Talk:Muscular Dystrophy Association

Minor Change

I just linked Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy to Kennedy's Disease (since they're the same thing). Lotsotech 13:40, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

Removal of Jerry Lewis Criticism

Removed the following:

Jerry Lewis has also made some disparaging remarks towards the disabled community:

• In 1990, he wrote a first-person essay entitled "If I Had Muscular Dystrophy" for Parade magazine, in which he characterized those with muscular dystrophy as "being half a person." Many in the disabled community viewed his remarks as prejudicial, contributing to the idea that disabled people are "childlike, helpless, hopeless, nonfunctioning and noncontributing members of society."
• On May 20 2001, he responded to his critics in an interview on CBS News Sunday Morning: "If you don't want to be pitied for being a cripple in a wheelchair, don't come out of the house." Again, disability rights activists blasted him for characterizing disabled people as helpless and homebound.

As this information is available in the Jerry Lewis article. While Lewis is well know for work with MDA, these are personal comments and criticism not MDA sponsored events. There's little need for people to associate the two. If needed a short line about Mr. Lewis' controversy can be added, but it doesn't appear needed.--Kinglink 20:24, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

Final tally removal

I removed the following:

The exact amount of the final tally that rolls up on the board at the close of each annual Telethon is predetermined by MDA representatives weeks before the Telethon is held.

I doubt this is true, and I don't think its responsible to leave it on the article without a citation. —Cliffb 01:02, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

Jerry's Kids vs. Jerry's Kids (band)

I think it should be mentioned that there is a band called Jerry's Kids and I think it should say something like "Jerry's Kids redirects here, for the band, see Jerry's Kids (band)". Also, why does "Kill Kill Kill" redirect to this article? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.242.56.1 (talk) 16:21, 2 December 2010 (UTC)

Edit Request

Hi Wikipedia,

I work for MDA so I have a COI and am not allowed to make these changes myself. Can someone help me with these changes?

• Can you make the following updates to the infobox?
  • Can you update the “Focus” to include care and advocacy?
  • Can you update the CEO to Donald Wood? Source: https://musculardystrophynews.com/2020/11/17/q-and-a-meet-the-muscular-dystrophy-associations-new-ceo-and-president-donald-wood/#:~:text=Q%26A%3A%20Meet%20Donald%20Wood%2C%20the,Association's%20New%20CEO%20and%20President
  • Can you update the Chairman to “Steven J. Farella”? Source: https://www.stjohns.edu/about/news/2020-02-12/steven-j-farella-77svc-named-mda-board-chair
  • Can you update the Revenue to be “$110,657,553 (2018)” Source: https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4134
• Can you make the following changes in the lede:
  • Can you change the first sentence to say, “The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is an American 501(c)3 (Source: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/131665552) umbrella organization for people with 43 neuromuscular conditions. (Source: https://www.wctrib.com/newsmd/policy/6851841-After-a-decade-of-lobbying-ALS-patients-gain-faster-access-to-disability-payments)
  • After the first sentence, can you add “Founded in 1950 by Paul Cohen (Source: https://www.mcall.com/health/mc-nws-biz-health-musculardystrophy-20170725-story.html), MDA works to help those affected by muscular dystrophy and related disorders through innovations in science and care.” (Source: https://www.capitalpress.com/sponsored/dollars-to-help-strengthen-communities/article_1a32f8e2-342a-11eb-bada-d33e68395a3e.html)
  • After that, can you add “Since its founding, MDA has contributed more than $1 billion toward researching therapies and cures.” (Source: https://www.capitalpress.com/sponsored/dollars-to-help-strengthen-communities/article_1a32f8e2-342a-11eb-bada-d33e68395a3e.html)
  • After that, can you start a new paragraph with: “MDA research has helped fund the discovery of the dystrophin/DMD gene responsible for the most serious and common form of muscular dystrophy, Duchenne, as well as potential gene therapy treatments.” (Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/07/27/893289171/a-boy-with-muscular-dystrophy-was-headed-for-a-wheelchair-then-gene-therapy-arri)
  • Followed by: “MDA also launched a tool to help make clinical data more accessible and accelerate treatment discovery, called the neuroMuscular ObserVational Research (MOVR) Visualization and Reporting Platform (VRP).” (Source: https://musculardystrophynews.com/2020/11/12/mda-launches-tool-to-make-clinical-data-more-accessible-to-researchers)

• • “MDA’s Care Center Network provides specialized neuromuscular care at more than 150 clinics across the United States. Research is also conducted at these centers” (Source: https://charcot-marie-toothnews.com/2020/02/07/from-care-centers-to-research-awards-and-summer-camp-mda-leads-in-helping-others/)
  • “MDA’s Resource Center offers support and educational resources for families and healthcare providers affected by neuromuscular diseases.” (Source: https://www.capitalpress.com/sponsored/dollars-to-help-strengthen-communities/article_1a32f8e2-342a-11eb-bada-d33e68395a3e.html)
  • “Each year, MDA offers a weeklong summer camp at no cost to families for children ages 8-17 who are affected by muscular dystrophy and related diseases.” (Source: https://charcot-marie-toothnews.com/2020/02/07/from-care-centers-to-research-awards-and-summer-camp-mda-leads-in-helping-others/)

Thank you! Gms050997 (talk) 18:20, 7 April 2021 (UTC)

Hi Gms050997,

I can work on these. Few points of clarification and some comments:

• I'll remove the existing names in the infobox, right?
• I'll combine your sentence with some of the existing lede content. The MOVR/VRP tool line sounds good to me, but should maybe go in History? I'll play around a bit.
• We're putting a lot in the leded. I'll spread around a bit.

--FeldBum (talk) 02:29, 19 April 2021 (UTC)

Hi User:FeldBum,

Thanks for your help! I'm not sure what you mean by combining my sentence with the lede? Can you show me what that would look like? I trust your judgment about where the other content should go, lede or otherwise.

Thank you!

Gms050997 (talk) 21:21, 19 April 2021 (UTC)

Hi Gms050997, how about something like:

"The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is an American 501(c)3 umbrella organization for people 43 neuromuscular conditions. The association was founded in 1950 by Paul Cohen, whi suffered from muscular dystrophy, and works to combat muscular dystrophy and diseases of the nervous system and muscular system in general by funding research, providing medical and community services and educating health professionals and the general public.

Since its founding, MDA has contributed more than $1 billion toward researching therapies and cures, including helping to fund the discovery of the dystrophin/DMD gene responsible for the most serious and common form of muscular dystrophy, Duchenne, as well as potential gene therapy treatments."

In history, I'd add "In November 2020, MDA launched a tool, called the neuroMuscular ObserVational Research (MOVR) Visualization and Reporting Platform (VRP), to help make clinical data more accessible and accelerate treatment discovery."

For the Care and Resource Centers, how about a new subsection under Programs and Events called "Centers"?

I can update the Summer Camp section to reflect that it is free and for children 8-17.

Did I miss anything?

--FeldBum (talk) 19:58, 20 April 2021 (UTC)

Hi User:FeldBum,

Yes, that all works for us. I understand it could be edited at some point. Thanks for your help!

Gms050997 (talk) 19:21, 21 April 2021 (UTC)

OK, added. Let me know if I missed anything Gms050997. If not, please mark as answered (add |answered=yes to the template). --FeldBum (talk) 18:53, 23 April 2021 (UTC)

Hi User:FeldBum,

We can't say "who suffered from muscular dystrophy" but we can say "who lived with muscular dystrophy". Also, MDA only has one center, not multiple centers. Can we make those changes? Thanks!

Gms050997 (talk) 18:52, 26 April 2021 (UTC)

Shit, that's super ableist of me. You're totally right, Gms050997. I'll change it. --FeldBum (talk) 19:05, 26 April 2021 (UTC)

User:Feldbum,

No problem! Thanks so much for making that change.

Gms050997 (talk) 21:44, 26 April 2021 (UTC)

New Edit Request

Thank you again FeldBum with your help on my initial request. I am requesting some more edits for this page, as detailed below:

• Can you make the following additions to the ‘History’ section?
  • In the first paragraph, can you change “...Paul Cohen who suffered from the disease.” to “...Paul Cohen who lived with neuromuscular disease.”
    •  Done
  • After the first paragraph, can you start a second paragraph with: “In 1954, MDA began its partnership with the International Association of Firefighters for the annual Fill the Boot Campaign.” Source: http://shoplocal.clevelandbanner.com/stories/cleveland-firefighters-raise-over-40000-for-mda,106475
    •  Done, with rewrite. A little repetitive, so I edited below.
  • “Shortly afterward in 1955, the organization held its first summer camp.” Source: https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/entertainment/tn-dpt-xpm-2011-07-29-tn-dpt-0730-cook-20110729-story.html
    •  Done, with rewrite.
  • “Harley Davidson became an MDA National Sponsor in 1980, and in 1987 the MDA Ride For Life program began, a fundraising ride held over Labor Day weekend.” Sources: https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2009/09/11/2009_harley-

davidson_muscular_dystrophy_association/; https://musculardystrophynews.com/2020/09/01/virtual-events-mark-mda-national-muscular-dystrophy-awareness-month/’

• • •  Done, with rewrite.
  • “Harley Davidson was joined by CITGO as a national sponsor in 1986” Source: https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/CITGO-sponsored-golf-tourney-raises-100k-for-MD-10806152.php
    •  Done, with rewrite.
  • ”The MDA Shamrocks program launched in 1982 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and became a national program one year later.” Source: https://patch.com/georgia/douglasville/kroger-customers-support-mda-s-shamrocks-program
    •  Done, with rewrite.
  • “In 1996, MDA was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Medical Association for its contributions to the health and welfare of humanity.” Source: https://www.ktre.com/story/1416480/jerry-lewis-biography/
    •  Done, with rewrite and additions.
  • ”In October 2020, the MDA Telethon, which had originally run from 1966 to 2014, was reimagined as The MDA Kevin Hart Kids Telethon after a 6 year hiatus” (Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisstrub/2020/10/13/after-six-year-hiatus-reimagined-mda-kevin-hart-kids-telethon-returns-oct-24/?sh=3a749e05589b).
    •  Done, with edits.
  • ”The 2-hour event was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and streamed live on the Laugh Out Loud Network and its YouTube platform” (Source: https://musculardystrophynews.com/2020/10/20/mda-telethon-going-virtual-with-host-kevin-hart/)
    •  Done, with edits.
  • “Celebrity guests included Jack Black, Josh Gad, Michael B. Jordan, and Jillian Mercado” (Source:https://www.thenonprofittimes.com/fundraising/mda-getting-back-in-telethon-game/).
    •  Done.
  • "Spencer Smith, a lawyer with spinal muscular atrophy, described the Kevin Hart Kids Telethon as an opportunity to represent those who have typically been underrepresented in disability advocacy, with an emphasis on people thriving and living with neuromuscular disorders." Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/letters-to-the-editor/the-muscular-dystrophy-telethon-is-needed-and-inspirational/2020/10/26/51153ab8-17a2-11eb-8bda-814ca56e138b_story.html
    •  Not done, POV.
  • Also on telethon day was a 10-hour Let’s Play For A Cure streamthon, which featured DJ and producer Zedd, gaming personality missharvey, and esports athletes (Source: https://musculardystrophynews.com/2020/10/20/mda-telethon-going-virtual-with-host-kevin-hart)
    •  Done, with rewrite and additional source.
  • Following the Kevin Hart Kids Telethon was MDA’s 70th Anniversary Show, hosted by entertainment TV journalists Nancy O’Dell and Jann Carl (Source: https://musculardystrophynews.com/2020/10/20/mda-telethon-going-virtual-with-host-kevin-hart)
    •  Done, with edits and in different section.
  • ” In January 2021, MDA announced Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines as its National Spokesperson.” Source: https://www.wthr.com/article/sports/colts-rb-nyheim-hines-named-national-spokesperson-for-mda/531-c26d02f9-8a29-49f0-aa4d-df3a2bad8424?fbclid=IwAR2DkLo8xmKkNqqTMp7eCBpxiuJpodohaLgs02LQ2s1Or8rRFp8pquBQ9LY
    •  Done.

• Can you add a new subsection to the History section, called “Research”? Under this new section, can you add:
  • “In 1986, MDA funded researcher Louis Kunkel identified the dystrophin gene, the gene for DMD/BMD.” Source: https://www.biospace.com/article/the-time-for-dmd-gene-therapy-is-now-a-chat-with-the-mda/
    •  Done, with edits.
  • MDA funded the first gene therapy trial in 1999, followed by the first vector based gene therapy trial for DMD in 2006.” Sources: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Muscular_Dystrophy/fi5JhCJsxC0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=MDA+funded+the+first+gene+therapy+trial+in+1999&pg=PA18&printsec=frontcover

https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/newsroom/news-releases/2006/03/first-us-trial-of-dmd-gene-therapy

• • •  Done, with edits.
  • “In 2007, MDA funded Adrian Krainer and his colleagues at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York for the early-stage development of nusinersen. Nusinersen became FDA approved in 2019 as the first treatment for children with spinal muscular dystrophy (SMA).” Source: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(20)30027-2/fulltext
    •  Done, with edits.
  • “In addition to nusinersen, MDA has funded the development of six FDA approved medicines since 2015, including Strongbridge Biopharma’s Keveyis (dicholorphenamide) for primary periodic paralysis; Sarepta Therapeutics’ Exondys 51 (eteplirsen), PTC Therapeutics’ Emflaza (deflazacort) and Vyondys 53® for DMD; Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma’s Radicava (edaravone) for ALS; and Alexion’s Soliris (eculizumab) for myasthenia gravis.” Sources: https://charcot-marie-toothnews.com/2019/04/04/mda-conference-bringing-neuromuscular-disease-experts-to-orlando-to-share-new-era-in-treatment-research/ https://musculardystrophynews.com/2019/12/13/vyondys-53-for-duchenne-md-with-exon-53-mutations-fda-approval/
    •  Not done, would need individual independent sourcing for each drug. Would also be chemical name, not brand trademark. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)
  • In 2018, MDA awarded 88 new research grants worth a total of $23 million, in addition to 224 active grants totaling a funding commitment of more than $58 million. Source: https://charcot-marie-toothnews.com/2019/04/04/mda-conference-bringing-neuromuscular-disease-experts-to-orlando-to-share-new-era-in-treatment-research/
    •  Done, edited. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)
  • MDA developed the MOVR (neuroMuscular ObserVational Research) Data Hub in 2018, which collects clinical data from MDA’s Care Centers across the country. Source: https://www.neurologylive.com/view/centralizing-neuromuscular-disease-data-with-the-mda-movr-database
    •  Not done, would need more than just one source to establish this is notable. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)
  • Can you move the line “In November 2020, MDA launched a tool, called the neuroMuscular ObserVational Research (MOVR) Visualization and Reporting Platform (VRP), to help make clinical data more accessible and accelerate discovery of muscular dystrophy treatments.” to be right after the above line?
    •  Not done, per above. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)
  • “MDA supported 252 research projects worldwide in 2019, totaling a funding commitment of more than $66 millon. Source: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(20)30027-2/fulltext
    •  Done, edited. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)
  • MDA was awarded the Sonia Skarlatos Public Service Award by the American Society for Cell and Gene Therapy for its work in advancing gene therapy in 2019.” Source: https://www.accessibility.com/org-spotlight/nonprofit/muscular-dystrophy-association
    •  Not done, would need more than just one source to establish this is notable. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)
• Can you make the following additions to the ‘National Goodwill Ambassador’ subsection?
  • Can you remove ‘goodwill’ from both the header and the body, as that language is outdated?
  • In the first sentence, can you change “a child affected by a muscle disease is chosen to be the MDA's "National Goodwill Ambassador"” to “a person(s) living with muscular dystrophy, ALS or related neuromuscular diseases is chosen to be the MDA's "National Ambassador"?
    •  Not done, show me this is indeed the case in official documentation and I will proceed with the edit. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)
  • At the end of the section, can you start a new paragraph with: “In 2018, MDA selected two individuals to serve as National Ambassadors: Six-year-old Faith Fortenberry of Waco, Texas, and 17-year-old Justin Moy of Concord, Massachusetts.” Source: https://wacotrib.com/waco_today_magazine/keeping-the-faith-hewitt-7-year-old-serves-as-mda-s-national-ambassador/article_a71521de-6cc4-56c9-ba35-5736acb765d7.html
    •  Not done, again why is this notable? Wikipedia is not a repository for trivial yearly information. Same applies to further requests below. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)
  • ”Tana Zwart, a Sioux Falls, South Dakota resident who lives with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), served as the 2019-2020 National Ambassador.” Source: https://www.mobilityworks.com/blog/mda-national-ambassadors-share-the-everyday-impact-of-neuromuscular-disease/
  • “In January 2020, MDA announced Ethan Lybrand as its 2020-2021 MDA National Ambassador.” Souce: https://www.decaturdaily.com/team-ethan-meet-the-10-year-old-decatur-boy-serving-as-mdas-national-ambassador/article_85c833d0-077d-5d6f-a509-3a0c20fc639e.html
  • Add: “In 2021, Ethan Lybrand was joined by Keisha Greaves as MDA’s 2021 National Ambassador. Keisha Graves is a fashion entrepreneur and neuromuscular disease advocate from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Source: https://musculardystrophynews.com/2021/04/08/keisha-greaves-named-mdas-2021-national-ambassador/

• At the end of the History section, can you add a new subsection titled ‘COVID-19 Response’ and add:
  • “In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, MDA converted many of its traditional programs to virtual formats, and introduced new, virtual programming. New programming included several Facebook Live events, which discussed the challenges that the pandemic placed on people with disabilities and how they might protect themselves.” Sources: https://musculardystrophynews.com/2020/08/06/advocates-offer-advice-communication-self-care-important-students-neuromuscular-disorders-covid-19/, https://alsnewstoday.com/news-posts/2020/04/02/mda-hosting-online-qa-on-covid-19-today/
  • “MDA also provided COVID-19 resources and recommendations for neuromuscular patients and providers via its online resource center.” Source: https://www.neurologylive.com/view/fda-clears-ind-application-sod1-als-gene-therapy
  • ”Throughout stay at home orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MDA shared a “Joke of the Day’ from National Ambassador Ethan Lybrand via their social media channels.The jokes were intended to spread both happiness and awareness for people with neuromuscular diseases.” Source: https://www.newsweek.com/fifth-grader-tells-joke-day-keep-americans-laughing-during-coronavirus-pandemic-1499992
    •  Done, edited. PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)

Once again, appreciate your help with this! Let me know if you have any questions.

Gms050997 (talk) 17:54, 6 May 2021 (UTC)

Hi Gms050997, going through these one by one and updating above. --FeldBum (talk) 16:22, 11 June 2021 (UTC)

@FeldBum: are you still working on this? Z1720 (talk) 19:25, 24 August 2021 (UTC)

Thanks Z1720, forgot that I hadn't yet finished this one. --FeldBum (talk) 19:52, 24 August 2021 (UTC)

@FeldBum: Hi. Would be happy to review the rest of this request list if you're too busy. PK650 (talk) 02:21, 24 September 2021 (UTC)

Hey PK650, that would be great, thanks! I'll try to work on it today too. --FeldBum (talk) 15:53, 27 September 2021 (UTC)

• Gms050997 I've gone through the remaining requests, and will now close the active template. Please reopen a single request if and when new ones arise. Thank you, PK650 (talk) 00:41, 29 September 2021 (UTC)

 Done PK650 (talk) 00:42, 29 September 2021 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Online Communities

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation–supported course assignment, between 25 March 2024 and 7 June 2024. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Mkuulei6 (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by Mkuulei6 (talk) 19:48, 15 April 2024 (UTC)

Likely AI-generated content

Hi -- I've added the AI-generated tag here based on edits like this by Emausmora, which are almost certainly LLM output (stronger signal than usual). There may be other AI edits, I've only checked this person's contribs. Anyway these need review especially for factual accuracy. Gnomingstuff (talk) 13:54, 3 September 2025 (UTC)

Leadership update

Hi fellow Wikipedians,

I have disclosed my WP:COI in my talk page for this page. I kindly ask your support in keeping this page updated and accurate.

1. Add: In May 2025, Donald S. Wood, PhD, retired from the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Dr. Wood previously served as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors from 2017 to 2020 before becoming President. Sharon Hesterlee, PhD, who served as Chief Research Officer for the organization, was appointed interim President and CEO.

Placement: History section. Rationale: Important update about the organization’s new leadership.

 Done I added the update about Dr. Wood retiring and the newly appointed interim president and CEO

2. Update: Dr. Donald Wood’s Role Dr. Donald Wood, CEO of MDA from 2020-2025, the current CEO of MDA, discussed the organization’s founding legacy…

Location: Last paragraph of History section.

3. Update Infobox: Key people: Donald S. Wood (CEO) Sharon Hesterlee, PhD, Interim President and CEO

 Done

4. Update Mindy’s Title: Mindy’s title: Editor-in-Chief, MDA’s Quest Media and Vice President of Disability Outreach & Empowerment Update: Mindy Henderson, diagnosed with type 2 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and a patient advocate, is Quest Media’s editor-in-chief as of 2023 and MDA’s Vice President of Disability Outreach & Empowerment.

Location: “Quest Media” section. Rationale: WP:PRIMARYCARE The source refers to the MDA’s official website.

 Done

Please let me know if anything else is needed.

Thank you in advance!

TheBlueOwl (talk) 16:04, 24 November 2025 (UTC)

Hey @TheBlueOwl, the article was outdated, so I updated based on your request. Wrontheroof (talk) 19:35, 6 December 2025 (UTC)

Hi @Wrontheroof! Thank you for this. Can you update Dr. Hesterlee's title as she has been named the official President and CEO.

The organization's own website is an acceptable...primary source for information about the company’s most basic facts about its employees. WP:PRIMARYUSE

Thank you! TheBlueOwl (talk) 23:50, 10 December 2025 (UTC)

Done I made this leadership update. Wrontheroof (talk) 20:38, 11 January 2026 (UTC)

COI: Milestone (75th anniversary)

Hi fellow Wikipedians,

I disclosed my WP:COI in my talk page for this page. I kindly ask your support in adding an important milestone in the organization’s history.

Suggested Update: MDA’s 75th anniversary

1. Add: In 2025, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) commemorated its 75th anniversary and held the 2025 MDA Clinical & Scientific Conference in Dallas, Texas.
2. Add: During the event, MDA leadership mentioned recent reforms that involve the neuromuscular disease community, such as accessible air travel, disability rights legislation, and universal newborn screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) across all states.

Placement: Please after the last paragraph in the History section. Rationale: The edit request mentions a significant recent milestone (75th anniversary) and the organization's current focus on national policy and impact in the neuromuscular disease community community. (WP:RELEVANCE).

Please let me know if anything else is needed.

Thank you!

TheBlueOwl (talk) 20:13, 11 December 2025 (UTC)

 Done Approved but adjusted the entry to adopt a neutral, non-promotional tone. Wrontheroof (talk) 23:32, 19 January 2026 (UTC)

COI: Improve quality of page

Hi fellow Wikipedians,

As noted on my talk page, I have a conflict of interest (WP:COI). I am requesting community review and support for several proposed updates to improve neutrality, remove redundant text, and correct chronological flow.

1. Update/Delete: Originally known as the Muscular Dystrophy Associations of America, it was renamed to its present name in the 1970s.

• Proposed change: The MDA was founded in 1950 as the Muscular Dystrophy Association of America by a group with personal connections to the condition, including Paul Cohen, who lived with Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).
• Rationale: Integrating the original founding name into the opening sentence and removing the unverified timeline claim to ensure compliance with Wikipedia's verifiability policy (WP:V).
• Location: History, 1st paragraph

2. Update: In 1980, American motorcycle manufacturer Harley Davidson became an MDA National Sponsor; in 1987 the MDA Ride For Life program began, a fundraising motorcycle ride held over Labor Day weekend. In 1986, oil and gas provider Citgo became a second national sponsor of the organization.

In 1982, the MDA Shamrocks program launched in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and became a national program one year later. In 1996, MDA and Lewis were jointly honored by the American Medical Association with a lifetime achievement awards for their contributions to the health and welfare of humanity.

Dr. Stanley Appel established Houston Methodist Hospital's amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinic with MDA in 1982, which has evolved into the MDA ALS Research and Clinical Center at the Houston Methodist Neurological Institute. Dr. Appel's pioneering work includes the development of an immunotherapy treatment that may slow the progression of ALS. Dr. Appel's efforts were recognized by the MDA when he received the MDA's Tribute Award in 2022.

• Proposed change: In 1980, American motorcycle manufacturer Harley Davidson became an MDA National Sponsor.

In 1982, the MDA Shamrocks program launched in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and became a national program one year later.

Dr. Stanley Appel established Houston Methodist Hospital's amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinic with MDA in 1982, which has evolved into the MDA ALS Research and Clinical Center at the Houston Methodist Neurological Institute. Dr. Appel's pioneering work includes the development of an immunotherapy treatment that may slow the progression of ALS. Dr. Appel's efforts were recognized by the MDA when he received the MDA's Tribute Award in 2022.

In 1986, oil and gas provider Citgo became a second national sponsor of the organization.

In 1987 the MDA Ride For Life program began, a fundraising motorcycle ride held over Labor Day weekend.

In 1996, MDA and Lewis were jointly honored by the American Medical Association with a lifetime achievement awards for their contributions to the health and welfare of humanity.

• Rationale: This revision reorders the chronological timeline of 1980s milestones from a broken sequence (1980, 1982, 1987, 1986) into a proper sequential order (1980, 1982, 1986, 1987) to improve readability and historical flow.
• Location: History, 3rd-5th paragraph

3. Delete: The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) was established to lead research and support for individuals affected by muscular dystrophy and related diseases.

• Rationale: This is a redundant founding/mission statement already thoroughly covered in the lead section (WP:LEAD): “dedicated to supporting people living with muscular dystrophy...MDA accelerates research”; this change will help clean up body text and structural flow.
• Location: History, 10th paragraph

4. Update: Debuting in 1966 and held annually on Labor Day weekend until 2014, the telethon was originally hosted by veteran film star, comedian and singer Jerry Lewis, who also served as the MDA's national chairman since its inception in 1950 and hosted the show until 2010. In 2005, the MDA made the unprecedented decision to pledge $1 million of the telethon's money raised to Hurricane Katrina disaster relief, making the donation specifically to the Salvation Army (though the telethon also urged viewers to give to the American Red Cross). In 2008, the annual televised fundraiser raised a record $65,031,393.

• Proposed change: The MDA Labor Day telethon debuted in 1966 and was held annually over Labor Day weekend until 2014. Comedian and singer Jerry Lewis, who served as the MDA's national chairman from its inception in 1950, originally hosted the broadcast until stepping down in 2010.

In 2005, the MDA made the unprecedented decision to pledge $1 million of the telethon's raised funds to Hurricane Katrina disaster relief, directing the donation specifically to the Salvation Army while also urging viewers to give to the American Red Cross

In 2008, the annual televised fundraiser reached a record high by raising $65,031,393.

• Rationale: This revision improves readability by splitting an overly dense opening sentence (Per WP:MOS) and adds reliable citations for the 2005 Katrina relief pledge and 2008 fundraising record (WP:V).
• Location: Telethon

5. Update: MDA and Lewis have been criticized by disability rights activists for their tendency to paint disabled people as "pitiable victims who want and need nothing more than a big charity to take care of or cure them."

• Proposed change: Disability rights activist and former Muscular Dystrophy Association poster child Mike Ervin argued that the MDA and Jerry Lewis painted disabled people as "pitiable victims who want and need nothing more than a big charity to take care of or cure them."
• Rationale: This change properly attributes the critical viewpoint to specific source material (activist Mike Ervin) rather than presenting it as an unmediated editorial fact (disability rights activists), aligning with Wikipedia's neutral point of view guidelines (WP:NPOV).
• Location: Criticism

Please let me know if anything else!

Thank you! TheBlueOwl (talk) 21:22, 27 September 2026 (UTC) TheBlueOwl (talk) 21:22, 27 September 2026 (UTC)

References

COI: Page cleanup to comply with Wikipedia policies and guidelines.

Hi fellow Wikipedians,

I have disclosed my WP:COI on my talk page. Following up on a recent discussion regarding article quality and single-purpose contributions (such as past additions by user Emausmora focusing on awards and primary sources), I propose two specific cleanups to bring the article back into alignment with Wikipedia policies:

1. Remove: Institutional Awards section in full and Research!America Advocacy Award (2025)

• Location: Awards
• Rationale: This section is an extensive catalog of internal, campaign, and individual employee awards, which gives undue promotional weight (WP:NPOV) to routine corporate accolades and violates WP:NOTDIRECTORY. Furthermore, the section relies entirely on primary sources to verify these entries; this violates Wikipedia's Verifiability policy (WP:V). A search for independent coverage revealed no reliable sources for these awards.

2. Remove: Sentence citing the 2024 interview with Dr. Donald Wood.

• Text to remove: "In a 2024 interview with Denver Frederick, Dr. Donald Wood, CEO of MDA from 2020-2025,[2] discussed the organization's founding legacy and its evolving role in reimagining support and research for the muscular dystrophy community. Dr. Wood highlighted MDA's commitment to continuing the vision of its founders through expanded programs and initiatives.”
• Location: History (11th sentence)
• Rationale: This section lacks independent encyclopedic significance (WP:NOTNEWS and WP:WEIGHT). It reads like a promotional interview highlighting executive commentary rather than verifiable, secondary-source historical milestones.

These changes should help address the recent quality flags on the page.

Thank you! TheBlueOwl (talk) 15:35, 2 October 2026 (UTC)