Welcome to the International Disability Coalition website.

Who are we?

The International Disability Coalition is a non profit^*, volunteer organization that helps disabled people. Our main focus is raising funds to further research into spinal cord injury, specifically Transverse Myelitis. However, we also help disabled people and their families by teaming those people with volunteers, sponsors, donations of medical equipment and other services. It is our firm belief that there is strength in numbers. Working together, we can change the lives of people with disabilities. We hope that you will join us. Your gift of money or service will not be wasted; it can make a tremendous difference to those families affected by disabilities. Your contribution will not only help support these goals today, but will also give us hope for the challenges of tomorrow. We need your help. Join us now.

What is Transverse Myelitis?

Transverse Myelitis is an inflammation and demyelination of a portion of the spinal cord. It causes loss of function and sensation on one or both sides of the body, from the affected area of the spinal cord down. At best, an affected patient may experience pain and numbness in some extremities, in severe cases it causes permanent loss of feeling and function. In some cases it is fatal. While there are many theories, there is no known cause for TM and it affects people equally across genders, races, geographical and socio-economic levels. In the US alone there are approximately 34,000 people affected by TM. Because TM causes injury to the spinal cord, treatments and therapies are limited. About 1/3 of people affected will make an almost full recovery, 1/3 will recover some of feeling and function but retain some level of permanent disability. For the final 1/3, TM may be fatal, or leave them with serious, permanent paralysis.

It is important for us to raise awareness and understanding of TM both for patients that are given this unusual diagnosis, who need help, information and support, but also for doctors who may misdiagnose TM as multiple sclerosis, fibromialgia, or other neurological or psychological ailments that would delay a patients proper treatment and chances for a better recovery. There is much promising medical research for improved treatment and cure currently underway at John Hopkins Transverse Myelopathy Center in Baltimore and at the Mellen Center at the Cleveland Clinic; as well as several other medical research facilities. It is of utmost importance that this significant research has the funding to continue. The findings are encouraging not only to TM patients, but also patients with multiple sclerosis, head trauma and spinal cord injury.

* IDC is a non profit organization, Ohio certificate number 1329420. All monies collected by the IDC are forwarded to the Johns Hopkins Transverse Myelitis Center.