• How about more reporting on local MDA events?
• Why does Quest have so many ads for expensive products?
• Why don't you write more about my disease?
• Why not make Quest and the MDA/ALS Newsmagazine available free to people with muscular dystrophy, or sell it in more places?
• What is Quest Extra?
• Can you give us more stories about real people who are dealing with neuromuscular diseases in real life?
• How can I request permission to link to an MDA publication, reprint MDA material or obtain a photograph?
• How can I send a letter to the editor?

---

How about more reporting on local MDA events?

Because Quest is national in scope, and because hundreds of MDA events are held each year in communities across the country, we simply don’t have the space to mention them. Check with your local MDA office to be sure you’re receiving your local newsletter or other mailings for announcements of events in your area.

Back to top

Why does Quest have so many ads for expensive products?

Many readers tell us they find the ads in Quest informative. They show products you may need and tell you where to get more information. They touch on many of the key areas in living with neuromuscular diseases — mobility, transportation, communication, bathroom convenience and accessibility, respiration, travel, sleep, transfers and much more.

Of course, the primary reason for ads is economic. Magazines sell ad space, and the income from advertisers helps pay for printing and mailing. Since 1995, ads in Quest have brought in more than $2.7 million for MDA, which helps us to produce Quest and deliver it to you.

When you do contact a Quest advertiser, please be sure to say you saw the ad in Quest. That kind of feedback encourages those companies to invest more in our magazine.

Back to top

Why don’t you write more about my disease?

With more than 40 diseases in MDA’s program, and only four issues of Quest per year, you can see that it’s logistically impossible to do a major feature on each disease very often. Our larger articles on research and medical topics usually are chosen because there’s a significant new development in a disease, or because new insights apply to more than one disease.

Every issue of Quest reports new findings in “Research Updates,” so be sure to look over that department for mentions of the disorder that interests you. If you haven’t seen a “Research Updates” item about your disease in a while, that’s because the scientists haven’t reported anything new — yet. When they do, you’ll read about it in Quest or the MDA/ALS Newsmagazine.

To get information about research developments even sooner, visit our Quest News or ALSN News websites.

Back to top

Why not make Quest available at no cost to people with muscular dystrophy, or sell it in more places?

Quest magazine is absolutely free to everyone who’s registered with MDA. If you aren’t getting your copy by mail, notify your local office. They’re responsible for getting correct, updated address information to us.

We don’t place the magazine on newsstands because the subject matter is specialized and wouldn’t appeal to a mass audience; however, both the magazine is available at your local MDA office and your MDA clinic. If you don’t see it there, ask.

Back issues of Quest — as well as MDA/ALS Newsmagazine — are available online. (The MDA/ALS Newsmagazine is no longer available in print and is now an online only publication.)

The lovely thing about a magazine is that you can hold onto it for as long as you wish. If a story doesn’t apply to your situation now, you may still want to read it later. Or you can flag articles that you’d like to reread, or ads for products that may be needed in the future.

Quest is free to those with any of the neuromuscular diseases in MDA’s program. Subscriptions are $15 per year for others, $24 per year outside the United States. Multiyear subscriptions are available at a discount. Check out the subscription page to place an order today!

Back to top

What is Quest Extra?

It’s a feature we started in 2005 to present stories that didn’t fit in the limited space of Quest's print version. Instead of omitting them, we put them online — giving you an extra serving of Quest. Past issues — all still online — have featured e-books, publishing your life story, IEP preparations and more.

If you don’t have access to the Internet, but you’d like to read a Quest Extra story, you can ask at your local MDA office for someone to print it out and send it to you. You can also send an email to publications@mdausa.org or call the Publications Department at (520) 529-2000, and ask for a print out.

Back to top

Can you give us more stories about real people who are dealing with neuromuscular diseases in real life?

We write about “real people” as much as possible. Quest usually looks for those whose stories are a little different or special. And when we write about subject areas such as parenting or job hunting, we interview people who’ve had experiences in those areas.

Of course, the “real people” question works both ways. Reading about someone else’s coping strategies may inspire you; by the same token, your experiences can inform other readers.

Be sure to visit Quest online and the MDA/ALS Newsmagazine for regular features and profiles about people living with neuromuscular disease.

You’re a real person. Let’s hear from you.

Back to top

How can I request permission to link to an MDA publication, reprint MDA material or obtain a photograph?

All MDA published material is copyrighted and may not be reproduced, published, transmitted or submitted in whole or in part without the prior written consent of MDA.

To request permission to reproduce something from an MDA publication, please send a letter that includes your daytime phone number, email address, if available, and a brief explanation of the intended use of the requested material to:

Publications Department
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Attn: Permissions
3300 E. Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ 85718-3299

If you prefer, you can email your request to publications@mdausa.org.

Back to top

How can I send a letter to the editor?

For letters to the editor of Quest, please send your letter to:

MDA Mailbag
Quest
Muscular Dystrophy Association
3300 E. Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ 85718-3299

For letters to the editor of MDA/ALS Newsmagazine, please send your letter to:
Editor
MDA/ALS Newsmagazine
3300 E. Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ 85718-3299

Letters must be signed and contain a daytime phone number or email address, city and state, and be no more than 250 words long. Letters may be edited for space.

If you prefer, you can email your letter to the editor to publications@mdausa.org. Please be sure to indicate which publication you’re addressing (Quest or ALSN), and include your full name, city and a telephone number.

Back to top