AAADMJ – Associação Atlântica de Apoio aos Doentes de Machado-Joseph
Support Line
abbreviated to AAADMJ, is a Private Social Solidarity Institution (IPSS).
The idea of setting up a social centre for Machado-Joseph patients to break the isolation to which they were subjected as a result of the disease came about in 1996, during an informal conversation between Mr Luís Faria, who had DMJ, and a multidisciplinary team from the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital in Ponta Delgada, made up of a psychologist (Dr Carlos Gonzalez), a neurologist (Dr Jorge Santos) and a social worker (Dr Ana Isabel Peixoto).
After a few exchanges of ideas between people directly involved with the disease, the creation of an Association of Machado-Joseph Patients was proposed, and the necessary steps were then taken to formalise it. Following a request for registration in the National Register of Legal Persons, we learnt of the existence of an association with the same name on the island of Terceira. It was then suggested by Dr Jorge Santos that this new association be called the Associação Atlântica de Apoio aos Doentes de Machado-Joseph (AAADMJ).
On 5 August 1996, the Associação Atlântica de Apoio aos Doentes de Machado-Joseph was set up, with Luís Faria as its founder. In March 1997, through elections, Maria da Conceição Gomes, proposed by Luís Faria, became President of the Association.