Talk:Muscular Dystrophy Association

Minor Change
I just linked Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy to Kennedy's Disease (since they're the same thing). Lotsotech 13:40, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

Removal of Jerry Lewis Criticism
Removed the following:
 * Jerry Lewis has also made some disparaging remarks towards the disabled community:
 * In 1990, he wrote a first-person essay entitled "If I Had Muscular Dystrophy" for Parade magazine, in which he characterized those with muscular dystrophy as "being half a person." Many in the disabled community viewed his remarks as prejudicial, contributing to the idea that disabled people are "childlike, helpless, hopeless, nonfunctioning and noncontributing members of society."
 * On May 20 2001, he responded to his critics in an interview on CBS News Sunday Morning: "If you don't want to be pitied for being a cripple in a wheelchair, don't come out of the house." Again, disability rights activists blasted him for characterizing disabled people as helpless and homebound.

As this information is available in the Jerry Lewis article. While Lewis is well know for work with MDA, these are personal comments and criticism not MDA sponsored events. There's little need for people to associate the two. If needed a short line about Mr. Lewis' controversy can be added, but it doesn't appear needed.--Kinglink 20:24, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

Final tally removal
I removed the following:
 * The exact amount of the final tally that rolls up on the board at the close of each annual Telethon is predetermined by MDA representatives weeks before the Telethon is held.

I doubt this is true, and I don't think its responsible to leave it on the article without a citation. —Cliffb 01:02, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

Jerry's Kids vs. Jerry's Kids (band)
I think it should be mentioned that there is a band called Jerry's Kids and I think it should say something like "Jerry's Kids redirects here, for the band, see Jerry's Kids (band)". Also, why does "Kill Kill Kill" redirect to this article? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.242.56.1 (talk) 16:21, 2 December 2010 (UTC)

Edit Request
Hi Wikipedia, I work for MDA so I have a COI and am not allowed to make these changes myself. Can someone help me with these changes? Thank you! Gms050997 (talk) 18:20, 7 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Can you make the following updates to the infobox?
 * Can you update the “Focus” to include care and advocacy?
 * Can you update the CEO to Donald Wood? Source: https://musculardystrophynews.com/2020/11/17/q-and-a-meet-the-muscular-dystrophy-associations-new-ceo-and-president-donald-wood/#:~:text=Q%26A%3A%20Meet%20Donald%20Wood%2C%20the,Association's%20New%20CEO%20and%20President
 * Can you update the Chairman to “Steven J. Farella”? Source: https://www.stjohns.edu/about/news/2020-02-12/steven-j-farella-77svc-named-mda-board-chair
 * Can you update the Revenue to be “$110,657,553 (2018)” Source: https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4134
 * Can you make the following changes in the lede:
 * Can you change the first sentence to say, “The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is an American 501(c)3 (Source: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/131665552) umbrella organization for people with 43 neuromuscular conditions. (Source: https://www.wctrib.com/newsmd/policy/6851841-After-a-decade-of-lobbying-ALS-patients-gain-faster-access-to-disability-payments)
 * After the first sentence, can you add “Founded in 1950 by Paul Cohen (Source: https://www.mcall.com/health/mc-nws-biz-health-musculardystrophy-20170725-story.html), MDA works to help those affected by muscular dystrophy and related disorders through innovations in science and care.” (Source: https://www.capitalpress.com/sponsored/dollars-to-help-strengthen-communities/article_1a32f8e2-342a-11eb-bada-d33e68395a3e.html)
 * After that, can you add “Since its founding, MDA has contributed more than $1 billion toward researching therapies and cures.” (Source: https://www.capitalpress.com/sponsored/dollars-to-help-strengthen-communities/article_1a32f8e2-342a-11eb-bada-d33e68395a3e.html)
 * After that, can you start a new paragraph with: “MDA research has helped fund the discovery of the dystrophin/DMD gene responsible for the most serious and common form of muscular dystrophy, Duchenne, as well as potential gene therapy treatments.” (Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/07/27/893289171/a-boy-with-muscular-dystrophy-was-headed-for-a-wheelchair-then-gene-therapy-arri)
 * Followed by: “MDA also launched a tool to help make clinical data more accessible and accelerate treatment discovery, called the neuroMuscular ObserVational Research (MOVR) Visualization and Reporting Platform (VRP).” (Source: https://musculardystrophynews.com/2020/11/12/mda-launches-tool-to-make-clinical-data-more-accessible-to-researchers)
 * “MDA’s Care Center Network provides specialized neuromuscular care at more than 150 clinics across the United States. Research is also conducted at these centers” (Source: https://charcot-marie-toothnews.com/2020/02/07/from-care-centers-to-research-awards-and-summer-camp-mda-leads-in-helping-others/)
 * “MDA’s Resource Center offers support and educational resources for families and healthcare providers affected by neuromuscular diseases.” (Source: https://www.capitalpress.com/sponsored/dollars-to-help-strengthen-communities/article_1a32f8e2-342a-11eb-bada-d33e68395a3e.html)
 * “Each year, MDA offers a weeklong summer camp at no cost to families for children ages 8-17 who are affected by muscular dystrophy and related diseases.” (Source: https://charcot-marie-toothnews.com/2020/02/07/from-care-centers-to-research-awards-and-summer-camp-mda-leads-in-helping-others/)


 * Hi ,
 * I can work on these. Few points of clarification and some comments:
 * I'll remove the existing names in the infobox, right?
 * I'll combine your sentence with some of the existing lede content. The MOVR/VRP tool line sounds good to me, but should maybe go in History? I'll play around a bit.
 * We're putting a lot in the leded. I'll spread around a bit.
 * --FeldBum (talk) 02:29, 19 April 2021 (UTC)


 * Hi User:FeldBum,


 * Thanks for your help! I'm not sure what you mean by combining my sentence with the lede? Can you show me what that would look like? I trust your judgment about where the other content should go, lede or otherwise.

Thank you!

Gms050997 (talk) 21:21, 19 April 2021 (UTC)


 * Hi, how about something like:
 * "The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is an American 501(c)3 umbrella organization for people 43 neuromuscular conditions. The association was founded in 1950 by Paul Cohen, whi suffered from muscular dystrophy, and works to combat muscular dystrophy and diseases of the nervous system and muscular system in general by funding research, providing medical and community services and educating health professionals and the general public.
 * Since its founding, MDA has contributed more than $1 billion toward researching therapies and cures, including helping to fund the discovery of the dystrophin/DMD gene responsible for the most serious and common form of muscular dystrophy, Duchenne, as well as potential gene therapy treatments."
 * In history, I'd add "In November 2020, MDA launched a tool, called the neuroMuscular ObserVational Research (MOVR) Visualization and Reporting Platform (VRP), to help make clinical data more accessible and accelerate treatment discovery."
 * For the Care and Resource Centers, how about a new subsection under Programs and Events called "Centers"?
 * I can update the Summer Camp section to reflect that it is free and for children 8-17.
 * Did I miss anything?
 * --FeldBum (talk) 19:58, 20 April 2021 (UTC)


 * Hi User:FeldBum,
 * Yes, that all works for us. I understand it could be edited at some point. Thanks for your help!
 * Gms050997 (talk) 19:21, 21 April 2021 (UTC)


 * OK, added. Let me know if I missed anything . If not, please mark as answered (add |answered=yes to the template). --FeldBum (talk) 18:53, 23 April 2021 (UTC)


 * Hi User:FeldBum,
 * We can't say "who suffered from muscular dystrophy" but we can say "who lived with muscular dystrophy". Also, MDA only has one center, not multiple centers. Can we make those changes? Thanks!
 * Gms050997 (talk) 18:52, 26 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Shit, that's super ableist of me. You're totally right, . I'll change it. --FeldBum (talk) 19:05, 26 April 2021 (UTC)


 * User:Feldbum,
 * No problem! Thanks so much for making that change.
 * Gms050997 (talk) 21:44, 26 April 2021 (UTC)

New Edit Request
Thank you again FeldBum with your help on my initial request. I am requesting some more edits for this page, as detailed below:

davidson_muscular_dystrophy_association/; https://musculardystrophynews.com/2020/09/01/virtual-events-mark-mda-national-muscular-dystrophy-awareness-month/’
 * Can you make the following additions to the ‘History’ section?
 * In the first paragraph, can you change “...Paul Cohen who suffered from the disease.” to “...Paul Cohen who lived with neuromuscular disease.”
 * After the first paragraph, can you start a second paragraph with: “In 1954, MDA began its partnership with the International Association of Firefighters for the annual Fill the Boot Campaign.” Source: http://shoplocal.clevelandbanner.com/stories/cleveland-firefighters-raise-over-40000-for-mda,106475
 * ✅, with rewrite. A little repetitive, so I edited below.
 * “Shortly afterward in 1955, the organization held its first summer camp.” Source: https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/entertainment/tn-dpt-xpm-2011-07-29-tn-dpt-0730-cook-20110729-story.html
 * ✅, with rewrite.
 * “Harley Davidson became an MDA National Sponsor in 1980, and in 1987 the MDA Ride For Life program began, a fundraising ride held over Labor Day weekend.” Sources: https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2009/09/11/2009_harley-
 * “Harley Davidson became an MDA National Sponsor in 1980, and in 1987 the MDA Ride For Life program began, a fundraising ride held over Labor Day weekend.” Sources: https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2009/09/11/2009_harley-
 * ✅, with rewrite.
 * “Harley Davidson was joined by CITGO as a national sponsor in 1986” Source: https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/CITGO-sponsored-golf-tourney-raises-100k-for-MD-10806152.php
 * ✅, with rewrite.
 * ”The MDA Shamrocks program launched in 1982 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and became a national program one year later.” Source: https://patch.com/georgia/douglasville/kroger-customers-support-mda-s-shamrocks-program
 * ✅, with rewrite.
 * “In 1996, MDA was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Medical Association for its contributions to the health and welfare of humanity.” Source: https://www.ktre.com/story/1416480/jerry-lewis-biography/
 * ✅, with rewrite and additions.
 * ”In October 2020, the MDA Telethon, which had originally run from 1966 to 2014, was reimagined as The MDA Kevin Hart Kids Telethon after a 6 year hiatus” (Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisstrub/2020/10/13/after-six-year-hiatus-reimagined-mda-kevin-hart-kids-telethon-returns-oct-24/?sh=3a749e05589b).
 * ✅, with edits.
 * ”The 2-hour event was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and streamed live on the Laugh Out Loud Network and its YouTube platform” (Source: https://musculardystrophynews.com/2020/10/20/mda-telethon-going-virtual-with-host-kevin-hart/)
 * ✅, with edits.
 * “Celebrity guests included Jack Black, Josh Gad, Michael B. Jordan, and Jillian Mercado” (Source:https://www.thenonprofittimes.com/fundraising/mda-getting-back-in-telethon-game/).
 * "Spencer Smith, a lawyer with spinal muscular atrophy, described the Kevin Hart Kids Telethon as an opportunity to represent those who have typically been underrepresented in disability advocacy, with an emphasis on people thriving and living with neuromuscular disorders." Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/letters-to-the-editor/the-muscular-dystrophy-telethon-is-needed-and-inspirational/2020/10/26/51153ab8-17a2-11eb-8bda-814ca56e138b_story.html
 * , POV.
 * Also on telethon day was a 10-hour Let’s Play For A Cure streamthon, which featured DJ and producer Zedd, gaming personality missharvey, and esports athletes (Source: https://musculardystrophynews.com/2020/10/20/mda-telethon-going-virtual-with-host-kevin-hart)
 * ✅, with rewrite and additional source.
 * Following the Kevin Hart Kids Telethon was MDA’s 70th Anniversary Show, hosted by entertainment TV journalists Nancy O’Dell and Jann Carl (Source: https://musculardystrophynews.com/2020/10/20/mda-telethon-going-virtual-with-host-kevin-hart)
 * ✅, with edits and in different section.
 * ” In January 2021, MDA announced Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines as its National Spokesperson.” Source: https://www.wthr.com/article/sports/colts-rb-nyheim-hines-named-national-spokesperson-for-mda/531-c26d02f9-8a29-49f0-aa4d-df3a2bad8424?fbclid=IwAR2DkLo8xmKkNqqTMp7eCBpxiuJpodohaLgs02LQ2s1Or8rRFp8pquBQ9LY
 * ” In January 2021, MDA announced Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines as its National Spokesperson.” Source: https://www.wthr.com/article/sports/colts-rb-nyheim-hines-named-national-spokesperson-for-mda/531-c26d02f9-8a29-49f0-aa4d-df3a2bad8424?fbclid=IwAR2DkLo8xmKkNqqTMp7eCBpxiuJpodohaLgs02LQ2s1Or8rRFp8pquBQ9LY

https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/newsroom/news-releases/2006/03/first-us-trial-of-dmd-gene-therapy
 * Can you add a new subsection to the History section, called “Research”? Under this new section, can you add:
 * “In 1986, MDA funded researcher Louis Kunkel identified the dystrophin gene, the gene for DMD/BMD.” Source: https://www.biospace.com/article/the-time-for-dmd-gene-therapy-is-now-a-chat-with-the-mda/
 * ✅, with edits.
 * MDA funded the first gene therapy trial in 1999, followed by the first vector based gene therapy trial for DMD in 2006.” Sources: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Muscular_Dystrophy/fi5JhCJsxC0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=MDA+funded+the+first+gene+therapy+trial+in+1999&pg=PA18&printsec=frontcover
 * ✅, with edits.
 * “In 2007, MDA funded Adrian Krainer and his colleagues at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York for the early-stage development of nusinersen. Nusinersen became FDA approved in 2019 as the first treatment for children with spinal muscular dystrophy (SMA).” Source: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(20)30027-2/fulltext
 * ✅, with edits.
 * “In addition to nusinersen, MDA has funded the development of six FDA approved medicines since 2015, including Strongbridge Biopharma’s Keveyis (dicholorphenamide) for primary periodic paralysis; Sarepta Therapeutics’ Exondys 51 (eteplirsen), PTC Therapeutics’ Emflaza (deflazacort) and Vyondys 53® for DMD; Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma’s Radicava (edaravone) for ALS; and Alexion’s Soliris (eculizumab) for myasthenia gravis.” Sources: https://charcot-marie-toothnews.com/2019/04/04/mda-conference-bringing-neuromuscular-disease-experts-to-orlando-to-share-new-era-in-treatment-research/ https://musculardystrophynews.com/2019/12/13/vyondys-53-for-duchenne-md-with-exon-53-mutations-fda-approval/
 * ❌, would need individual independent sourcing for each drug. Would also be chemical name, not brand trademark. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)
 * In 2018, MDA awarded 88 new research grants worth a total of $23 million, in addition to 224 active grants totaling a funding commitment of more than $58 million. Source: https://charcot-marie-toothnews.com/2019/04/04/mda-conference-bringing-neuromuscular-disease-experts-to-orlando-to-share-new-era-in-treatment-research/
 * ✅, edited. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)
 * MDA developed the MOVR (neuroMuscular ObserVational Research) Data Hub in 2018, which collects clinical data from MDA’s Care Centers across the country. Source: https://www.neurologylive.com/view/centralizing-neuromuscular-disease-data-with-the-mda-movr-database
 * ❌, would need more than just one source to establish this is notable. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)
 * Can you move the line “In November 2020, MDA launched a tool, called the neuroMuscular ObserVational Research (MOVR) Visualization and Reporting Platform (VRP), to help make clinical data more accessible and accelerate discovery of muscular dystrophy treatments.” to be right after the above line?
 * ❌, per above. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)
 * “MDA supported 252 research projects worldwide in 2019, totaling a funding commitment of more than $66 millon. Source: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(20)30027-2/fulltext
 * ✅, edited. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)
 * MDA was awarded the Sonia Skarlatos Public Service Award by the American Society for Cell and Gene Therapy for its work in advancing gene therapy in 2019.” Source: https://www.accessibility.com/org-spotlight/nonprofit/muscular-dystrophy-association
 * ❌, would need more than just one source to establish this is notable. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)
 * Can you make the following additions to the ‘National Goodwill Ambassador’ subsection?
 * Can you remove ‘goodwill’ from both the header and the body, as that language is outdated?
 * In the first sentence, can you change “a child affected by a muscle disease is chosen to be the MDA's "National Goodwill Ambassador"” to “a person(s) living with muscular dystrophy, ALS or related neuromuscular diseases is chosen to be the MDA's "National Ambassador"?
 * ❌, show me this is indeed the case in official documentation and I will proceed with the edit. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)
 * At the end of the section, can you start a new paragraph with: “In 2018, MDA selected two individuals to serve as National Ambassadors: Six-year-old Faith Fortenberry of Waco, Texas, and 17-year-old Justin Moy of Concord, Massachusetts.” Source: https://wacotrib.com/waco_today_magazine/keeping-the-faith-hewitt-7-year-old-serves-as-mda-s-national-ambassador/article_a71521de-6cc4-56c9-ba35-5736acb765d7.html
 * ❌, again why is this notable? Wikipedia is not a repository for trivial yearly information. Same applies to further requests below. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)
 * ”Tana Zwart, a Sioux Falls, South Dakota resident who lives with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), served as the 2019-2020 National Ambassador.” Source: https://www.mobilityworks.com/blog/mda-national-ambassadors-share-the-everyday-impact-of-neuromuscular-disease/
 * “In January 2020, MDA announced Ethan Lybrand as its 2020-2021 MDA National Ambassador.” Souce: https://www.decaturdaily.com/team-ethan-meet-the-10-year-old-decatur-boy-serving-as-mdas-national-ambassador/article_85c833d0-077d-5d6f-a509-3a0c20fc639e.html
 * Add: “In 2021, Ethan Lybrand was joined by Keisha Greaves as MDA’s 2021 National Ambassador. Keisha Graves is a fashion entrepreneur and neuromuscular disease advocate from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Source: https://musculardystrophynews.com/2021/04/08/keisha-greaves-named-mdas-2021-national-ambassador/

Once again, appreciate your help with this! Let me know if you have any questions.
 * At the end of the History section, can you add a new subsection titled ‘COVID-19 Response’ and add:
 * “In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, MDA converted many of its traditional programs to virtual formats, and introduced new, virtual programming. New programming included several Facebook Live events, which discussed the challenges that the pandemic placed on people with disabilities and how they might protect themselves.” Sources: https://musculardystrophynews.com/2020/08/06/advocates-offer-advice-communication-self-care-important-students-neuromuscular-disorders-covid-19/, https://alsnewstoday.com/news-posts/2020/04/02/mda-hosting-online-qa-on-covid-19-today/
 * “MDA also provided COVID-19 resources and recommendations for neuromuscular patients and providers via its online resource center.” Source: https://www.neurologylive.com/view/fda-clears-ind-application-sod1-als-gene-therapy
 * ”Throughout stay at home orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MDA shared a “Joke of the Day’ from National Ambassador Ethan Lybrand via their social media channels.The jokes were intended to spread both happiness and awareness for people with neuromuscular diseases.” Source: https://www.newsweek.com/fifth-grader-tells-joke-day-keep-americans-laughing-during-coronavirus-pandemic-1499992
 * ✅, edited. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)

Gms050997 (talk) 17:54, 6 May 2021 (UTC)


 * Hi, going through these one by one and updating above. --FeldBum (talk) 16:22, 11 June 2021 (UTC)
 * are you still working on this? Z1720 (talk) 19:25, 24 August 2021 (UTC)
 * Thanks, forgot that I hadn't yet finished this one. --FeldBum (talk) 19:52, 24 August 2021 (UTC)
 * Hi. Would be happy to review the rest of this request list if you're too busy. PK650 (talk) 02:21, 24 September 2021 (UTC)
 * Hey, that would be great, thanks! I'll try to work on it today too. --FeldBum (talk) 15:53, 27 September 2021 (UTC)


 * I've gone through the remaining requests, and will now close the active template. Please reopen a single request if and when new ones arise. Thank you, PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done PK650 (talk) 00:42, 29 September 2021 (UTC)

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