Disability Fact Sheet
Resources updated, March 2021

“Alone we are rare.
Together we are strong.”

Slogan of Rare Disease Day
—February 29, 2012.

Roughly 7,000 rare diseases/disorders have been identified as affecting the human race. Because they are rare, it can be a real challenge for a person to be accurately diagnosed. Finding effective treatments, especially medicine, can also be a challenge—and for the same reason. Rareness.

If you have a rare disease, know someone who does, or work with people who might, here’s a core of resources we hope are helpful.

• Organizations addressing rare disorders (Keep scrolling)
• Genetics and genetic disorders
• The Human Genome project
• Laws you may not have heard of
• Orphan drugs
• The undiagnosed condition

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Organizations Addressing Rare Disorders

NORD, the National Organization for Rare Disorders, at:
http://www.rarediseases.org

Office of Rare Disorders at the National Institutes of Health, at:
http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/

 Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD)
http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/

DiseaseInfoSearch, for information on specific genetic conditions, at:
http://www.diseaseinfosearch.org/

Global Genes, a rare disease patient advocacy organization at:
https://globalgenes.org/

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Genetics and Genetic Disorders

Three from the Genetic Alliance. If genetics or genetic disorders interest you, check out these three resources from the Genetic Alliance.

Understanding Genetics | Cómo entender la genética
begins with a basic introduction to genetics concepts, followed by detailed information on topics such as diagnosis of genetic conditions, family history, newborn screening, genetic counseling, understanding patient stories, and ethical, legal, and social issues in genetics.  Available in English and Spanish.
http://www.geneticalliance.org/publications/understandinggenetics

Making Sense of Your Genes: A Guide to Genetic Counseling | Para Entender Sus Genes: Una Guía al Asesoramiento Genético
includes general information about genetic counseling, tips on how to prepare for an appointment, and details about different specialties in the field. Available in English and Spanish.
http://www.geneticalliance.org/publications/guidetogeneticcounseling

Students Living With a Genetic Condition: A Guide for Parents
 You know how to identify and manage symptoms at home, and it may be scary to have someone else manage your child’s medical care in your absence. This guide provides information that may be helpful when writing a letter or when preparing to meet with your student’s teacher, school nurse, and physical education teacher or coach. This may also be a useful resource for bus drivers, babysitters, church leaders, or any other potential caregiver.
http://www.geneticalliance.org/sites/default/files/publicationsarchive/attending_with_genetic.pdf

Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms.
(Available in English and Spanish) | The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) created the Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms to help everyone understand the terms and concepts used in genetic research. In addition to definitions, specialists in the field of genetics share their descriptions of terms, and many terms include images, animation, and links to related terms. The glossary is also available in Spanish at the link below.
https://www.genome.gov/glossary/

For Patients and Families.
Genetic diseases impact not only patients but their whole families. These resources will help you understand genetic diseases, learn more about specific diseases, find health FAQs, and understand the importance of knowing your family health history.
https://www.genome.gov/health/For-Patients-and-Families

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The Human Genome Project

This is one of the most fascinating scientific and research odysseys you’ll ever resemble!

All about the Human Genome Project
https://www.genome.gov/human-genome-project

What’s going on now.
Visit the National Human Genome Research Institute and see.
http://www.genome.gov/

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Laws You May Not Have Heard of

GINA–the law against genetic discrimination.
With genetic testing becoming increasingly pervasive in medical care and our daily lives, three of the most prominent organizations in genetics (the Genetics and Public Policy Center at Johns Hopkins University, the National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics, and Genetic Alliance) have teamed up to produce educational materials about the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), a landmark federal law that protects individuals from the misuse of genetic information in health insurance and employment. Start in at:
http://www.ginahelp.org/

U.S. Orphan Drug Act.
Recognizing that adequate drugs for rare disorders had not been developed in the U.S., and that drug companies would actually incur a financial loss in developing drugs for rare conditions, the U.S. Congress in 1983 passed the Orphan Drug Act. The Orphan Drug Act offers incentives to induce companies to develop drugs (and other medical products) for the small markets of individuals with rare disorders (in the U.S., 47% of rare disorders affect fewer than 25,000 people). Read more at:
http://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/DevelopingProductsforRareDiseasesConditions/default.htm

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Orphan Drugs

The term “orphan drug” refers to a product that treats a rare disease affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans. The Orphan Drug Act was signed into law on January 4, 1983. Since the Orphan Drug Act passed, over 100 orphan drugs and biological products have been brought to market. (Stanford University, n.d.)

The resources below will help you learn more about orphan drugs—those that have been developed and those currently under development.

Developing Orphan Products.
From the FDA, for consumers.
https://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm107293.htm

The Office of Orphan Products Development.
Where it’s happening!
https://www.fda.gov/industry/developing-products-rare-diseases-conditions

Search the Orphan Drug Products Grant Program.
What’s happening? What’s happened?
https://www.fda.gov/industry/developing-products-rare-diseases-conditions/orphan-products-grants-program

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The Undiagnosed Condition

Learning about an undiagnosed condition in a child.
https://www.genome.gov/FAQ/Learning-About-an-Undiagnosed-Condition-in-a-Child

Tips for those with an undiagnosed condition.
https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/gard/pages/24/tips-for-the-undiagnosed

Mystery Diagnosis | The TV Series.
Heard of this TV show? It frequently deals with rare diseases or disorders that have gone undiagnosed for years. Each episode tells a different person’s story—you hear from the person, the medical staff, and the person’s family. For overviews of the show’s various episodes and the diseases it has highlighted, visit OWN here. Maybe your rare disorder is one of them! To watch an episode, visit the YouTube link below.
https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/mysterydiagnosis

Rare disorders.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/rare?_ga=1.132696843.466245087.1400530759

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