Classical Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Synonyms: Classical EDS | cEDS
A rare inherited connective tissue disorder characterized by skin hyperextensibility widened atrophic scars and generalized joint hypermobility.
Newly diagnosed with
Classical Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?
Our RARE Concierge Services Guides are available to assist you by providing information, resources and connections as you navigate your rare disease journey.
Advocacy Organizations
The Ehlers-Danlos Society
The Ehlers-Danlos Society is a global community of individuals, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and supporters, dedicated to saving and improving the lives of those affected by the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), and related conditions. We are proudly working to provide global learning conferences, collaborative research and education initiatives, awareness campaigns, advocacy, community-building, and care for the EDS and HSD population: Giving HOPE to all those whose lives are affected by EDS and HSD.
Unfixed
Unfixed produces media that elevates stories of people living with chronic illness, rare disease and disability. The Unfixed portfolio of projects demonstrates that living well is not about eradicating our wounds and weaknesses but understanding how they complete our identities and equip us to help others. Current and past productions include multiple mini-series, a podcast and feature film.
Pathways To Trust
To elevate the patient's voice to increase access to care and eliminate bias by bringing stakeholders together.
Zebra CARE Initiative
To bring Charity, Access, Research, and Education (CARE) through and beyond the rare disease, disabled, and medically complex communities for a more inclusive and accessible medical system.
Help Hope Live
Help Hope Live supports community-based fundraising for people with unmet medical expenses and related costs due to organ transplants or catastrophic injuries or illnesses. For 38 years, Help Hope Live has been showing clients and families how to bring together a network of relatives, friends, and neighbors in fundraising efforts to help cover the cost of uncovered medical expenses. These efforts play a critical role in helping our clients recover and maintain their health and independence. Since 1983, we have helped thousands of people raise millions of dollars for Help Hope Live to pay a wide range of expenses, including out-of-pocket costs for: medications, durable medical equipment, home health care, wheelchair-accessibility modifications, physical therapy, innovative treatments, medical travel and temporary relocation, even emergency living assistance. Our program has also helped thousands pay it forward and assist others with their medical expenses. Annually, we help place medical care within reach of about 5,000 families across the nation.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes New Zealand
Our Mission is to improve the wellbeing of those with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes/Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders in Aotearoa New Zealand by raising awareness, improving knowledge by health professionals and providing support to patients.
The Marfan Foundation
The Marfan Foundation is a nonprofit organization that saves lives and improves the quality of life of individuals with genetic aortic and vascular conditions including Marfan, Loeys-Dietz, and Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndromes.
Myhre Syndrome Foundation
Myhre Syndrome Foundation is a patient advocacy organization dedicated to providing hope and improving the lives of those impacted by Myhre syndrome.
Syndromes Without A Name (SWAN) Australia
Provide information, support and advocacy to families caring for a child with an undiagnosed or rare genetic condition.
Center for Chronic Illness
The Center for Chronic Illness (CCI) promotes well-being and decreases isolation for those impacted by ongoing health challenges through support and education.
Inclusive Skating
TO INCLUDE, INFORM AND INSPIRE people around the globe through the joy of skating, reflecting the compassion, respect and innovation that make ours the world’s premier inclusive organisation. Inclusive Skating is dedicated to the advancement of public participation in sport and the promotion of equality and diversity. Our primary objective is the development and implementation of programming which fosters the inclusion of skaters with any form of impairment or disability. Our ethos of inclusion extends to skaters of all ages and backgrounds; we welcome all with open arms. Values of empathy, integrity and empowerment are central to the pursuit of these goals. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the community, camaraderie, self-fulfilment, achievement, challenge, and thrill that participation in skating sports offers. We work to create these opportunities by offering activities, educational resources, events, training, and championships for our community.
Rare Disease Ghana Initiative
To improve the wellbeing and quality of life of persons living with undiagnosed and rare diseases in Ghana
Our Odyssey
Connecting young adults impacted by a rare or chronic condition with social and emotional support in the hope of improving their quality of life.
Jamal’s Helping Hands
Jamal's Helping Hands provides services for patients affected by rare disease and their families. With a vision to become a premier resource and national leader in education, outreach, advocacy, and support to individuals affected by rare disease. JHH enhances the quality of its clients lives by providing an array of services to make the experience of rare disease easier.
Patient Advocate Foundation
Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF), founded in 1996, is the nation’s leading direct patient services organization whose mission is to safeguard patients with chronic, life-threatening, and debilitating diseases through effective mediation of issues related to access to care and preservation of financial stability. Patients must be seeking help with any of the following needs related to their diagnosis: • Accessing prescribed healthcare, including understanding their healthcare benefits • Issues related to their health insurance benefits, including denials of care, out-of-pocket costs, network issues, and insurance options • Financial concerns, including cost-of-living expenses and medical expenses • Practical needs, including transportation and nutritional needs • Assistance with filing an application for disability Since its inception, PAF has provided direct, sustained patient assistance to more than 1.7 million patients and touched many more through its website and outreach events. Amongst the more common issues that patients and caregivers call PAF for help with include the inability to afford transportation expenses, inability to afford rent/mortgage, inability to afford their co-pay for medications, and inability to afford utilities and resulting shut-off notices. PAF serves patients with numerous health conditions, the majority of which have some form of cancer. Non-cancer diagnoses included rare diseases, chronic and debilitating conditions, nervous system conditions, cardiovascular conditions and vascular disease, autoimmune diseases, and diabetes. PAF solicits and receives donations to its programs from a multitude of sources including government agencies, non-profit organizations and for-profit organizations in the healthcare sector, including pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers. Patient Advocate Foundation also has several distinct programs targeting specific populations with an emphasis on the underserved.
Botswana Organisation for rare Diseases
advocate for Rare disease patients and their families
Rare Disorders Kenya
Provide a strong common voice to advocate for a rare disease health policy and a better healthcare system that works for those with rare diseases
Clinical Trials
For a list of clinical trials in this disease area, please click here.