ALS M&D is a dedicated service under the umbrella of the ALS League. One of the key reasons for its establishment in 2007 was the long waiting times patients face when dealing with government agencies. Due to administrative red tape in public institutions, people with ALS often have to wait far too long to receive essential assistive devices. As ALS is a rapidly progressing condition, these tools frequently arrive too late to truly benefit the patient.
Moreover, individuals must be registered with the relevant government agencies before their 65th birthday in order to qualify for financial support or reimbursement for assistive devices. Those diagnosed with ALS after the age of 65 are typically left to cover the full cost themselves.
ALS Mobility & Digitalk is a free lending service that provides a wide range of assistive tools — including communication aids — to people living with ALS.
Our lending service is specifically tailored to the unique needs of ALS patients, ensuring they have quick access to the right equipment when they need it most.
The core activity of ALS Mobility & Digitalk is advising patients and providing assistive devices on loan. Borrowing equipment is completely free of charge. We only ask for a refundable deposit, the amount of which depends on the type of device requested. Any person with ALS (pALS) who would like to borrow a tool simply needs to register and schedule an appointment.
Thanks to our hands-on experience and expertise, we also advocate with policymakers and government bodies for the implementation of urgent fast-track procedures for people with rapidly progressing conditions like ALS. In this mission, our close collaboration with the ALS League is essential.
Before we introduce the types of assistive devices you can borrow from ALS Mobility & Digitalk, we’d like to inform you about the latest regulations concerning these aids — organized by type. We’ll go over mobility aids, communication tools, and other assistive devices.
Mobility Aids
Since January 1, 2019, all people with ALS (pALS) who are registered with the Flemish Social Protection (Vlaamse Sociale Bescherming) are eligible to receive mobility aids — such as a walker, scooter, manual or electric wheelchair — regardless of their age.
You can find all the relevant information on this page of the Flemish Social Protection website.
Thanks to the new “VSB Renting SDA” regulation, you can quickly access the mobility aid you need. As your condition evolves, you can also easily exchange the device for a more advanced one. Borrowing a mobility aid through the VSB Renting SDA system is completely free of charge.
To use this system, you must be registered with a care fund (zorgkas) by paying an annual care contribution. For residents of Flanders, paying this contribution is mandatory starting at the age of 25. Residents of Brussels can join a care fund voluntarily. If you register before the end of 2022, there is no waiting period for access to mobility aids — if you register later, a waiting period applies.
Find out what applies if you live in Brussels.
There is no age limit for mobility aids — every person with ALS (pALS) who is registered with a care fund can benefit. Additionally, during transitional phases, you are allowed to borrow both a manual and an electric wheelchair at the same time.
For a rollator or manual wheelchair, a prescription from a neurologist is sufficient. For more advanced aids such as an electric wheelchair or scooter, you will need a wheelchair assessment report (RAR) from a specialized wheelchair advisory team (GRAT).
This team will work with you to determine which mobility aid best suits your needs. Be sure to contact your Neuromuscular Reference Center (NMRC) in time to check whether they have a GRAT. This helps prevent unnecessary delays in your application and avoids social isolation.
With either the neurologist’s prescription or the wheelchair assessment report (RAR), you can visit a mobility aid supplier recognized by the Flemish Social Protection (VSB).
The supplier will recommend a device that suits your needs. If you are eligible for an electric wheelchair or scooter, the supplier must offer you the opportunity to test and choose the model. Maintenance, adjustments, and repairs of the device are all free of charge.
When preparing your application, it’s essential to highlight the rapidly degenerative nature of your condition (SDA). If you experience any issues with your application, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re happy to assist you.
Still have questions? Feel free to reach out — we’re here to help!
Communication Aids
If you are experiencing early or advanced speech difficulties, it’s important to look for a suitable communication aid in time. Don’t wait until your speech is nearly gone to take action.
Since January 1, 2019, the Flemish Agency for Persons with Disabilities (VAPH) has used a similar ‘SDA renting’ system to provide communication aids, computer access devices, and environmental control systems to people with ALS who are eligible for VAPH support. This allows you to receive the appropriate aid quickly and free of charge, and swap it for another if your needs change as the disease progresses.
Important: This system only applies to people diagnosed and recognized by VAPH before the age of 65 who live in Flanders or Brussels.
If your ALS diagnosis occurs after age 65, you can rely on ALS M&D’s communication aids.
If you qualify through VAPH, your first step is to consult your NMRC. Their specialized multidisciplinary team will prepare a recommendation report detailing the aids that suit your needs. They will send this report to the VAPH. If all conditions are met, you’ll be recognized as a person with a disability and the aids will be approved without further investigation.
If you’re not eligible for VAPH support, ALS M&D is here to help. We’ll work with you to find the most suitable aid for your situation.
If you’re not yet a member of the ALS League, please register for free via our website and contact us to make an appointment at our Leuven office. During this appointment, we’ll carry out a brief assessment to determine which device fits you best. Some simple devices can be tested on-site and, if available and suitable, you can take them home immediately.
For more complex communication needs, a specialized service will conduct a home visit for further evaluation. We’ll then assess whether we can meet those needs with one of our devices. A deposit is required for any device (see the list of communication aids at the bottom of this section), but the device itself is free of charge. Please note that any installation costs must be covered by you.
As your needs change over time, you can contact us again to adjust the setup. This ensures that you always have access to the most effective communication tool.
When you no longer need the device, please return it to our Leuven office as soon as possible (by appointment) so that we can help other individuals in need.
Terms & Conditions for Borrowing Aids
ALS M&D’s primary mission is to advise patients and loan out aids. Borrowing a device is completely free of charge. We only request a deposit, and travel costs will be charged if we need to deliver the device.
If you would like to borrow an aid, simply register and book an appointment.
All devices are provided in good working condition, cleaned and disinfected. Of course, we expect them to be returned in the same condition. Disinfection after return is at our expense, but unfortunately, some aids are returned unclean. We kindly ask family and friends of pALS to make sure the devices are cleaned before returning them. If not, we may deduct the cleaning costs from the deposit.
We also want to point out that aids are not always returned in a timely manner — sometimes long after the patient no longer needs or uses them, or even after their passing. This is not fair to other patients who may be waiting, and it creates logistical problems for us. We take this into account when deciding whether or not to refund the deposit in full.
A contract will be drawn up listing the borrowed items and the deposit paid. On the back, you’ll find the general terms and conditions. The borrowed items remain the property of ALS M&D, and if the terms are not respected, we reserve the right to charge a rental fee or reclaim the device.
All devices borrowed from ALS M&D — regardless of the location — must be returned to our Leuven office. Only then can the deposit be refunded.
The aid you request must be picked up and returned in Leuven. If this is not possible, we can arrange transport at a cost of €0.50/km round trip from our office, with a minimum charge of €30.
If you have devices from ALS M&D that you are no longer using or that are no longer efficient, please return them to us as soon as possible so we can help other pALS.
If you have a personal device you no longer use and would like to donate it to ALS M&D, please let us know. We’ll evaluate whether we can make it available to someone who needs it.
We would also like to thank all family members and loved ones who have donated aids in the past — your generosity helps us support many others living with ALS.
Useful links:
Flemish Agency for Persons with Disabilities
Brussels Registration Point for Persons with Disabilities
RIZIV – INAMI:
www.riziv.fgov.be/homenl.htm
SMOG
more than gestures
The SMOG system (Speaking with Support and Gestures) combines speech and gestures.
The purpose of SMOG is to provide a person with communication difficulties a way to clearly express their needs.
It is a communication style that is easy to understand.
The SMOG basic vocabulary consists of approximately 570 gestures, derived from “Dutch with Signs” used by the deaf community. In English, similar systems include ASL (American Sign Language), and in French, LSF (Langue des Signes Française).
The spoken message is made visual.
By combining speech and gestures, a speaker uses simpler language structures. Moreover, gestures slow down the speaking pace. The most important words are supported both by intonation and by the gesture.
This speaking style is complemented by facial expressions and body language, as well as attention to placement, direction, and movement when performing the gestures. This gives the gestures even more content and meaning!
(http://www.s-m-o-g.be/meer-dan-gebaren/)
Use of SMOG gestures
For using SMOG gestures, it is essential that everyone around the user masters the gestures well. They serve as the model for the user and provide immediate feedback from their environment.
This system also works with concepts: one gesture can represent multiple meanings.
For example: drinking and glass = one gesture
Gestures are usually taught. For more information:
Movie about SMOG:
Additional websitse
– www.gebaerdenschrift.de
– www.delegs.com/DelegsPage/
– www.signwriting.org/germany
– http://gebaren.ugent.be/information.php
– http://www.signwriting.org/about/who/who.html#anchor632161
– Stichting Nederlands Gebarencentrum
– Wikisign: links naar Gebarentaal-woordenboeken
Core vocabulary
Do not touch
Please
Apple
Car
Bus
Ball
Banana
Afraid
Start
Happy
Book
Angry
Sandwich
Nice
Break
Bye
Tank you
Denken
Dragen
Think
First
Eat
Cook
Party
Cycling
Done
Gift
Dangerous
Give
Good
Tasty
Group
House
Hacket
Colors
Cookie
Come
Cold
Learn
Glue
Listen
Mama
Milk
Beautiful
Music
No
Nothing
Father
Pain
Talk
PUzzle
Rain
Sleep
Cany
Sneeze
Play
Stop
Later
Cake
Teeth
Phone
Television
Toilet
Gymnastics
Fall
Sad
Loose
Paint
Friend
Dirty, ugly
Waiting, patient, calm
Walk
Warm (food)
Warm (feeling)
Wash
Water
Work
Sick
See
Sit
Kiss
Stay silent
