American Academy of Neurology Recognizes Billy McLaughlin

This week the American Academy of Neurology will be in Toronto for its annual meeting. This meeting provides a wonderful opportunity for the DMRF to meet with the leading movement disorder specialists; reach general neurologists to raise their awareness of dystonia and the resource they have in the DMRF; and to work with other dystonia patient organizations in promoting the Career Development and Pilot Project grants of the Dystonia Coalition.

This year’s meeting has an added significance in that the Academy will be recognizing Billy McLaughlin with their 2010 Public Leadership Award. Billy, appointed DMRF Awareness Ambassador in 2008, will join Julie Andrews, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Leeza Gibbons, Leon Fleischer and others in being recognized by the AAN for the good works they have done in raising awareness of neurological disorders.

For those of you who have been lucky enough to meet Billy, you know how special this man is. His talents are enormous and his courage so inspiring. He is the subject of a documentary film that tells the story of his dystonia diagnosis and his brave decision to learn to play the guitar with his other hand! His comeback is truly remarkable. Billy is dedicated to raising dystonia awareness and to letting people know they are not alone in this battle. We are proud to work with him.

We salute Billy for this impressive honor and will be cheering loudly as he receives this well deserved recognition. Congratulations Billy! Way to go!!!

In the next few weeks we will have more news about Billy and how you will be able to view, Changing Keys, Billy McLaughlin and the Mysteries of Dystonia on your local PBS television station.