Michael Fox — Licensed Insurance Advisor
Michael Fox Insurance
Phone: 856-676-9358
Email: michaelfox13@gmail.com
michaelfoxinsurance.online
ALS — Resource Guide
Curated by Michael Fox Insurance
Printed June 18, 2026
ALS support & resource hub
ALS demands urgency — and you don't have to figure it out alone.
From the day of diagnosis, ALS families face decisions that can't wait. This page gathers the most trusted helplines, ALS clinics, equipment loan programs, financial aid, communication tools, and caregiver resources in one place.
If this is a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
Talk to someone right now
Helplines and direct support
Free, confidential, and staffed by trained specialists. You don't need to know what to ask — just reach out.
ALS Association Connect Line
888-949-2577Free support from ALS Association Mon–Fri. Connects you to your local chapter, certified ALS clinics, equipment loans, and care services.
Visit websiteMuscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Resource Center
833-275-6321Mon–Fri 9am–6pm ET. Information specialists for ALS and other neuromuscular diseases. Email: ResourceCenter@mdausa.org.
Visit websiteI AM ALS Care Services
Email response within 48 hrsPatient-led organization. Free new-to-ALS guidance, care navigation, and a vibrant peer community. Reach out via website form.
Visit websiteLes Turner ALS Foundation Support Services
888-998-3577Multidisciplinary support — social work, equipment, support groups, and emotional support.
Visit website988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
988Free, confidential 24/7 emotional support for patients and family members. Call or text 988.
Visit websiteTrusted national organizations
Where to learn, connect, and get guidance
Breathe 4 ALS — In memory of Jonathan Greenfield
An organization deeply personal to Michael — founded in honor of his friend Jonathan Greenfield, who passed away from ALS. Raises funds and awareness to support ALS families and accelerate research.
Open resourceALS Association
Largest ALS nonprofit. Local chapters, Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence, advocacy, and care services.
Open resourceMuscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)
Sponsors more than 150 ALS care centers and offers comprehensive resources.
Open resourceI AM ALS
Patient-led community driving urgency in care, research, and advocacy.
Open resourceLes Turner ALS Foundation
Comprehensive ALS care, support services, and research funding.
Open resourceALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI)
Nonprofit biotech laser-focused on ALS drug development. Patient research programs included.
Open resourceALS Hope Foundation
Funds the MDA/ALS Center at Drexel and provides equipment and patient support.
Open resourceProject ALS
Funds collaborative ALS research and produces educational programs.
Open resourceTeam Gleason
Provides communication and assistive technology equipment to people with ALS — application-based and free.
Open resourceInternational Alliance of ALS/MND Associations
Global network of ALS organizations — useful for international families.
Open resourceEquipment, communication & assistive tech
Tools for mobility, breathing, and communication
Most ALS families need significant equipment within the first year. These programs loan or grant gear free of charge.
ALS Association Loan Closets
Local chapters loan wheelchairs, hospital beds, communication devices, and more — free of charge.
Open resourceMDA Equipment Loan Program
Loans of durable medical equipment through MDA Care Centers.
Open resourceTeam Gleason Tech & Communication Grants
Eye-tracking devices, speech-generating tablets, smart home tech, and adventure equipment.
Open resourceHill-Rom / Pulmonetic Vent Programs
Guidance on cough-assist, BiPAP, and ventilator equipment access.
Open resourceEyeGaze / Tobii Dynavox
Speech-generating and eye-tracking devices — frequently covered by Medicare.
Open resourceVoice Banking — ModelTalker / VocaliD
Free voice-banking tools — record your voice early to use in future communication devices.
Open resourceALS TDI Precision Medicine Program
Free participation that contributes biological data to research.
Open resourceMedical care & ALS clinics
Finding multidisciplinary ALS care
Multidisciplinary clinic care has been shown to improve quality of life and survival. Find one near you.
ALS Association Certified Treatment Centers
Recognized centers meeting the highest care standards.
Open resourceMDA Care Centers
150+ multidisciplinary clinics across the country.
Open resourceNortheast ALS Consortium (NEALS)
Network of 145+ ALS research and clinical centers.
Open resourceALS Telemedicine Programs
Many ALS clinics offer virtual visits — critical when mobility becomes limited.
Open resourceHospice & Palliative Care
Palliative care can — and should — start at diagnosis, not just end of life.
Open resourceFinancial assistance & benefits
Help paying for care, equipment, and home modifications
SSDI Compassionate Allowance — ALS
ALS qualifies for fast-tracked Social Security Disability — Medicare begins immediately, no 24-month wait.
Open resourceALS Association Care Services Grants
Many local chapters provide direct financial assistance — contact your chapter.
Open resourceMDA Resource Center Financial Help
Help with co-pays, equipment, and access to manufacturer assistance programs.
Open resourceVA Benefits — ALS is service-connected
All veterans diagnosed with ALS are presumed service-connected — full benefits and equipment apply.
Open resourceHealthWell Foundation
ALS-specific copay and premium assistance fund (when open).
Open resourcePAN Foundation
Disease-specific copay and travel grants.
Open resourceTravis Roy Foundation
Grants for adaptive equipment for those with paralysis.
Open resourceLong-term care planning with Michael
If you're planning ahead — or supporting a family member without ALS — these decisions are time-sensitive.
Open resourceCaregiver support
Help for care partners and family
ALS Association Caregiver Resources
Toolkits, education, and a dedicated caregiver community.
Open resourceHope Loves Company
The only nonprofit dedicated to children and grandchildren of those with ALS — free programs and camps.
Open resourceCaregiver Action Network
Help Desk (855-227-3640), peer forums, and toolkits.
Open resourceFamily Caregiver Alliance
State-by-state services finder and online support groups.
Open resourceWell Spouse Association
Support specifically for spouses & partners of the chronically ill.
Open resourceARCH National Respite Network
Find local respite providers to give yourself a break.
Open resourceClinical trials & research
Be part of the search for treatments
NEALS Trial Navigator
Most comprehensive ALS trial directory — search by location and eligibility.
Open resourceClinicalTrials.gov
Federal database of every registered ALS trial in the U.S.
Open resourceALS TDI Precision Medicine Program
Contribute data from home to power ALS research.
Open resourceAnswer ALS
Largest coordinated ALS research project in history.
Open resourceExpanded Access / Right to Try
How to request investigational therapies outside of clinical trials.
Open resourceLocal & community help
Find services in your neighborhood
Find Your Local ALS Chapter
Local chapters provide equipment loans, support groups, and care services.
Open resource211 (United Way)
Dial 211 for local food, housing, utility, and care help.
Open resourceEldercare Locator
Federal directory (800-677-1116) of local services and home care.
Open resourceCompassus / VITAS / Local Hospice
Find an accredited hospice provider — many offer ALS-experienced teams.
Open resourceBooks & education
Trusted reading and learning
Living with ALS manuals (ALSA)
Free, comprehensive manuals on every aspect of life with ALS.
Open resourceTuesdays with Morrie — Mitch Albom
A classic that has helped countless families process the journey.
Open resourceUntil I Say Good-Bye — Susan Spencer-Wendel
Memoir on living fully with ALS.
Open resourceProject Revoice
Voice-banking initiative born from Pat Quinn and the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
Open resourcePlanning ahead
Decisions that can't wait
ALS progression is fast. Putting legal, medical, and financial directives in place early protects your family and preserves your voice in major decisions.
Five Wishes Advance Directive
The most widely used living will in America.
Open resourceNAELA — Find an Elder Law Attorney
Powers of attorney, healthcare proxies, and special needs trusts.
Open resourceALS Association — Planning Ahead
ALS-specific guidance on advance directives, ventilation decisions, and end-of-life choices.
Open resourceTalk with Michael about coverage
Help reviewing existing life insurance, accelerating benefits, and planning for family financial security.
Open resourceShare this with someone you love.
A diagnosis can feel isolating and overwhelming — but you can be the light in someone else's darkest moment. If you know a family walking through ALS, forward this page. One small act of sharing can connect them to the hotlines, specialists, and community that help carry the weight.
A note from Michael
You don't have to face ALS alone.
I built this hub because watching my own family navigate a serious diagnosis showed me how hard it is to find trustworthy help when you need it most. If something here eases the load — even a little — it's worth it.
When you're ready to talk about protecting your family financially, I'm here — no pressure, no cost.
Informational only — not medical, legal, or financial advice. Always consult a licensed professional. In an emergency, call 911.