Books & Resources

The PD Movers - We Keep Moving storybook is a compilation of narratives of African American and Black individuals and caregivers who are living and thriving with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Supported by Columbia University Irving Institute for Translational Science, the authors hope these stories will educate others by removing the mysteries and misconceptions of PD and provide useful resources regarding diagnosis and treatment to allow others to thrive with the disease.

Written by George M. Ackerman, PhD, MJFF community member and Founder of Together for Sharon, comes a two-book series of interviews with individuals worldwide that aims to raise awareness and hope for a cure for Parkinson's disease.

A book chronicling the life of Brian Hall, who has lived with Parkinson’s disease (PD) since 1976. His symptoms first appeared at 14 years old, and it took another 14 years for him to be diagnosed. After a 20 year history of taking PD medication, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery was his only option. DBS proved so successful that Brian was able to discontinue his medications for PD. He remains medication free and has been for the last 16 years. Since DBS, Brian took control of his health through diet, exercise and cycling, achieving things he never thought possible. His book details how Parkinson’s impacted his life and how he has learned to deal with his pain.

Great Speech, a leader in virtual speech therapy, offers incredible support to individuals with Parkinson’s. Through Great Speech, you can receive speech therapy from the comfort of your own home – eliminating travel. Great Speech has a team of 200+ licensed speech and language pathologists who are experienced in helping clients improve vocal cord control, reduce aspiration, and increase speech volume -- Improving communication skills for individuals with Parkinson’s. Additionally, Great Speech is in- network with numerous Medicare Advantage and commercial insurance plans. www.greatspeech.com

This is an illustrated children’s book about a grandmother with Parkinson’s disease. It is very accessible and aimed at helping kids understand what it means for them when a family member is diagnosed.

Parkinson's disease may lead to various sleep disturbances. Comfort Linen is a global online retailer of a unique friction-reducing sleep system comprised of sleepwear and a bed sheet for people living with Parkinson’s disease. Turning side to side and getting in and out of bed become smoother and easier thereby allowing a more restful sleep, often for the partner too.

People and families with Parkinson’s think about deep brain stimulation (DBS) for different reasons and at different times in their journey. In this illustrative poem book, MJFF community member and person living with Parkinson’s John Foley describes his personal journey with DBS from decision-making to daily life with the device. To learn more about John’s story, click the link to download a free copy.

Challenging Parkinson's is a site created by Team Fox member, Ned Neuhaus, to highlight the physical journey of people with Parkinson's, including himself. Forced movement exercise has been proven many times to be the best thing to help, and this is a site about staying active and continually challenging oneself and one's friends with PD to do everything in their power to slow PD’s control over them, including his personal journey with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS).

Whether the diagnosis is yours or that of a loved one, Parkinson's Disease for Dummies contains everything you need to know about living with this disease. This book is an easy-to-understand, straightforward, and sometimes humorous guide that offers proven techniques for coping with daily issues, finding the right doctors, and providing care as the disease progresses.

(John Wiley & Sons, 2022)

Together for Sharon is a movement to raise awareness and band together in search of a cure for Parkinson's disease. Started by a loving son's journey to keep the memory of his mom Sharon Riff Ackerman's memory alive, Together for Sharon helps spread awareness and educational resources for people and families impacted by the disease.