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MDI offers short-term counselling for individuals and family members, with a panel of accredited, Garda vetted counsellors and therapists supporting children, adolescents, and adults. The service includes talk-based counselling and psychotherapy, play therapy for younger members, and creative arts therapies for those who find it difficult to put thoughts and feelings into words. Sessions are generally delivered online or by phone, so support is accessible no matter where you live.

The European Commission has granted marketing authorisation for Itvisma (intrathecal formulation of onasemnogene abeparvovec, developed by Novartis) for the treatment of adults and children aged 2 years and older living with 5q spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The European Commission’s decision follows the positive opinion adopted by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) in April 2026. 

Every July, the world comes together to celebrate Disability Pride Month, a time to honour the lives, experiences, and identities of disabled people. While it may not be as widely known as other awareness months, Disability Pride Month has been growing in significance since it began with the first Disability Pride Parade in the UK and Ireland held in Belfast in 2014.

MDI is proud to support the Neurological Alliance of Ireland’s (NAI) Pre-Budget 2027 Submission, which was launched on 24 June.

Each year, Muscular Dystrophy Ireland runs family weekends at Barretstown — and there are few better ways to capture what they mean than through the eyes of the families who attend. This May, Sam and his family joined us for their very first weekend, and his mum, Ciara shared a beautiful video of their few days away. With her kind permission, we're delighted to share their story.

Both of our recent national webinars for school staff are now available to watch online. Run in partnership with Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI), the two-part series was created to help primary and post-primary educators better understand, welcome and support students living with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions. Whether you missed the live sessions or would like to revisit them, you can now watch both recordings in full.

We've had the pleasure of going to Barrettstown twice now with MDI and it's been such a great experience. For Tommy and Grace, going somewhere that's so child and family-centred and completely accessible is really joyful. The activities are so engaging and fun. They loved trying archery and horse riding, but I think kayaking was a real highlight for them.

It is now one year since Givinostat was approved by the European Medicines Agency, yet Irish boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy are still waiting for access to this life-changing treatment. We are asking you to email your local TDs and senators to urge their support to secure urgent access to Givinostat.