The Multiple Sclerosis Alliance of Southern Colorado is a group dedicated solely to assisting our clients. Our mission is to provide programs, services, and resources to people with Multiple Sclerosis to help them improve the quality of their life and achieve greater hope, health, and independence. In 1979, the organization incorporated as an independent agency and has been serving southern Colora
do ever since. Our agency offers a variety of programs and support for those struggling with MS, collaborating with numerous community agencies, hospitals, physicians, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, employers and others. We hold support groups, social groups, discussion groups and more at our home office in Colorado Springs, as well as branches in Pueblo and Woodland Park. We also have yoga and exercise classes available that are modified to be accessible to those with a variety of mobility capabilities. You can find our full schedule on our events page or on our website. There are eight different support group and six exercise classes that meet on a weekly basis. While these meetings are foremost to offer support and understanding to clientele, we also celebrate birthdays, victories, and commiserate the difficulties of living with MS. These groups have proven educational, emotionally healing and more than uplifting. Education seminars on MS or related treatments are scheduled throughout the year, and we invite as many clients as we can to those events in order to help spread awareness of treatments and grow our community further.
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Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and progressive disease that rests in the central nervous system - affecting the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. This causes problems with muscle control, strength, vision, balance, and cognitive functions. Symptoms vary from person to person, as the disease attacks various parts of the nervous system. Due to this nonspecific focus, MS is extremely difficult to diagnose and has no cure. The most common results of MS include lack of coordination, muscle stiffness, blindness or foggy vision, numbness, banding sensations, light headedness and dizziness. There are several therapies and treatments that have proven to slow progress and improve quality of life while living with MS. Certain medication can slow disease progress, as well as relieve some of the many symptoms, like fatigue and depression. Massage therapy and dietary supplements can temporarily relieve some MS symptoms as well. Through our administrative staff, we assist clients with locating resources, transportation, applying for needed income and services, and securing home safety equipment such as shower bars and other medical and/or mobility equipment. We also provide information for newly diagnosed patients - Multiple Sclerosis can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate, especially for new clients, and so we hope to educate and assist with health fairs, books, pamphlets, videos, and any other resource new clients may need. With this information database for our clients, we also have specific programs and information directed at younger children to help them understand the diagnosis and raise awareness early on. Books like Mommy’s Story and Daddy’s Story - put out by the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America - are amazing resources for families learning about MS. The MSA works in our local community as much as possible. We are involved with countless fundraisers, groups, clubs and organizations all over southern Colorado, from Walmart to the Salvation Army to small local businesses and special events. Programs like this are the backbone of our organization - we focus completely on client’s needs, and all of our funding goes to that objective. Anything we raise for MS, whether it be through donation, fundraising, or general awareness in our community, stays right here in southern Colorado. Our community is the most important thing at the MSA, as community is the best weapon against something without a cure like Multiple Sclerosis. Social groups and regular activities cut down on isolation and depression that come with having such a disease, and the mindset of our clients continue to improve the longer we work with them. It is easy to fall into a negative mindset while dealing with Multiple Sclerosis, and at the MSA we battle that negativity with every step. For any questions or information, refer to our website at www.msasoco.org or give us a call at the office, open Monday - Thursday from 10am to 2pm (719)633-4603. You can also contact us through email at [email protected].
