Dr. Maria Adelita Reyes-Velarde actively collaborates with the National MS Society as an
    independent contractor/consultant for Hispanic outreach projects while working on her
    doctorate degree on Education, specializing on Online Education and Teaching for special
    populations. She holds a medical degree from Ecuador and a master in Public Health -
    Administrative Medicine Management from George Washington University, DC.

    On 2001 she created the website "Hablemos de Esclerosis Multiple"-Let's talk about MS the
    first website to provide practical health information in Spanish a way to empower people
    living with MS. Today, it continues to brings up-to date information on the disease.

    When she worked as Director of Multicultural and Clinical Initiatives in the Department of
    Research and Clinical Programs at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (USA), she had the
    opportunity to establish best practices to deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate
    programs and services to clients with diverse levels of understanding by developing tools
    that provided a uniform way to convey complex information. She developed and edited
    multiple means to convey Spanish MS information such as brochures, web casts, and web
    pages including initiating and rolling out the National MS Society Spanish information web
    pages and authorship of the first web based MS information kit in Spanish “Tome control de
    su esclerosis múltiple”, and the Society flagship Spanish MS book for newly diagnosed “Con
    los pies en la Tierra” now on its third edition. Dr. Reyes-Velarde also had the honor of being
    a spokesperson for the National MS Society helping to develop and maintain relationships
    with national and international Hispanic organizations for collaboration in outreach efforts.  

    On Jan. 2010, looking for an innovative way to improve knowledge on MS, Dr. Reyes-
    Velarde launched Desde Mi Balcon (from my balcony), a bilingual blog to address in a
    unique way everyday topics and concerns of the Hispanic person living with MS.  (Other
    publications by Dr.Reyes-Velarde)

    For motivational or educational talks about MS to the Latin community you can contact Dr.
    Reyes-Velarde.    

    Conferences and training given by Dr. Reyes-Velarde:

  • "Finding the inner strength of the familia through communication" (in Spanish),
    National MS Society, NYC Chapter, Dia de la famila hispana que vive con EM, 11/2011
  • "New Treatment Options - Things to consider" (in Spanish), National MS Society,
    Southern California Chapter & Nevada Chapter, 6/2011
  • "Living Well with MS", (in Spanish) Renacer Fundación Dominicana contra la EM, Sto
    Domingo, República Dominicana, 05/2011
  • "Emotions and Intimacy in MS" (in Spanish) National MS Society, NYC Chapter, Day for
    Hispanic Families Living with MS, 11/2010
  • "Creating a positive impact on MS Care: Understanding the Hispanic Culture", National
    MS Society Georgia Chapter, 7/2010
  • "Wellness in MS", (in Spanish) National MS Society Southern California Chapter, 5/2010
  • "Pain in MS", (in Spanish) National MS Society telephone support group "Cafe con
    Leche", 3/2010
  • "Managing Pain in MS" (in Spanish) National MS Society, NYC Chapter, Day for Hispanic
    Families Living with MS, 11/2009
  • “Increasing Diversity in Hiring and Volunteer Engagement”, Field Ops University,
    National MS Society cultural competence staff training, 12/2008
  • “Understanding the multicultural communities in your area”, National MS Society
    national  conference, Chicago, 11/2008
  • “Importance of belonging to a support group”, (in Spanish) Mexican Federation
    National Conference, Guadalajara, Mexico, 10/2008
  • “Opening New Horizons – involving multicultural diverse volunteers”, National MS
    Society cultural competence staff training, recorded and posted on the Society
    Learning Management System for on-going staff training, 05/2008
  • “Working with Volunteers in Advisory Councils”, National MS Society national
    conference, Dallas,11/2007
  • “Living with MS” – motivational speech at the Hispanic Family Living with MS Day, New
    York City, 09/2007
  • “Engaging communities to reach culturally diverse communities”, National MS Society
    cultural competence staff training, 08/2007
  • “Reaching Hispanics/Latinos with MS”, National MS Society cultural competence staff
    training, 08/2006

    Interviews:
About the author
Hablemos de esclerosis multiple
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