50 msfocusmagazine.org Medicine & Research MS Research and Advocacy: The Power of Participation By Mykal J. Leslie When I was a child, my mother worked a variety of part-time jobs; she rarely stayed at one job for very long. That is, until a friend offered her a position as caretaker for their relative who had MS. It was the first time I had ever seen my mother experience joywith work, and I could tell from how she discussed her job that it brought her a deep sense of purpose. It was the first time I could remember seeing my mother truly excited to go to work. My mother and the person she cared for became close friends. Their relationship not onlyhadanimmenseeffectonmymother’slife, but also on mine. It was my first opportunity to learn about multiple sclerosis, its effects, and the diverse needs of individuals with MS. It also taught me the value of purpose-driven work and how drastically a person’s life can be altered by having an existential connection to his or her job. Undoubtedly, my mother’s interactions with this individual had a lasting effect on her, but my mother’s experience also sparked a passion in me for which I am eternally grateful. In hindsight, it is no surprise that I decided to become a rehabilitation counselor – a profession dedicated to serving individuals with disabilities, with a focus on reducing environmental barriers to employment and inclusion. So, when the opportunity arose to join a research team working on a grant pertaining to the employment concerns of individuals with MS, it felt like a divine connection. Not only was it an opportunity for me to give back to someone who had such a profound effect on my family, it was also a chance for me to actively look at barriers that were obstructing access to a fulfilling vocational experience. I had yet to make the connection at the time, but I learned the key to discovering my own meaningful experience with employment was in helping to identify and remove barriers keeping people from a gratifying work experience. Luckily, our research team had several decades of experience in researching employment concerns for those with MS. We knew that the best way to start this research project was to talk to people with MS. Because of our research topic, we were able to end the study by checking in with the same people we spoke to during the start of the project. These people were essential in helping to interpret our research findings. This collaboration was important to us, because our research team was able to effectively serve and advocate for those with MS because we knew we were representing their best interests. Also, within our role as researchers, there exists the unique opportunity to serve as an activist who helps bring about needed changes in the lives of the target constituency group.