New Website Promotes Rare Disease Patient Networking

WASHINGTON, May 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To better serve the nearly 30 million Americans who have rare diseases,

The new site, at www.rarediseases.org,

• rare disease patient organizations
• newly diagnosed patients and their families
• medical researchers developing diagnostics and treatments for rare diseases
• medical professionals
• teachers, social workers, and others assisting patients and their families
• the international rare disease community

NORD's web redesign will be a phased process, with many new features present at this time and others planned for the future.  New features launched at this time include:

• a Legislative Action Center with up-to-the-minute information on the status of NORD's current advocacy priorities and how to get involved
• a resource center for those wishing to start a new patient organization or grow an existing one
• free overviews of rare diseases in patient-friendly language with links to patient organizations for more in-depth information
• global networking opportunities through NORD's partnership with the European Organization for Rare Diseases
• news tailored to the specific interests of patients, patient organizations, medical professionals, researchers, and industry

Established in 1983, NORD is a nonprofit organization that represents all Americans affected by rare diseases.  Any disease affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans is considered rare in the U.S.

SOURCE National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)