Help is here.
An ALS diagnosis brings a flood of decisions — equipment, insurance, finances, daily care. This page collects trusted organizations that can help, grouped so you can find what you need fast.
Not sure where to start?
Send us a note and we'll help you find the right resource for your situation — at no cost.
Ask us for helpEquipment & mobility
Loans and grants for wheelchairs, communication devices, home modifications, and assistive technology.
The ALS Association — Equipment Loan
Loaner wheelchairs, walkers, lifts, and communication devices through local chapters at no cost.
MDA Equipment Assistance
Help acquiring, repairing, or modifying durable medical equipment through the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Team Gleason — Technology Grants
Speech-generating devices, eye-tracking, and smart-home tech for people living with ALS.
Compassionate Care ALS (CCALS)
Free equipment loans and consultations covering wheelchairs, beds, lifts, and home access.
Financial assistance & grants
Emergency relief, respite funds, and grants to ease the cost of living with ALS.
ALS Association — Care Services
Local chapter assistance funds for respite care, transportation, and home access modifications.
Les Turner ALS Foundation
Direct support, grants, and care navigation for people living with ALS and their families.
ALS Hope Foundation
Patient assistance and clinical support through the MDA/ALS Center of Hope.
HealthWell Foundation
Copay and premium assistance for underinsured patients when funds are open for ALS.
Medicare & insurance
ALS qualifies for Medicare and Social Security disability with no waiting period. Start here.
Social Security — Compassionate Allowance
ALS is on SSA's Compassionate Allowance list — disability claims are fast-tracked.
Medicare.gov
People with ALS qualify for Medicare immediately upon SSDI approval — no 24-month wait.
SHIP — State Health Insurance Assistance
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in every state. Helps with Part D, Medigap, and appeals.
ALSA — Insurance Navigation
Plain-language guides for Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and appeals after an ALS diagnosis.
Caregiver support
Respite, education, peer connection, and mental-health resources for the people caring for someone with ALS.
Family Caregiver Alliance
National library of caregiver education, state-by-state resource locator, and support services.
Caregiver Action Network
A caregiver help desk, peer forums, and practical guides for family caregivers.
I AM ALS — Patient & Caregiver Hub
Peer support groups, mental-health resources, and a patient-led knowledge library.
ARCH National Respite Locator
Find respite care providers and funding in your state so caregivers can rest.
Clinical care & trials
Find a multidisciplinary ALS clinic and learn about active research and trials.
ALSA Certified Treatment Centers
Find a nearby multidisciplinary ALS clinic — neurology, PT/OT, respiratory, nutrition, and social work in one visit.
NEALS Consortium
The Northeast ALS Consortium — clinical trial locator and ALS research network.
ClinicalTrials.gov — ALS
U.S. government registry of active clinical studies for ALS, filterable by location and phase.
NIH / NINDS — ALS Information
Authoritative medical overview, current research, and treatment information from the NIH.
Veterans
ALS is recognized as a service-connected disease for all veterans. Benefits are substantial — claim them.
Local & community
Find your local ALS chapter, support groups, and Spark4Life's own family assistance.
Find Your Local ALSA Chapter
Connects you to regional staff who know the local clinics, equipment loans, and assistance programs.
ALS Support Groups
Peer support groups for patients and caregivers, in-person and virtual, throughout the country.
ALS Spark4Life — Family Assistance
Reach out directly. We help families in our community with the things bigger organizations miss.
Suggest a resource
Know of a local organization or program that should be on this page? Tell us and we'll add it.
You don't have to navigate this alone.
We're a small team, but we know the landscape. If you're stuck on a form, an appeal, a wait list, or just need someone to point you in the right direction — write to us.
Contact us