Team Gleason Foundation

Helping deliver leading edge equipment, services and technology, the Team Gleason Foundation provides ALS patients with the tools to allow people living with ALS to communicate, interact, and live with purpose. Technology and equipment have advanced over the past decade but these services can be taken even further. The Foundation works with creative companies to develop voice creation and hands-free software and technology.The Foundation maintains contact with ALS families receiving specialized equipment and recycles the equipment to new patients when the equipment is no longer needed. In 2022, the approximate value of such equipment repurposed was $1,800,000. In addition, Voice Banking technology was provided to 970 patients valued at $1,550,000 and seat elevators were provided to 1,250 patients.Team Gleason was voted "Best Non-profit" in Gambit's 2022 Best of New Orleans issue.Team Gleason partnered with Synchron, an endovascular brain computer interface company, to provide patient-focused feedback on their platform to transform daily life for patients with physical and speech disabilities like ALS, muscular dystrophy, and cerebral palsy. Through Team Gleason's community of ALS patients, caregivers, clinicians and technology specialists, provided Synchron access to user research, including feedback on the Stentrode Systems current overall design for patients and caregivers.Team Gleason teamed up with Comcast to drive inclusive innovation to improve the independence and quality of life for people with physical and speech disabilities, including those living with ALS. Together, Comcast and Team Gleason are actively engaged with people with ALS (pALS) and caregivers, as well as preeminent clinicians, technologists and assistive technology partners to define and develop accessible, empowering experiences from TV control to smart home solutions and beyond.Innovation through Collaboration Accessibility Roundtable - Team Gleason hosted the Innovation through Collaboration Accessibility Roundtable to accelerate the development of quality of life improving technologies for people living with ALS by catalyzing collaborations between great people and great companies. Industry attendence included Google, Microsoft, Comcast, and Amazon.Team Gleason held a major presence at the ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) 2022 Conference hosted in New Orleans where there was a recreation of the Team Gleason Assistive Technology Lab. Steve and Michel Gleason were also awarded the prestigious Annie Glenn Award at the conference for the positive impact that Team Gleason has had on the lives of people with communication disorders.