Resources for Individuals and Caretakers
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Minnesota Chapter offers a wide variety of resources for persons with Multiple Sclerosis and their caretakers. Those resources include: 

Employee/Individuals Resources

• People with MS Work: A manual on employment, health, and disability issues.
• Lending library offering a wide variety of books, brochures, audiotapes, and videotapes on MS topics.
• Newsletters: Two chapter newsletters are available, MS Connections and Program Connections, providing information on chapter activities and client programs, local resources, research highlights, programs and issues related to living with MS.
• Knowledge is Power: A multi-week, home-study program on various MS-related topics serves as a valuable resource for people newly diagnosed with MS.
• Workshops/Teleconferences: Provide information on the latest in scientific research, wellness topics, emotional issues, symptoms management, and employment. 
• Long-term services: Long-term service referrals, including home and community-based services for adult day care, nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care are available. Grants provide scholarships to the Fairview MS Achievement Center, an adult day care center. 
• Newly diagnosed group counseling: Led by a professional group counselor, members discuss issues related to living with chronic illness for newly diagnosed individuals. 
• Support Groups: More than 70 support groups, facilitated by trained volunteers, bring together people to share common concerns about MS. 
• Tell-A-Peer Program: Offers short-term, one-on-one phone consultation with trained volunteers - people who understand the issues that can arise with MS. Available to people with MS and family members.
• Exercise programs: Include water and low-impact exercise classes offered throughout the chapter area to improve strength, stretching and range of motion. 
• Getaway weekends: Specially designed for a target audience, focusing on education, enhancing coping skills and leisure activities. Currently, annual getaways are planned for men, women and couples. 
• Gateway to Wellness: Six-week program, led by health professionals, blends health education, exercise, goal-setting and facilitated group discussion. 
• Lifestyle change group counseling: Designed for those diagnosed with MS for two or more years who are moderately affected by the disease and are experiencing significant lifestyle changes as a result. 
• MS Camp: Fun-filled week of learning new skills, exploring MS, leisure activities and meeting new friends at Camp courage.
• Advocacy: Grassroots advocacy program giving people with MS the opportunity to seek changes in federal and state public policy. 
• Consultations: Free phone consultations available to discuss employment, insurance and Social Security issues.
• Individual advocacy: Helps people with MS understand their rights and where to turn if they experience programs or denial of services and benefits. 
• Equipment program: A financial assistance program helps people with MS purchase the medical equipment, adaptive devices and home/vehicle modifications they need. 
• Medical equipment loan pool: A loan pool of durable medical equipment (i.e. wheelchairs, scooters and more) that may be borrowed for three weeks to three months at a time.

Caregiver Resources

• Long-term services: Long-term service referrals, including home and community-based services for adult day care, nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care are available. Grants provide scholarships to the Fairview MS Achievement Center, an adult day care center.
• Youth camp: Designed for youth age 6-18 who have parents with MS. 
• Family Days: Designed with activities for the whole family, this program emphasizes communication, relationship-building and positive family leisure experiences.