TORONTO, November 21, 2025 — The 2025 Allied Professionals Forum (APF) brings together more than 300 healthcare professionals from around the world, including physiotherapists, respiratory therapists, nutritionists, speech-language pathologists, social workers, and other specialists working in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) care.
As part of the Forum, the Day in the Life with ALS Suite will offer an immersive experience, showing how the use of assistive technologies and adaptive solutions can enhance quality of life for people living with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, or motor neuron disease (MND).
Hosted by the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations in collaboration with the ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada) and the ALS Association (U.S.), the Day in the Life Suite provides allied health professionals with the opportunity to explore, test, and learn about practical tools that promote accessibility, communication, and independence for people living with the terminal disease.
Featured technologies include:
- Eye-controlled communication and mobility systems
- Smart home integrations that support safety and autonomy
- Adaptive utensils and mechanical eating assistants
- Virtual reality gaming system providing access to recreation and connection
- Assistive tools and next-generation mobility aids
- Intimacy aids
Participants will have the opportunity to interact directly with these technologies and discuss their real-world applications with occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and assistive technology experts.
“Allied health professionals play a critical role in supporting people living with ALS,” said Kim Barry, Vice-President of Community Services at ALS Canada. “By introducing them to the latest assistive technologies, we provide an opportunity for professionals to see and try the tools that may help their clients maintain independence, manage daily challenges, and improve quality of life. These innovations make a real difference, easing care, enhancing communication, and helping people live as fully as possible despite the disease.”
“The International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations is a global network of ALS/MND associations that helps its members thrive through the curation and creation of information and by acting as a global gateway through which the whole community can connect,” said Cathy Cummings, CEO of the Alliance. “Our mission in terms of making a difference is beautifully encapsulated by Bernice You, a person living with ALS/MND and former member of the Alliance’s Patient and Carers Advisory Council (PCAC), who wrote that “To live is not just to have my physical needs met and to be able to breathe. It is the other way around…I need to be able to love, to have belonging, esteem, and to be able to contribute and feel a sense of actualization. That is quality of life for me.”
A media preview will take place on December 1, offering journalists an opportunity to tour the suite, view demonstrations, and speak with experts about how innovation is advancing ALS care and accessibility.
Event Details
What:Day in the Life with ALS – Immersive technology experience
When: December 1, 2025, 12:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m.
Where: Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel, 801 Dixon Road, Toronto, ON, M9W 1J4
Who: Kim Barry, Vice-President of Community Services, ALS Canada
Jarnail Chudge, Innovation and Technology Lead, International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations
RSVP:media@als.ca
The Day in the Life with ALS Suite highlights the collaboration between healthcare professionals, researchers, people with lived experience, and technology innovators dedicated to improving daily living and independence for people affected by ALS/MND.
About ALS and the ALS Society of Canada
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an unrelenting and currently terminal disease. It progressively paralyzes people because the brain is no longer able to communicate with the muscles of the body that we are typically able to move at will. Over time, as the muscles of the body break down, someone living with ALS will lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, swallow, and eventually breathe. Nearly 4,000 Canadians live with ALS and approximately 1,000 Canadians are diagnosed each year. Four out of five people living with ALS will die within two to five years of their diagnosis.
The ALS Society of Canada is working to change what it means to live with ALS. Grounded in and informed by the Canadian ALS community, we respond to the urgent unmet need for life-changing treatments by investing in high-quality research that will fuel scientific discovery and by engaging industry, supporting increased clinical capacity, and advocating for equitable, affordable, and timely access to proven therapies.
Responding to the tremendous need for current and credible ALS knowledge, awareness, and education, we empower Canadians affected by ALS to navigate the current realities of ALS, be informed consumers of ALS information, and advocate effectively for change. In Ontario, we provide direct community services to help people navigate ALS.
Founded in 1977, ALS Canada is a registered charity whose work is powered by generous donors who share our vision of a world free of ALS.
About the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations
The International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations unites organizations around the world that support people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or motor neuron disease (MND). Through collaboration, the Alliance enables global awareness, knowledge sharing, and advocacy to improve quality of life and advance the search for effective treatments. Founded in 1992, the Alliance now represents more than 70 member organizations in approximately 40 countries, connecting people living with ALS/MND, caregivers, researchers, and healthcare professionals. Together, we drive initiatives that amplify the voices of those affected by ALS/MND, promote equitable access to care, and accelerate progress toward a world free of ALS/MND.
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Join the conversation and connect with the ALS community online. Find ALS Canada on X, Instagram, or like our page on Facebook. Visit als.ca to find out more.
For more information
ALS Society of Canada
media@als.ca
437-703-5402