Acceptance of ALS does not mean giving up. It should be the first step in making the most of life with ALS. There is much that can be done to help you to continue to live a productive and enjoyable life. Be positive but do not trivialize the situation. It is foolish to pretend that everything will be fine or that ALS is not a very serious condition.

On the other hand, there is no need to dwell on the negative aspects of the disease. It is true that 20% of people with ALS live more than five years and that nearly 10% live ten years or more. It is also true that neurological research moves steadily ahead and that no one knows when a breakthrough may occur. These facts give hope and hope is a crucial part of life. You must try to achieve a correct balance between hope and realism, which is not an easy task.

Managing ALS is a continually changing challenge. Although it is a degenerative disease, the rate at which muscles degenerate is unpredictable and varies greatly. In some cases the disease seems to have reached a plateau, while in others it reaches a standstill for varying lengths of time. Also, it can progress steadily at a rapid or slow rate. Whatever the rate of muscle degeneration, you should remain as active as possible, without causing fatigue in affected muscles. It also helps to focus on what you can do, rather than on what you can't do.

Although there are no known medications that will cure ALS, there are medical treatments and several treatment therapies which can help patients maintain an active and independent life for as long as possible. These treatments should help the well-being of both you and your family. Some treatments mentioned below are discussed in more detail in other sections of this manual. The success of most of these treatments depends on the will of the patient and their ability to communicate openly with their caregivers, therapists and doctors.

If you are a person with ALS who has decided to take charge of your condition, here are a few things you can consider doing.

Register with the ALS Society
As described in Section 14 of this manual, the ALS Society provides various services to assist people with ALS. Let your local Society know that you are a person with ALS in their area, and that you would like to register with them and receive any helpful information they provide.

Apply for a Disabled Parking Permit
Your local city or provincial government will issue a disabled parking permit to people with ALS. Get the application through your local ALS Society or ALS Clinic.

Obtain a Medic Alert Bracelet
A Medic Alert bracelet can be useful to tell others about your condition, in the event that you are unable to speak. This may be particularly useful for those with Bulbar symptoms who are unable to speak or have slurred speech. For further information and an order form call the Canadian Medic Alert Foundation at 416-696-0267 or 1-800-668-1507.

Contact your family doctor
When doctors find out that one of their patients has ALS, some might say that there is nothing they can do to help. In fact, they probably can help but they don't know it! Request that your family doctor refer you to an ALS Clinic and ALS Rehab team. Your doctor will also be able to help you in other ways in the future, such as signing your application for a CPP disability pension, and Revenue Canada's Disability Credit Certificate for your annual tax deduction, or by approving your application for home care.

You may want to suggest that your doctor access the resources from the ALS Society by requesting a copy of this manual or other information the ALS Society makes available. You need to discuss with your family doctor his or her availability to do home visits as ALS progresses.

Contact your auto insurance provider
If you don't report your disability to your insurance company, your auto insurance coverage may not be valid. Driving sometimes requires fast foot and hand reactions. Enquire about a driving test service in your community that will certify your current abilities for insurance purposes.