Resources for kids and teens
Visit the National MS Society website for information on all sorts of scholarships and financial assistance resources, including several private scholarships/assistance programs directly focused on those affected by MS.
Some of the popular Facebook groups for local teens and young adults include: Friends Against the MonSter, Teens with MS, and Oscar’s MS Champions. Additionally, Oscar the MS Monkey offers several private Facebook groups for kids and teens with MS — Oscars MS Warriors (under age 12), Oscars MS Conquerors (13-19) and Oscars MS Champions (20+).
The National MS Society’s site is a centralized way for those affected by MS, regardless of age, location & disability level, to connect with others from their smartphone or their home computer. More information about the site can be found here.
Interested individuals need to create an account to access the groups and begin connecting with others on the site.
A connection group for teens and young adults in their early 20’s with MS, and their family and friends. Meets quarterly at the Waltham NMSS Office. During the pandemic, they are meeting virtually. Details can be found on the group’s NMSS website.
Resources for parents
Parents of children and teens with MS have the difficult task of helping to manage their child’s illness while keeping family life going. They must continue to address the needs of other children and family members, continue family traditions, and keep up at their jobs and other responsibilities. Parents must also make sure to take care of themselves.
The Mass General Brigham Pediatric MS Center strives to provide support to parents and families, as well as connect them with sources of support in their communities. Since pediatric MS is relatively uncommon, parents of other children and teens with MS can be excellent sources of support for each other. The Mass General Brigham Pediatric MS Center, in collaboration with the National MS Society, strives to provide opportunities for parents and families to interact.
The National MS Society’s MS Navigators are highly skilled, compassionate professionals who can connect you to the information, resources and support needed to move your life forward. These supportive partners help navigate the challenges of MS unique to your situation. You can also call 1-800-344-4867 or contact them here.
The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation is dedicated to funding NMO-SD research. On their website, you can find information about the Foundation, NMO, and NMO resources, as well as how to get involved.
The Sumaira Foundation is dedicated to generating global awareness of NMO-SD, fundraising to help find a cure, and creating a community of support for patients and their caregivers. The foundation also addresses MOG antibody associated disorders.
- Pediatric MS Information Guide
A guide for families with numerous resources of information to help understand and navigate life with a demyelinating disease - Kids Get MS Too: A Handbook for Parents Whose Child or Teen has MS.
You’ve just heard that your child has MS. We’re here to help you learn about MS so you can feel confident in helping your child take charge of his or her life - También Hay Niños con Esclerosis Múltiple: Guía Para Padres De Un Niño o Adolescente Con Esclerosis Múltiple.
Acaba de enterarse de que su hijo tiene esclerosis múltiple. Estamos aquí para ayudarlo a aprender sobre la esclerosis múltiple para que así pueda sentirse seguro al ayudar a su hijo a controlar esta enfermedad - Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis: Unique Features and Important Considerations.
A collaborative webinar from the National MS Society and Can-Do MS featuring Anusha Yeshokumar, MD, and James Sumowski, PhD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai - Growing up fast: Teens with MS face a unique set of challenges.
Momentum article - Ready, Set, Go! How to Keep Kids With MS Active.
Health Central article - Students with MS & the Academic Setting: A Handbook for School Personnel
A guide to MS aimed at school personnel to provide information about how the disease affects children in an academic setting and help them accommodate and communicate with the student and their family - Moving Forward: A Guide to College and Other Life Choices for Teens with MS
A guide for high school students about college and other options for them to consider upon graduation created by the U.S. Network of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Centers for Excellence with the help of college students living with MS