ALS Association Receives Grant to Purchase iPads for Patients

The ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter, based in Norwood, has been awarded a grant from Covidien to fund an initiative called “Voices Heard,” which will fund the purchase of iPads for ALS patients.

The iPads will be equipped with various assistive technologies and applications for ALS patients the organization serves in Massachusetts. Jill Bellavance, Event Specialist for the ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter, said that the programs open up opportunities patients would not otherwise have.

"The many iPads this grant will purchase for The ALS Association will utilize an application called ProLoquo2go, a state-of-the-art text-to-speech, natural sounding voice program to give our patients the ability to 'speak' again," she said. "Even patients with little hand mobility will be able to use the easy touch screens. They will be able to read books, play games and music and our non-English speaking patients will have a built-in translator."

Bellavance said the organization is thrilled to have this grant, and that she herself saw the effects that ALS had on her own father.

"When my own father was diagnosed with ALS and lost the ability to speak, it was perhaps the hardest aspect of the disease for him to handle," she said.

Through the Covidien Partnership for Neighborhood Wellness program, Covidien stated they are committed to contributing to the availability of affordable, quality healthcare around the world. The company provides funds for local programs that support care and treatment for specific diseases and address the needs of the communities in which it operates.

“Covidien is proud to support this initiative," a statement by Teresa Hacunda, Director of Civic Affairs, read. "The ALS Association is clearly dedicated and passionate about assisting people who suffer from this disease. This new technology will empower patients and give them the ability to communicate with doctors, caregivers, family and friends, ultimately allowing them to live fuller lives and have better access to care."

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. More commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, ALS causes patients to lose the ability to speak, move, swallow and breathe. An estimated 30,000 Americans are living with ALS, and patients typically die within two to five years of diagnosis. There is, as of now, no known cause, cure or effective treatment. 

The only ALS-related organization in Massachusetts fighting ALS on all fronts, The ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter provides direct patient services in addition to funding research and advocating for patients. The Association as a whole has awarded nearly $58 million to fund research to find the causes and a cure for ALS. 

"Patients often get depressed over their inability to do things for themselves," Bellavance said. "The Association hopes the iPads purchased as a result of Covidien’s generous grant will help patients regain a greater sense of independence and quality of life.”