Building More Than Slides: MDA Engage Events Cultivate Connection

Dr. Kaitlin Batley, Engage Steering Committee member, MDA Care Center Director, Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern, and neurologist at Children’s Health.

As MDA and the Engage Steering Committee gear up for a full day of learning, connection, and empowerment at the upcoming MDA Engage Symposium in Dallas, Texas, the excitement is about more than just a day of presentations – it’s also about connection.

The free educational event, which is open to individuals living with neuromuscular disease and their families, caregivers, and support networks, creates an opportunity to build community, share stories, and foster meaningful connections.

“For people living with a neuromuscular disease, we hope they will connect with peers in their community who truly understand their journeys,” said Dr. Kaitlin Batley, Engage Steering Committee member, MDA Care Center Director, Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern, and neurologist at Children’s Health. “For family members and caregivers, this event offers reliable, up-to-date information to better support their loved ones.”

Designed with the community in mind, the symposium will feature expert-led sessions on the latest updates in research, treatment options, care strategies, and available resources.

By the community, for the community

“As someone living with a neuromuscular condition and serving on MDA’s Board, I know how important it is to have engaging events that truly speak to our community’s needs,” shares Matt Plummer, member of MDA’s Board of Directors and the Engage Steering Committee. “Being part of the Steering Committee lets me help shape an experience that’s not only informative but also connects our community. I want our families to feel more connected, more informed, and more hopeful,” said Matt.

Attendees at the 2024 MDA Engage Symposium

Attendees will have the opportunity to choose from a number of learning sessions on daily living as well as disease-specific topics. The session on public policy and advocacy will help attendees distinguish fact from fiction and invite them to take action on matters that impact the neuromuscular community. One of the most requested topics, Navigating Equipment, will be led by both an assistive technology professional (ATP) and an occupational therapist (OT) sharing practical tips and resources. Other topics include nutrition, gene therapy, caregiving, and transition to adulthood. For a full agenda, click here.
of the most notable changes this year: disease-specific sessions will be transformed into interactive discussions rather than traditional lectures. Guided by expert clinicians, these sessions are designed to create space for participants to ask questions, share experiences, and gain support and insight from others facing similar diagnoses.

When asked why the neuromuscular community should attend, Dr. Daragh Heitzman, MDA Care Center Director at Texas Neurology and Engage Steering Committee member said, “It gives patients and families an opportunity to interact and ask questions from health care providers that they likely cannot obtain elsewhere.”

Connecting through conversation

“As a clinician, I’m most excited to connect with our patients and families, learn more about them, and discover how we can better support their journeys,” Dr. Batley shared.

Attendees at the 2024 MDA Engage Symposium

Leading the day’s inspiration will be keynote speaker Mindy Henderson, Vice President of Disability Outreach and Empowerment at MDA. Mindy is also the Editor-in-Chief of Quest Media, an award-winning motivational speaker, and a person living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

“Living with SMA, I know how transformative it is to connect with people who understand your reality,” Mindy says. “The MDA Engage Symposium is where those connections happen — where information turns hope into action and where community is empowered.”

Lasting impact

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been navigating the journey for years, MDA Engage offers a space to learn, connect, and grow — not just as individuals, but as a community.

Over 150 people have already registered to attend the symposium. Maria Ramos, parent of a young adult with a neuromuscular disease and registered attendee shared, “I’m hoping to make connections, find additional support and develop long lasting relationships with others at MDA Engage. For our family, making those face-to-face contacts is the best.  This allows us to really get to know others in an environment where everyone around us understands, identifies, and most likely has had the same questions as we do.  This kind of support is the best!”

Join us in Dallas

The MDA Engage Symposium in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, November 15, 2025 is free to attend, but registration is required.
To learn more and reserve your spot, visit: mda.org/engage-dallas.

If travel costs are a barrier, financial assistance may be available. Please complete the financial support form or email mdaengage@mdausa.org for more information.

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Empowerment Sponsors 

Alexion (www.alexion.com)

Evernorth (www.evernorth.com)

ITF (www.itftherapeutics.com)

Champion Sponsors

Amgen (www.amgen.com)

argenx (www.argenx.com)

Biogen (www.biogen.com)

Catalyst (www.catalystpharma.com)

Johnson & Johnson (www.jnj.com)

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America (https://www.mt-pharma-america.com/)

Novartis (www.novartis.com)

Sarepta (www.sarepta.com)

Regeneron (www.regeneron.com)