People often ask me this question.  The ASAA Board of Directors has come up with a list of things you can do to make a difference where you live.  I encourage you to post additional suggestions and to let us know what you did to raise awareness about sleep apnea in your community.

1. Tell your story:
a. Let your sleep center know that you are willing to talk to individuals, groups or the media about your experience.
b. “Each one-reach one”-When you hear of someone whose story sounds like yours, tell them and urge them to seek help…family, friends, coworkers
c. Get the word out to other family members that you have been diagnosed, so they can consider their own symptoms. Sleep apnea can run in families.

2. Reach out through the medical community:
a. Make sure your primary care provider knows how much your life has changed through diagnosis and treatment of your sleep apnea. This will help remind the provider to keep looking for sleep apnea in others.
b. Offer ASAA informational flyers to your medical providers; if necessary, donate a plastic holder to display the flyers.
c. Suggest a sleep apnea booth for your next community health fair.
d. Talk to your sleep center about joining or starting an AWAKE support group. Information and materials are available through the ASAA.

3. Sleep apnea at work and in your community:
a. Offer to read My Daddy Snores at your local elementary school, after school program or camp.
b. Recommend that next month’s “Dress Down Day” contributions at your workplace go to the ASAA.
c. Distribute flyers that describe sleep apnea. With permission, these can often be placed on bulletin boards at hospitals, libraries, even grocery stores. Informational material is available through the ASAA.
d. Send informational brochures by mail or deliver to mailboxes in your community. Materials are available through the ASAA.
e. Organize a fundraiser for sleep apnea. Distribute information with those cookies or crafts. Donate proceeds to the ASAA.
f. Offer to share the “What is Sleep Apnea” educational DVD (available for purchase from the ASAA) with local groups (PTC, health fair, human resources, church, social groups).

4. Use the media and the government:    
a. Contact local health reports for your newspaper or local TV stations. They are often looking for human-interest stories, especially if they can interview a patient. Offer to tell your story.
b. Contact local paper, radio, TV stations and encourage them to run a piece on sleep apnea. Offer to be interviewed. Provide ASAA contact information to get the authoritative information to them.
c. Write a local interest story for your local paper.
d. Contact your local political representatives, especially those with health care interests and public safety. Make them aware of sleep apnea and how it fits with those interests. Encourage their support in any relevant legislation.

5.  Join the American Sleep Apnea Association!


_________________
Executive Director
American Sleep Apnea Association
6856 Eastern Avenue, NW Ste. 203
Washington, DC 20012
202-293-3650