People living with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and ALS, along with their families, caregivers and health care providers, will gather at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center on Nov. 17 for a full day of talks, breakout sessions and community resources built around what it actually means to live with a neurological diagnosis day to day. The Tanner Foundation for Neurological Diseases is organizing the event, titled “Living Well with a Neurological Diagnosis: Relationships, Resilience, and Real-World Tools.”
The symposium is one of the Birmingham-based foundation's main annual community-support efforts, according to Vestavia Voice. It will be held at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center, 1090 Montgomery Highway, and is designed to equip people living with neurological disease, their caregivers and health care professionals with tools for navigating a diagnosis, per the Tanner Foundation's event listing.
Sources differ slightly on the start time. The Foundation's own listing puts the program at 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., while Vestavia Voice reports the symposium running from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Vestavia Voice also notes that registration and exhibitor networking begin at 8 a.m., so attendees arriving that early will have time to browse exhibitor tables before the day's sessions start.
Why the Foundation Says the Focus Goes Beyond Medicine
Tanner Foundation executive director Melissa Enfinger said the symposium addresses more than the medical side of a diagnosis, pointing to how neurological disease affects relationships, communication, emotional health and daily routines. The foundation, which centers its mission on helping individuals navigate diagnoses with knowledge and connections to resources, works to improve life for people affected by complex neurological conditions through education, research and direct support for patients and families.
Two keynote speakers are scheduled to headline the day. Emily Riser, founder of the Tanner Foundation and director of the Tanner Center for Multiple Sclerosis, is a board-certified neurologist who has led MS care efforts in Alabama for more than two decades; she will speak about clinical innovation and partnership in neurological care. Beverly Thorn, professor emerita of psychology at the University of Alabama and a clinical health psychologist, will draw on her recent work centered on dementia caregiving, aging and end-of-life issues. Thorn is the author of “Before I Lose My Own Mind: Navigating Life as a Dementia Caregiver,” and the first 100 registrants will receive a free copy of the memoir.
Afternoon Tracks Split Patients From Professionals
After the morning sessions, attendees can choose between one of two afternoon tracks — one built for patients and care partners, and another for health care professionals that will include continuing education credits, Vestavia Voice reports. Sessions across the day will cover communication, emotional wellness, shared decision-making and the practical challenges that come with neurological disease, before the symposium closes with a joint discussion of the day's takeaways and the future of neurological care.
Exhibitors and community organizations serving people affected by neurological disease in central Alabama will also be on hand throughout the day to connect attendees with additional resources, per the same account.
Free for Patients, Ticketed for Everyone Else
Attendance is free for individuals with lived experience and their care partners and family members, according to the Tanner Foundation listing. Other tickets carry a tiered price: the Foundation states tickets are $65 before Oct. 31 and $75 after Nov. 1, while Vestavia Voice describes the same tiers as $65 through Oct. 31 and $75 starting Nov. 1. More information and registration are available at tanner-foundation.org.
