Supporting people with Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's Disease is the most common serious movement disorder - there are roughly 12,000 people in Ireland with it. It is a degenerative and often debilitating condition with no cure. Those who have it deal with a constant tremor, rigidity and slowness of movements, postural instability, along with many other motor symptoms.

As aspiring speech and language therapists, we are passionate about restoring or augmenting the communication abilities of those in need, along with ensuring their safety in regards to swallowing. Due to the motor degeneration associated with Parkinson's, someone with this disorder is likely to face harsh changes in their speech, impacting their ability to communicate with others, which can be very isolating. Additionally, their swallow function can deteriorate, making mealtimes dangerous.

Parkinson's Ireland works to educate the public on the disorder, provides a multitude of services for those with the condition, and funds research. They receive no government funding, thus they rely fully on fundraisers and donations. Any donation you can make will be greatly appreciated and will go towards supporting the association and all the brilliant work they do, ultimately helping individuals living with Parkinson's Disease.