Welcome to the Official Website for the Parkinson’s Association of West Michigan (PAWM). PAWM is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing support, information, events, and connections to the West Michigan community for caregivers, families, and people with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
PAWM is constantly searching for and providing the most current information pertaining to PD research, treatment, and topics that would be of interest to people with PD, their families, and caregivers. PAWM is here to help make your ideas a reality as well as help address your needs related to PD. Send us an email or contact us another way. We are always interested in hearing from our community as to how we can make PAWM benefit you.
Current Events
A New Organization United to End Parkinson’s Disease.
Parkinson’s Disease was discovered over 200 years ago. Since then, humanity has put men on the moon, eradicated polio, changed HIV from a death sentence to a chronic illness, has mapped the human genome, and discovered thousands of galaxies among the stars. And yet, humanity has provided precious little beyond that one 50-year-old drug for PD. We are tired of it.
Visit https://www.pdavengers.com/ to learn more and to signup.
October 2020: How do PwPD
November 2020: BGSU Speech Production Study
Anna Gravelin is a Ph.D. candidate at Bowling Green State University studying the effects of Parkinson’s Disease on speech production. She is interested in contacting PwPD in the West and Southeast Michigan area that might be interested in participating in this study.
The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of speech production in adults and individuals with PD. Participation is voluntary, so participants will receive no payment and there is no financial cost for participating. This study will be conducted by Anna C. Gravelin, M.S. CCC-SLP (gravela@bgsu.edu; 419-372-7406) in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Bowling Green State University under the advisement of Jason Whitfield, Ph.D. CCC-SLP (jawhitf@bgsu.edu).
The study will include one virtual session lasting no longer than two (2) hours. The study will take place at a time and location that is convenient for participants. During the study, participants will be asked to complete both speech and non-speech tasks and fill out a series of questionnaires.
Volunteers in the West and Southeast Michigan area is desired, but anyone with PD can participate. Please find attached a brochure for additional information. If you have any questions or would like to participate in the study, please contact Anna Gravelin directly.
Anna Gravelin, M.S. CCC-SLP
Doctoral Candidate | Communication Sciences and Disorders
Research Assistant | Motor Speech Lab
Bowling Green State University
Email: gravela@bgsu.edu
Phone: 419-372-7406
October 2020: How do PwPD think, feel, and react to their speech and voice difficulties? PD Volunteers are needed for a Research Study.
Zoë Thijs, a speech-language pathologist and doctoral candidate at Texas Christian University is interested in finding the answer to this question.
Zoë is focusing on the behavioral, cognitive, and affective reactions people with Parkinson’s Disease (PwPD) experience during speaking. In other words, asking the question, “How do PwPD think, feel, and react to their speech and voice difficulties?”
Eventually, Zoë and Dr. Christopher Watts in the Laryngeal Function Lab at Texas Christain University want to incorporate this into voice therapy. However, they want to start using a questionnaire that already was validated and standardized in other PD related populations. Ideally, this tool will be administered to people with Parkinson’s Disease throughout the US.
Zoë has created a FREE online survey that PwPD are invited to complete. Please find attached a flyer with some introductory information. If you have PD or are a caregiver for a PD patient, please help Zoë by completing the EASY, SIMPLY ONLINE SURVEY at your earliest convenience. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Zoë at your convenience.
Zoë Thijs
M.S. Speech-Language Pathology
Doctoral Candidate
Texas Christian University
817-773-7750
zoe.thijs@tcu.edu
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and People with PD.
Would you like to stay up to date with the dynamically changing research and information related to COVID-19? Use our Resource Guide to find the latest information available to the public that is related to PD. Just type “covid”, press the SEARCH button, and all the listing related to COVID-19 will begin to appear.
2020 GVSU Nordic Walking Exercise Study. FREE to Participate!! FREE Equipment provided!!
We are very excited to help Cathy Harro of GVSU promote a new Nordic walking training and exercise program that has shown great opportunities to help those with PD in the West Michigan area. They are currently in the active recruitment phase for the study so do not delay getting in on the great program!!
Download this flyer for all the details or contact Cathy directly to register or ask your questions. (616-331-5974, harroc@gvsu.edu)
New Case Study!! An online Clinical Study by Fox Insight.
Fox Insight is an online clinical study where people with Parkinson’s disease and their loved ones share information that could transform the search for better treatments. Are you in? CLICK HERE to learn more.
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To support the efforts and activities of PAWM, please visit our Online Donation page. If you wish to donate something tangible, please visit our Other Donation Options page.