Committing to Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Across Alabama

More than 12,000 people are living with Parkinson's in the State of Alabama today. We recognize that this extends throughout the state, not just in urban and metropolitan areas. One of our primary goals at PAA is to extend our reach as an association by offering program excellence to more underserved areas of our state. Our Board of Directors and staff are committed to the work needed in removing barriers to care, making sure that research is more inclusive, and ensuring that information and resources are accessible, both online and in person.

As a result, we are intentionally building on this commitment through our investment in the revitalization of our Care Navigation Program and the online Parkinson Disease Resource Center (PDRC) so that all people with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and their families have what they need to manage the condition and live their best quality of life. This means building a robust online resource center, extending community support with more support group offerings, and putting feet on the ground regionally to help connect others in regional areas of the state.

We understand that Alabama has geographic areas without providers and hard-to-reach people who live in areas that make access to care difficult. We are working with providers to make research more efficient and effective by involving those living with Parkinson's in the research process. We are working on models for extended programs and resources that will help with patient engagement, a focus on diversity and inclusion, and the ability to further patient-centered care throughout the entire state of Alabama.

Our goal at PAA is to connect everyone in Alabama with the ability to participate in clinical trials, providing scholarships for movement classes, and transportation vouchers to increase wellness and care enrollment in underserved areas. We are working with partners throughout the state to bring awareness and more programs to your area so that you can attend the classes and therapies you need locally and virtually. And we are committed to increasing our support group network by launching more opportunities for connection in ways that those impacted feel comfortable, safe and valued.

At PAA, we realize that we always have work to do, and we are committed to doing the work. We will continue to drive awareness and funding so that more and more programs can be built and will support all impacted by Parkinson's throughout our beautiful State of Alabama.