Recognizing May 2026, as Myositis Awareness Month in the State of New York

Assembly Resolution No. 1303

BY: M. of A. Zinerman

        RECOGNIZING  May 2026, as Myositis Awareness Month
        in the State of New York

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to  recognize  and
bring  awareness  to  serious health conditions that impact residents of
the State of New York, particularly those that are rare, underdiagnosed,
and require increased public understanding and research; and

  WHEREAS, Residents of the State of New York are among those affected
by myositis and other rare diseases, and nearly one in ten Americans are
living with a rare disease; and

  WHEREAS, Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies  (collectively  referred
to  as  myositis) are rare, chronic, autoimmune muscle wasting diseases;
myositis often  features  debilitating  muscle  inflammation  and  other
symptoms  such  as  pain,  fatigue, and trouble swallowing; myositis can
result in myositis-associated interstitial lung disease; and

  WHEREAS, More research is needed to identify the causes and modes of
treatments for the myositis group of diseases, which includes  anti-MDA5
autoantibody     positive     myositis,     antisynthetase     syndrome,
dermatomyositis, juvenile dermatomyositis,  immune-mediated  necrotizing
myopathy, inclusion body myositis, and polymyositis; and

  WHEREAS,  Myositis  is  difficult  to  diagnose,  often resulting in
delayed  treatment,  and  individuals  generally  experience  difficulty
finding a health care provider with expertise regarding their condition;
and

  WHEREAS,  All who suffer with myositis experience reduced quality of
life, especially as no cure  has  been  found  and  life  expectancy  is
shortened,  especially for those with inclusion body myositis; women and
people of color with  all  forms  of  myositis  experience  particularly
pronounced health disparities; and

  WHEREAS, The Myositis Association (TMA) is the leading international
patient  advocacy  organization serving the myositis community, focusing
on patient  services,  education,  research,  and  public  awareness  to
achieve a world without myositis; and

  WHEREAS,   The  Myositis  Association  is  organizing  a  nationwide
observance of May 2026, as Myositis Awareness Month; and

  WHEREAS, All residents of New York are encouraged to come  together,
learn more about all the forms of myositis and its symptoms, and support
the families in our community who will benefit from greater awareness of
these rare diseases; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize May 2026, as Myositis Awareness Month  in  the  State  of  New
York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Myositis Association.