Allsup Awards Disability Literacy Grant To The Parkinson’s Foundation

$2,500 will support education and outreach to individuals affected by the progressive movement disorder

Belleville, Ill. — Jan. 31, 2017 — Allsup, a nationwide Social Security Disability Insurance representation company, today awarded the Parkinson’s Foundation $2,500 for being the top Allsup Post for a Purpose SM blogger in 2016.

Allsup Post for a Purpose  provides individuals with chronic illness and disabilities a forum to raise awareness and funds through social media. It is part of Allsup’s disability literacy initiative to promote programs and services provided by nonprofit organizations and help people understand and use health and financial information.

Nearly 1 million people in the U.S. are living with Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to the Parkinson’s Foundation. The cause is unknown, and although there is no cure, there are treatment options such as medication and surgery to manage its symptoms.

The All Things Disability guest blog, 7 Things I Wish I Knew When I was Diagnosed With Parkinson’s, garnered more than 1,200 Facebook shares during Parkinson Disease Awareness month in April. The blog was written by Gil Thelen, a research advocate and Moving Day® walk participant with the Parkinson’s Foundation. Thelen encouraged individuals to stay active and connect with the PD organizations that provide resources. They include:

• National help lines. Call (800) 457-6676 or (800) 473-4636 or email info@pdf.org or helpline@parkinson.org
• Patient education
• Caregiving resources
• Tips and advice on navigating employment, insurance, financial and legal matters

“Mr. Thelen’s blog provides the straight-forward facts people who live with Parkinson’s – like me– need to fight this disease,” said Dan Novak, Ph.D., Chair, Parkinson’s Foundation People with Parkinson’s Advisory Council. “At the Foundation, we are grateful to Mr. Thelen and to Allsup for raising awareness and for the award of $2,500 to support our mission of informing the community.”

Reactions to the blog illustrated the importance of such support.

“I’m so grateful for this chance to find help,” read one comment.

“I wish I had been told about [groups like the Parkinson’s Foundation] when I was first diagnosed,” read another. “Trawling the net for information on Parkinson’s can lead to scare stories and quack cures.”

Individuals with Parkinson’s may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits if they are not able to continue working. To access a Free SSDI Assessment online for SSDI eligibility, visit Expert.Allsup.com, or call (888) 841-2126.

For more information on disability literacy education materials and the Allsup Post for a Purpose program, contact Tai Prohaska at t.prohaska@allsupinc.com.

ABOUT THE PARKINSON’S FOUNDATION

The Parkinson’s Foundation is working toward a world without Parkinson’s disease. Formed by the merger of National Parkinson Foundation and the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation in August 2016, the mission of the Parkinson’s Foundation is to invest in promising scientific research that will end Parkinson’s disease and improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s, and their families, through improved treatments, support and the best care. For more information, visit www.parkinsonsfoundation.org or call (800) 4PD-INFO (473-4636) or (800) 457-6676.