Ralph has served as the executive director of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology Foundation and the Berwyn Cicero Council on Aging, helping to establish the organization and begin serving the community. He was also an AARP regional vice president for a decade and, prior to that, the Illinois State Director for four years.
He holds BS and MA degrees in psychology from Loyola University of Chicago and worked as a licensed clinical professional counselor in Illinois for three decades. He also holds an MBA degree from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. Ralph has served on numerous boards for nonprofit organizations and in 2018 founded the LGMD2L Foundation to help look for treatments and cures for his form of muscular dystrophy.I am proud to say that Muscular Dystrophy News Today is running a great initiative called “30 Days of MD.” This series of stories by patients, caregivers, researchers, and others will continue for the duration of September and will end with the day now recognized as LGMD Awareness…
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to take part in a very special conference in Chicago. I’d had the honor of seeing this event grow from the idea stage; the first planning meetings were over a year and a half ago. This was a watershed moment, as…
Let’s really get serious about what accessibility is. The website Disabled World calls it the “‘ability to access’ the functionality, and possible benefit, of some system or entity.” In short, the more people who can use the product, service, or venue, the more accessible it is. This is a…
Some of my recent columns have been exhausting to write. This is because many of the experiences I have discussed have been difficult to actually live through. We live in a society that frustrates us. Living with muscular dystrophy is never easy, and creative living is necessary. Learning how…
I have limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2L (LGMD2L). My previous column, “I Live Creatively to Power Past Obstacles,” discussed how I live with my limitations. For me, the biggest challenge is navigating the world outside my home. But dealing with our disjointed healthcare system is also an issue.
Writing a weekly column has been enjoyable. It has been great to examine a variety of issues that are important to the muscular dystrophy community. It also provides a way for people to share ideas. I’ve done a dozen columns so far, and this is my lucky 13. This…
In the disability community, which is as diverse and broad as any other, there is a debate over terminology. I have seen this play out on my Twitter account and in other places. I have also seen some very strong feelings on all sides. The muscular dystrophy community…
I recently attended The Speak Foundation’s 11th Annual Conference. This event is for individuals with neuromuscular diseases and their families. We met in the beautiful city of Atlanta, for what turned out to be an exciting few days. This was also a fitting prelude to the upcoming National…
This column is a particularly nice one for me to write because of my love of bicycle riding. I began to bike in 1988. I was 29 years old and looking for a better way to stay active while enjoying the months of nice weather in Chicago. Stationary bicycles are…
Last week’s column, “Uniting to Effect Positive Change,” focused on the bigger picture of advocacy. This form of advocating is about a larger movement and changing the society we live in. I have heard from many people wanting to get more involved. I cherish this because the time is…
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