Help for today. Hope for tomorrow.

The iowa connection

Chapter News

Nearly everyone affected by HD has trouble obtaining disability benefits.  HDSA is leading a national campaign to address this problem, and we need your help!
A bill in Congress, HR 678, The Huntington’s Disease Parity Act of 2009 would revise the current Social Security Administration (SSA) guidelines for determining disability caused by HD.  It would also eliminate the two-year waiting period to receive Medicare benefits after a disability determination is made by SSA. If enacted into law, HR 678 would significantly improve the lives of everyone affected by HD.

Support our grassroots HD Movement! Take 2 minutes right now to contact your Representative about HR 678.

Does your Congressman support HR 678? (Click here to see if your Rep is on board).  So far, over 60 Representatives have agreed to cosponsor HR 678, largely because their constituents have asked them to support it.  By contacting your Representative, sharing your personal story, and asking him/her to cosponsor HR 678, you can join our cause! Click here for a sample letter to send to your Congressional representative.

If your Representative is already a co-sponsor, congratulations!  Now invite your family and friends to join our effort by forwarding this message to them.

Since we need support from both houses of Congress, you can also send an email asking your two Senators to introduce the Huntington’s Disease Parity Act in the Senate.  Click here for a sample letter to send to your U.S. Senators.

Change cannot occur without your help. Persistence is key if we want change. Please join the HDSA advocacy movement today.
If you would like more information about HDSA Advocacy, HR 678, or help in scheduling a home office visit with either your Rep or Senators, please contact Jane Kogan at the HDSA national office at jkogan@hdsa.org or visit the HDSA Advocacy Page

Hdsa advocacy: Help Make HD a National Priority!
You can now access our archived newsletters on-line!
Summer 2007—2007 Hoop Tour, Genetic Testing
Fall 2007—Education and HD Awareness, Celebration of Hope Award Winners
Winter 2008—Caring for Caregivers, Citalopram and HD
Spring 2008—Hoop Tour 2008
Summer 2008—Long Term Care, Celebration of Hope Dinner
Fall 2008—Celebration of Hope and Iowa Conference, PREDICT HD, Choosing long term care
Winter 2009—Hoop-A-Thon, Social Security Disability, CIT-HD
Spring 2009—Hoop Results, Psychiatry and HD, HART, Pickle Ball
Summer 2009—pickle ball wins at national convention, team hope walk
Fall 2009—why you should take part in research, horizon study, 2010 hoop tour
Winter 2010—G.i.n.a. and what it means to you, hoop pledge sheet, current studies at the center of excellence
If you are not currently a subscriber and would like to be added to our mailing list to receive a hard copy, contact us at mail@hdsaiowa.org or call toll free 866.248.IAHD(4243).

In Memorium

The Iowa Chapter gratefully acknowledges a donation from family and friends of Jeff Dougherty for their generous donations in his memory: Richard and Cheryl Hatfield, Kristin Michael, Kevin Nielson, Penny Hasson, Carole and Robert Behrens, Ed and Jacque Mulholland, Scott and Holly Gaylord, Rebecca and William Richards, Dennis and Jackie McMillen, Scott McMullen, Debbie Poore, Richard and Pam Sprague, Terry and Stephanie Hutchings, Duane and Lisa Leu, Margaret and Clayton Cooper, Robert Wise Jr. Paul and Vera Fastenau, Bern and Elizabeth Robinson, Cherly and Greg Jones, Piper Dickinson, Rick and Brenda Persinger, David and Betty Wyckoff, Kay Meacham, Ryan and Christina Persinger, Martha and Steve Shupe, Kathryn Hakes, Lyla Girth, Dennis and Denise Acklin, Dean and Susan Row, Bruce and Betty Forrest, R. Michael and Colleen Zirbel, Janice Bowden, John and Pat Elliot, Gerald and Barbara Matheny, Richard and Elaine Drambeck, Julia Weir, Ronald and Karen Rickel, Larry and Brenda Koger, Karen and Bill Brown, Amy and Aaron McClain, Billy Aaron Brown, Aaron Brown and Doug and Frances Dougherty.

Hdsa conducting survey on hd center of excellence