9888 San Jose David 408-578-3752 Santa Clara Susan 408-253-4489
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY Capitola Estefana 831-406-9127 or Ada 831-440-1211
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PROGRAMS & SERVICES FALL 2012
NEWLY DIAGNOSED ORIENTATIONS
Are you newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis? A diagnosis of MS can create many unexpected emotions that leave you with a strong need to understand the changes you may be facing. The Northern California Chapter is pleased to present two opportunities to address the most common concerns for people who are newly diagnosed. These orientations provide an excellent opportunity to have any questions you may wish to ask answered and learn more about the resources available to people living with multiple sclerosis.
ONLINE NEWLY DIAGNOSED ORIENTATION Thursday, November 8, 2012 6:00 - 7:30 PM
This web-based program will be conducted by Dr. Elizabeth Crabtree, Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology at UCSF and Director of Patient Program Development at UCSF’s MS Center. A phone and computer with internet access will be necessary to join this program. Pre-registration is not required.
IN-PERSON NEWLY DIAGNOSED ORIENTATION Monday, November 5, 2012 6:30-8:30 PM Santa Clara Office 2589 Scott Blvd. Santa Clara, CA
This informative program is conducted quarterly by the National MS Society’s Greater Bay Area Community Development Manager, Tara Reed and a Registered Nurse certified in MS.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CENTRAL VALLEY
Free From Falls - October 2 (8-week series) Town Hall Meeting - October 24 Newly Diagnosed Orientation - November 6 Christmas at the Gallo Center - November 27
GREATER BAY AREA Yoga for MS & Wellness multiple dates & times Program for Stress & Pain Management Starts October 9 Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction - October 11 (8-week series) Newly Diagnosed Orientation - November 7
SACRAMENTO CogniFitness - 2 locations & dates Fall Prevention - October 13 & 27 Music for Movement - October 13 Healthy Cooking with Lia Huber - October 13 Treatment Options & MS - October 16 Cork for a Cure - October 19 Newly Diagnosed Orientation - November 1
NORTH BAY AREA
CogniFitness - 2 locations & dates I Don’t Have Time for the Challenges of MS- November 6 Newly Diagnosed Orientation - November 7 To view a complete listing of Northern California programs & services, please visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/can.