Guest Voice

Much of what people understand about ALS progression comes from the stories they see and hear most often — and those stories can be misleading. Social media amplifies the voices of people who have lived with the disease for years, sometimes decades. This makes perfect sense: Slower progression means…

Until recently, my language skills and speech were best buddies. They were happily and symbiotically entwined, each supporting the other with comfort and ease. Language — the software system — was the one with all the good ideas, reacting to the environment in milliseconds like a gleeful toddler and formulating…

Anita Newton is a retired science teacher who lives near Bristol, England. She taught chemistry for 30 years before retiring when her husband, Craig, was diagnosed with ALS. Her interests range from pickleball, badminton, and table tennis to reading, writing, painting, and crafting. She also enjoys traveling and is…

Anita Newton is a retired science teacher who lives near Bristol, England. She taught chemistry for 30 years before retiring when her husband, Craig, was diagnosed with ALS. Her interests range from sports like pickleball, badminton, and table tennis to reading, writing, painting, and crafting. She also enjoys traveling…

Nancy Muirhead is a clinical psychologist. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she and her husband moved to Washington state to be closer to her adult children and grandchildren while continuing to work remotely. In August 2024, she was diagnosed with nonfamilial bulbar-onset ALS. She is now focused on…

Anita Newton is a retired science teacher who lives near Bristol, England. She taught chemistry for 30 years before retiring when her husband, Craig, was diagnosed with ALS. Her interests range from sports like pickleball, badminton, and table tennis to reading, writing, painting, and crafting. She also enjoys traveling…