Support Groups

Iowa Chapters Fairfield Vinton Spencer Fontanelle Dubuque Dike Waukon Waterloo Washington Davenport Clinton Sioux City Sioux Center Clarinda Charles City Mason City Cedar Rapids Marshalltown Carroll Trenton, MO Leon Jefferson Burlington Iowa City Atlantic Creston Decorah Ames Newton West Des Moines Des Moines Indianola Pella

Click on a location above for information in that area, or look here for the text version.

In 1961, the American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc. was started in New York City to form a local Support Group, at a time when none was available. Since then, the APDA has placed a vast amount of its emphasis into grassroots organizing of support Groups, Chapters, and Information and Referral Centers. Since the initiation of Operations Outreach in 1983, the number of Chapter, their efficiency, and the funds they have raised has grown dramatically. It is this grassroots structure that separates APDA from other organizations serving people with Parkinson's disease.

APDA Chapters have two functions: fundraising and awareness. They operate as an integral part of our national organization, and their financial statements are combined with our, at the end of the year for reporting to the IRS. The benefits of the Chapters' operation assist our national programs of research and education, but are most important in their local outreach, programs and education.

Here is a list of some of the things our local Chapters have done to "Ease the Burden and to Find the Cure" For Parkinson's disease:

  • Raise funds for research. Our research program has been involved in every major breakthrough in clinical and applied research for over 35 years.
  • Hold or assist in holding educational symposia which draw thousands of people together each year and feature the finest speakers on Parkinson's disease in the world.
  • Secure media attention. This puts people who don't now what resources are available to them in touch without network, and raises public awareness and understanding of Parkinson's disease.
  • Publish newsletters to keep even more people informed of local and national events affecting the Parkinson's community, on their own or in cooperation with the local I&R Center.
  • Fund or assist in funding local programs of support, therapy, research, or I & R Centers.
  • Act as the local representative of APDA to reach out and assist our programs and growth.
  • Assist support Groups through referrals, funding, organization, and materials in cooperation with the local I&R Center.
  • Obtain the involvement of volunteers who otherwise would have not true involvement in the organizations serving people with Parkinson's disease.
  • To directly represent and advocate the interests of those afflicted with Parkinson's disease through local organization.