the transverse myelitis association

The Transverse Myelitis Association (TMA) is a not-for-profit international foundation dedicated to the support of children, adolescents, and adults with a spectrum of rare neuro-immune disorders including: Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM), Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD), Optic Neuritis (ON) and Transverse Myelitis (TM), including Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM). Founded in 1994 by family members and persons with these diagnoses, The TMA was incorporated on November 25, 1996 in the state of Washington and we became a 501(c)(3) organization on December 9, 1996. Membership of The TMA includes individuals with these rare disorders, their family members and caregivers, and the medical professionals who treat individuals with these disorders. The TMA currently has approximately 10,000 members from more than 80 different countries and has a large number of support groups across the United States and around the world. There are no membership fees. Our goal is to advance a comprehensive network dedicated to the care of our members through the development of professionals specializing in these rare disorders, centers of excellence focused on these disorders around the world, and our international community support system. Additionally, we are focused on strategic research priorities with our Board of Directors and Scientific Council to further the understanding of the causes of TM, ADEM, ON and NMOSD, and to develop new acute and regenerative therapies.