Blog Archives
The New and Improved Tools & Resource page!
I am happy to release a brand new resource page, chock full, of updated Parkinson’s disease related links, to blogs, websites, podcasts, and more – all in one convenient location. Better navigation makes it easier to find just what you are looking for. I hope this page assists you in finding helpful information on Parkinson’s and living well! Just click on the Tools and Resources button.
Stay informed and aware of what people with Parkinson’s disease are writing about, how they are dealing with the illness, and find information that may inspire or educate. Gain perspective and get unique views from people from all over the world. Broaden your outlook and see what people are working on. See how some are overcoming their symptoms and are living well with Parkinson’s.
The more you know about your illness, the better prepared you can be. Being aware and proactive may help you to take action towards improving your condition. Information is crucial to making health decisions and understanding options. There is so much to learn and share.
I believe that the real experts on illness are the people who live with illness, everyday. There is no denying the valuable contribution of the medical community, but on a daily basis, daily living is most applicable to those who are living it.
See the list of Parkinson’s organizations and keep in tune with programs and educational webinars that cover a wide range of informative topics that relate to Parkinson’s disease. Each organization offers a unique wide or regional focus that may be applicable to your needs.
I have always thought that the more tools that are in your toolbox, the better. Having a choice far outweighs a lack of options. Widening the availability of our options allows us to make more informed decisions.
Avoidance or turning a blind eye to your illness may be detrimental to your getting better. Learning about unfamiliar options can be empowering and offer comfort.
2019 APDA Education Day in Williamsburg VA this Saturday 9/28
Online registration is still open until 9/25 for the 2019 APDA Virginia Education Day being held next Saturday 9/28 (9am-4pm) at the DoubleTree Williamsburg. 
Registration is only $25 for this day long event which includes speakers on a variety of important topics including:
-People who have Parkinson’s discussing how they live well with Parkinson’s
-Neurologists discussing how to people can live well with Parkinson’s
-Caregiver discussing tips and tricks
-Exercise panel discussing PWR!, Rock Steady Boxing, Tai Chi. Yoga and BIG
-Parkinson’s Research
-Brain Fitness
-Nutrition
and much more!
Click here for more information and to register!
Community Update – Events and Online Resources
Parkinson’s Awareness
ParkinsonsDisease.net Reaches 10k Likes!
If you follow this blog, you know that I have been actively posting on the new Health Union site, www.ParkinsonsDisease.net. What you may not know is that this site recently made a rapid climb to 10,000 likes! Here’s where you come in—in honor of this success, you have the opportunity to vote for one of the fine charities below to receive a donation, if they win the vote count. Encourage your family and friends to vote as well. Vote today by clicking this link and scrolling to vote in the poll!
- Parkinson Voice Project
- Davis Phinney Foundation
- Parkinson Association of the Rockies
- Parkinson’s Foundation (National Parkinson Foundation/Parkinson’s Disease Foundation)
- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
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Parkinson Voice Project – Parkinson’s Lecture Series
The Parkinson Voice Project has launched a lecture series which features Parkinson’s experts talking about topics affecting our community. They hold this lecture each month and it’s live streamed for anyone in the world to attend. They also archive previous lectures so you can watch the lectures that are of interest to you. Visit https://www.parkinsonvoiceproject.org/ShowContent.aspx?i=1876 for more information about upcoming lectures and view previous presentations which include lectures on wellness, physical therapy, cognitive challenges, making a Parkinson’s diagnosis, and Deep Brain Stimulation.
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Virginia Education Day – October 7th, 2017
If you live in or near Virginia, I hope to see at the Virginia Education Day in Williamsburg on October 7th, 2017. I am a member of the planning committee. The event is being held at Fort Magruder Hotel and Conference Center. The Education Day is has a diverse mix of wellness information including presentations by physicians, people with Parkinson’s, caregivers, and allied health professionals. Click this link to see the conference brochure and click here to register for this event.
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Living Well Conference 2017 – Parkinson Foundation, Western Pennsylvania
Join Angela and me in November in Pittsburgh for their Living Well Conference 2017, where we will be presenting and facilitating two breakout sessions. Read this link for all the details. We would love to see you there! We will also be selling and signing our books and audio CD collection at both events—we hope that you can make it!
As we near the end of Summer & Fall PD Educational Events
I recently had the opportunity to express my thoughts about the tragic death of Robin Williams for the good folks at The New Republic. I’m happy to say and thank you all for receiving it so well. If you missed it, and would like to take a look at it, here’s the link: http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119108/robin-williams-death-was-great-loss-parkinsons-awareness
I have to hand it to the ALS Association on a brilliantly executed social and fundraising campaign in their “The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge” campaign. I tip my hat to the viral fervor and momentum that has spread so fast. Raising $80 million dollars in just a matter of months sets an example and is a challenge, that few organizations can match or achieve.
In June, I was fortunate to have attended the Partners in Parkinson’s (PiP) event in NYC, put on by the Michael J Fox Foundation, Abbvie, and The Davis Phinney Foundation. It was a day of education and learning to live well with Parkinson’s. I’m honored to be the co-ambassador for the Partners in Parkinson’s event in Washington, DC on October 12th at the Washington Hilton. If you are dealing with Parkinson’s and can join us, I encourage you to learn more about this event. The event is free. To learn more and register online visit: https://www.partnersinparkinsons.org/attend-an-event
Please share this information with friends and your support group members.
There’s a whole host of Parkinson’s educational events coming up this fall. I encourage you to add these to your calendar. Here’s a listing of some of the ones I’m aware of:
September 10 – December 10
Therapy Matters
Hampton Roads APDA Chapter
Click this link to view the brochure for the series speakers and titles –http://hrparkinsons.com/events/fall-2014-therapy-matters/
A series focused on the diversity and impact of therapies for neurological conditions. To RSVP for one or the entire series of sessions, please call 757-495-4211 or visit http://ourladyperpetualhelp.com/happenings
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Saturday, September 13, 2014
Caring for Parkinson’s, Caring for YOU – Parkinson’s Symposium
Parkinson Association of the Carolinas
9:30am – 1:00pm
Calvary Church, Crown Room, 5801 Pineville-Matthews Road, Charlotte, NC 28226
This is a FREE educational symposium with keynote speaker, Dr. Danielle Englert, a movement disorder specialist with Carolinas Center for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders.
For more information, visit: http://www.parkinsonassociation.org/events/symposium/
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Saturday, September 13, 2014
SING OUT!
2:00 P.M.
The Heights Baptist Church, 201 W. Renner Road, Richardson, Texas 75080
Join us for a family-fun performance by The LOUD Crowd from the Parkinson Voice Project. Enjoy 1960s music, along with the endearing antics of Lamb Chop and Mallory Lewis, the daughter of Shari Lewis, who first introduced the charming sock puppet.
FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 469-375-6500
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Wednesday, October 1
Morris K. Udall Awards Dinner
Parkinson’s Action Network
Washington DC
Join the Parkinson’s Action Network (PAN) and the Parkinson’s community for the Morris K. Udall Awards Dinner in Washington, DC on Wednesday, October 1.
PAN will present Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) with the Morris K. Udall Award for Public Service and Israel Robledo, Texas State Director, with the Milly Kondracke Award for Outstanding Advocacy. In addition to the award presentations, there will be a red carpet reception with on-camera interviews and entertainment. The highlight of the event will be a special guest in a
one-on-one interview with good friend of PAN and recent National Humanities Medal Awardee Diane Rehm.
To learn more or purchase tickets, contact Christopher Vance at cvance@parkinsonsaction.org or 202-638-4101 x108 or
visit the PAN website for more information.
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Saturday October 11, 2014
2014 Richmond Parkinson’s Disease Community Education Day
8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 11220 Nuckols Road, Glen Allen, VA 23059
Sponsored by: Virginia Commonwealth University Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center, University of Virginia Parkinson’s Disease Center, APDA Richmond Metro, and Richmond PADRECC
People with Parkinson’s disease (PD), their family and friends, or anyone interested in learning more about PD are invited to the annual Parkinson’s Community Education Day.
Registration is $25 per person and includes continental breakfast, lunch & afternoon refreshments.
General sessions include:
Integrative Medicine – Dr. Monique Giroux, DBS & Quality of Life – Dr. Kathryn Holloway, Nutrition – Dr. Marian Evatt
Break out session offerings:
Exercise – Dr. Jeff Hoder, Video Game Research – Dr. Ben Herz,, Caregiver/Care Partner Challenges, PD 101
Visit the conference website for a full agenda, hotel accommodation rates and location information. http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e9en180b79579468&llr=6gtnvbkab
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Sunday, October 12, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Partners in Parkinson’s – Washington DC
Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
Partners in Parkinson’s (PiP) is a free educational event for people with Parkinson’s and their families by the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. The program features presentations and panel discussions with local Parkinson’s specialists, research experts and patient panelists. It also includes a resource fair to connect attendees with local support groups, clinical sites, allied healthcare providers, and more. For more information or to register, visit www.partnersinparkinsons.org .
There are also PiP events in Atlanta 9/13, Boston 9/20, Philadelphia 10/18, Chicago 11/1, Denver 11/8, and Los Angeles 12/6.
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Saturday, November 8, 2014
Johns Hopkins Movement Disorders Symposium
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
BWI Airport Marriott
1743 W. Nursery Rd
Linthicum, MD 21090
Register today to learn more about the latest in the management of movement disorders from experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine and other health organizations in Maryland.
Contact: Bailey Vernon, 410-616-2811to learn more or to register. Or visit this website for an agenda and brochure for the event.
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November 13 – 16, 2014
The Victory Summit® Symposium and Parkinson’s Community Weekend
Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina
Visit the Davis Phinney Foundation website to register for The Victory Summit
and visit this page for a detailed schedule of the weekend’s events!
