MDA Ambassador Guest Blog: How Adaptive Sports Changed My Life

Brayden is 17 years old and has been playing wheelchair basketball since he was 8. He is also a wheelchair track and field athlete. Brayden lives with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Type 1A. He first became an MDA Ambassador when he was 5 years old and he loves supporting MDA’s mission. Brayden is consistently on the honor…

In Case You Missed It…

Quest Media is an innovative adaptive lifestyle platform from MDA. With the power of this platform, we foster awareness and empowerment and have important conversations with experts, thought leaders, and members of the neuromuscular disease community about topics that matter to them and to the larger community of individuals with disabilities. With so many valuable…

Employer Matching Programs Double the Impact

Anybody who has made a monetary donation to support MDA’s mission knows well that their dollars go a long way to change the lives of those living with neuromuscular disease. But what many might not know is that corporate matching programs create an opportunity to double that donation – and double the impact. Companies with…

MDA Ambassador Guest Blog: Entrepreneurship, Advocacy, and Innovation: Building a More Accessible Future from the Inside Out

Owen Kent is the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Assistive Technology Development (ATDev), a startup creating innovative mobility devices that empower people to live independently and confidently. As a lifelong wheelchair user with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) Type II, Owen draws on his lived experience to design user-driven technologies, advocate for disability rights, and…

MDA Ambassador Guest Blog: Helpful Tips for Accessible Halloween Costumes

Megan Jennings, known professionally as Sybil Thorn, is an artist and freelance creator. Born with spinal muscular atrophy, she received her bachelor’s degree in Theater and English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Presbyterian College, where one of her favorite classes was in costume design. As a lifelong costumer, she looks forward to Halloween…

Simply Stated: Updates in Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD)

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a genetic disorder that may affect all muscles across the lifespan of an individual. While FSHD has historically been detected in muscles in the face (facio), shoulders (scapulo), and upper arms (humeral), new data derived from AI analysis of whole-body MRI scans challenges the historical view that FSHD is limited…

Izzy Camilleri Merges High Fashion and Adaptive Clothing Design

Fashion icon Izzy Camilleri bridges high fashion and accessibility, designing stylish adaptive clothing for people who use wheelchairs.

MDA Ambassador Guest Blog: Life Lessons on My Journey with Becker Muscular Dystrophy

Jon Bruns is 56 years old.  He is originally from South Dakota and now lives in Ham Lake, Minnesota.  Jon was diagnosed with Beckers muscular dystrophy (BMD) in his early 20’s.  He and his wife of over 22 years have one daughter, who is a college student.  Jon is an accountant and finance professional and…

MDA Summer Camp Alumni Put the Power in Powerhockey

On the weekend of August 1, five Powerhockey teams from across North America hit the arena to compete for victory in the 2025 Powerhockey Cup. Hosted by the Philadelphia Flyers PowerPlay at Neumann University in Aston, PA, the tournament was a dazzling display of strength, abilities, and heart. Powerhockey, whose rules are based on a…

Quest Podcast: Precision Medicine: Mapping the Genetic Code for New Treatments

In this Quest Podcast episode, we chat with Dr. Stephan Züchner, Dr. Conrad “Chris” Weihl, and the Interim Chief Research Officer of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Dr. Angela Lek.  Leaders in the field of genetic mapping, all three have devoted their time and expertise to research and treatments for neuromuscular diseases.  Their goal is to…

Quest Media is an innovative adaptive lifestyle platform from MDA. With the power of this platform, we foster awareness and empowerment and have important conversations with experts, thought leaders, and members of the neuromuscular disease community about topics that matter to them and to the larger community of individuals with disabilities. 

QUEST PODCAST

The Quest podcast, proudly presented by the Muscular Dystrophy Association, is part of the Quest family of content. Hosted by Quest Editor-in-Chief, motivational speaker and writer Mindy Henderson.

Episode 56- Precision Medicine: Mapping the Genetic Code for New Treatments

In this Quest Podcast episode, we chat with Dr. Stephan Züchner, Dr. Conrad “Chris” Weihl, and the Interim Chief Research Officer of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Dr. Angela Lek.  Leaders in the field of genetic mapping, all three have devoted their time and expertise to research and treatments for neuromuscular diseases.  Their goal is to…

Episode 55- Unpacking Disability Pride: Voices from the MDA Community

In this Quest Podcast episode, we chat with MDA Ambassadors, Payton Rule, Fred Graves and former MDA National Ambassador Amy Shinneman. Payton shares a journey of transformation from self-doubt to pride, emphasizing how important community has been in helping her feel seen and valued.  While Fred offers a perspective rooted in resilience and advocacy, discussing…

Episode 54- Service Dogs, Inc. – Paws with a Purpose

In this Quest Podcast episode, we chat with a former attorney who left her law practice to devote her time to building Service Dogs, Inc. Sheri Soltes founded Service Dogs, Inc. in 1988 on the concept of using dogs rescued from animal shelters. Under her guidance, Service Dogs, Inc. has led the industry in combining…