Raising awareness of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) / ALS
Building understanding, removing barriers, and supporting inclusion
Each month, the Sunflower focuses on a different non-visible disability to help build understanding, challenge stigma, and support inclusion.
This month’s focus is Motor Neurone Disease (MND), known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in many countries.
MND/ALS is a progressive neurological condition that affects the nerves responsible for sending messages from the brain to the muscles. Over time, this can influence movement, mobility, speech, swallowing, and breathing. Because some experiences may not be immediately visible, MND/ALS can be a non-apparent disability.
With the right support, understanding, and inclusive environments, many people living with MND/ALS continue to work, maintain relationships, and participate in everyday life. Global Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Day takes place each year on 21 June. While this day plays an important role in promoting awareness, our commitment to supporting people living with MND/ALS continues throughout the year.
Understanding MND/ALS: awareness, accessibility and support
To support MND/ALS awareness, we're hosting a 30-minute educational webinar for Sunflower Corporate and Global Members.
The session explores what MND/ALS is, how it can affect everyday life, and how organisations can create more accessible and inclusive environments for colleagues and customers.
The webinar recording is available to Corporate and Global Sunflower Members to watch on demand in your Sunflower account.
Learn more about MND/ALS
Want to raise awareness across your business? We’ve created a Motor Neurone Disease (MND) / Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) invisible disabilities index entry to explain the condition, highlight the experiences of people living with MND/ALS, and provide guidance on how to remove barriers and offer understanding and support.
Sunflower personalised cards
Our personalised Sunflower cards allow individuals to quietly communicate what they want others to know, without needing to say a word.
These help reduce anxiety and allow people with Motor Neuron Disease to move more confidently through public and professional spaces.
Keep an eye on the Sunflower shop for the latest cards and products to support MND.
Media assets
Exclusively available to download for Corporate and Global Sunflower members only in your Sunflower account here.
You will need to log into your Sunflower account before you see the MND/ALS poster and graphics you can download. Search for 'MND' or 'ALS' in the table search option.
Download MND/ALS media assets here
Poster
We’ve designed a bright poster to help you raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) / ALS in your workplace:
Social Media
We’ve designed an easy-to-use social post and caption to help you raise awareness of MND/ALS on your internal comms platforms or public channels. Use it to:
- Promote awareness and inclusion
- Educate your teams
- Encourage understanding and patience
Suggested caption:
“Motor Neurone Disease (MND), known as ALS in many countries, is a progressive neurological condition that can affect movement, mobility, speech, swallowing, and breathing.
Because some experiences may not be immediately visible, MND/ALS can be misunderstood. We are proud to be members of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, helping us build a more inclusive and supportive environment for all our colleagues and customers. By increasing understanding and removing barriers, we can make everyday experiences more accessible.
To learn more about MND/ALS and how to offer support, we encourage you to read the Sunflower's invisible disabilities index entry here.
#MNDAwareness #ALSawareness #HiddenDisabilities #InclusionMatters"
Download social media images by using 'MND' or 'ALS' as a search term in our media assets library here:
Podcast: Living with MND/ALS
As part of our ongoing awareness work, we spoke with Anthony Hanratty from the MND Association and Kirk Gittons on the Sunflower Conversations podcast.
This 30-minute session provides insight into Motor Neuron Disease. Anthony is an MND advanced nurse specialist and clinical lead, as well as the Chair of the National MND Association Expert Core and Community of Practice. Joining Anthony is Kirk Gittons who has lived experience of MND.
The episode is available to listen to on demand.
How to get involved
- Invite your staff to the MND/ALS awareness webinar
- Share the social posts across your organisation’s channels
- Listen together to the podcast episode
- Read and share the invisible disabilities index on MND/ALS
- Encourage staff and customers to explore our Sunflower cards
- Use Global MND Awareness Day to spark conversation, understanding and support
Together, we can help build understanding of MND/ALS and help people feel recognised, respected and supported, not just on Global Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Day, but every day.