The Young Onset Parkinson’s Association (YOPA) is an organization composed entirely of people with Parkinson disease who, from its worldwide membership to its Board of Directors, volunteer to serve the young onset community without pay,.

The mission of YOPA is to serve all young onset Parkinson’s patients, particularly the recently diagnosed, by actively searching for them and providing them with empathy, information, affiliation with others like themselves, connection with the young onset community, opportunities for service to that community, and advocacy.

YOPA utilizes mass media---from brochures placed in neurologist’s offices to internet message boards and chat rooms, from radio and TV outreach to yearly symposia, , from participation in forums and fundraisers across the country to local and national Parkinson’s Unity Walks---to accomplish this mission. In addition, we are actively seeking and developing alliances with other Parkinson’s organizations and corporations to advance our mission, as well as supporting the raising of funds for research leading to a cure for Parkinson’s. Most importantly, YOPA believes the greatest resource for people with Parkinson’s is other people with Parkinson’s. It is especially helpful when information, advice, caring, and empathy come from those who have walked where the newly-diagnosed person with young onset Parkinson’s is now walking. The friendship and love shared with one another in this community is profound and life-changing