Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month

August is Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Awareness Month.

WHAT IS SMA?

Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic disease affecting the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and voluntary muscle movement (skeletal muscle). SMA involves the loss of nerve cells called motor neurons in the spinal cord. Muscles atrophy (weaken) with time, and people living with SMA usually lose mobility, can have breathing and swallowing affected and if the muscles of the back weaken, spinal curvatures can develop.

There is no known cure for SMA, however treatments are available to manage the symptoms. Rocky Bay provides a range of services for people living with SMA, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and assistive technology. Our Community team provide in-home care, community access and leisure activities, as well as overnight respite stays.

If you are living with SMA, or care for someone who does, contact Rocky Bay’s customer engagement team and find out what services are available to you.

American Shane Burcaw, author and YouTube star, has made a career educating others on living with SMA, and disability in general. Together with his fiance Hannah, Shane posts videos about day-to-day living with SMA, advocating for people living with disability, and inter-abled relationships.

Watch a video from Shane and Hannah below, and check out their channel here.