This year marks our 13th Annual Dysautonomia Awareness Month! Since Dysautonomia International launched the first Dysautonomia Awareness Month campaign in October 2012, our amazing volunteers have organized thousands of awareness activities around the world, helping us reduce diagnostic delays, improve resources, and compassion for patients in their communities, and increase support for research funding.
Here are the best ways to get involved.
PARTICIPATE IN THE DYSAUTONOMIA AWARENESS MONTH CHALLENGE
Earn points while raising awareness or raising funds to earn cool merch during the Dysautonomia Awareness Month Challenge.
ATTEND A DYSAUTONOMIA INTERNATIONAL EVENT IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY
There are many Dysautonomia Awareness Month events happening this October, bot in person and virtually! Check out our events listing.
HOST AN ONLINE FUNDRAISER
Creating a Facebook or Instagram fundraiser for Dysautonomia International is a great way to raise awareness, by letting everyone know why educating doctors about dysautonomia, funding dysautonomia research, and supporting dysautonomia patients is important!
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PARTICIPATE IN #31DAYSOFDYS
Participate in our #31DaysofDys campaign on social media to raise awareness and educate your followers on what it's like living with dysautonomia. We'll post different educational infographics and videos on Dysautonomia International's social media channels each day during the month of October that you can share. Here are a few infographics to get you started. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and YouTube.
HOST A RESTAURANT GIVE BACK NIGHT
Would you like to host your very own Dysautonomia Awareness Month event to connect with local dysautonomia families and raise funds for dysautonomia research at a local restaurant? Contact your favorite restaurant to ask if they will do a give back night, or look up local restaurants that do give back nights on GroupRaise. Many restaurants will donate 10-20% of food receipts to Dysautonomia International. After you have your date set, email events@dysautonomiainternational.org so we can help you promote your event to the dysautonomia community! Invite your friends and family too.
LIGHT IT UP TURQUOISE!
We invite Dysautonomia International volunteers to light up a building or monument turquoise for dysautonomia awareness in your community during the month of October! Here's a lighting request letter you can download.
GET GOVERNMENT RECOGNITION
Ask your local or regional government to issue a proclamation recognizing the month of October as Dysautonomia Awareness Month on behalf of Dysautonomia International. Here's a proclamation request letter you can use. Ask your elected officials if they can present the proclamation during a ceremony at city hall, and invite local dysautonomia families to join you for the ceremony. Ask your elected officials to tweet about the proclamation too!
OBTAIN BILLBOARDS TO REACH YOUR COMMUNITY
Many billboard companies may be willing to donate unused electronic billboard space to Dysautonomia International during the month of October to help us raise awareness. We have several professionally designed billboard layouts available. Here's a letter you can send to billboard companies in your area to request donated electronic billboard space.
SEEK PRESS COVERAGE
Obtaining press coverage is the most effective way to reach as many people as possible with our dysautonomia awareness message. Reach out to your local media outlets - television, print, radio and online - to see if they will interview you about living with dysautonomia, or let you write an article tailored to their audience. Or add a press release to your proclamation, lighting or fundraiser event this October. It is important that you are 100% medically accurate when dealing with the media. Please review our Dysautonomia International Media Guide for some tips on how to successfully obtain press coverage about dysautonomia, and reach out to us at info@dysautonomiainternational.org if you need any expert quotes or a sample press release.
Get ready to #MakeNoiseForTurquoise this October!
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