All of the Society s public policy advocacy relates to medical research, health care, long-term care, health insurance and disability issues. Sometimes, public sector advocacy cannot resolve a particular problem, and so our advocates have to approach private businesses to fix it. All of this advocacy activity, whether in the public sector or private sector, is leveraged that is, successful resolution of a single advocacy matter helps many people with MS, and perhaps many more with other chronic illnesses and disabilities. Advocacy is a way for the Society to expand the services, resources and protections available to people with MS without directly paying for them. The mission of the MS Society is to end the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis.
Advocacy is an important mission element.
The chapters and the home office share this responsibility. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has many assets that are essential to effective advocacy. Second, these committed people have shown that they can acquire considerable expertise in important public policy issues. Third, people with MS and their families can be extremely persuasive in communicating their views, because they speak with firsthand knowledge of the effects of particular policies on chronically ill and disabled persons. Fourth, the Society s membership can be tapped for advocacy action.