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Oregon State Brings Awareness to Moebius Syndrome

January 1, 2015

As Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day approaches this January 24th, Oregon State University has decided to lead the charge in bringing understanding to this small, yet powerful rare disease community. 

How do you express yourself?

Your hair color, your laugh, your style, your sense of humor…

It’s important to feel as though you can express your true self to others, and there are so many unique ways to do that beyond just your facial expressions.

Individuals with Moebius Syndrome, a rare condition characterized by facial paralysis and impaired eye movement, find ways beyond the face to express themselves.

Having facial paralysis can make social interaction difficult because people are accustomed to receiving feedback from a person’s facial expressions. This can lead others to inaccurately view people with Moebius as less happy or friendly, when truly they are just expressing themselves in a different way.

Research in the Disability and Social Interaction Lab shows that education about Moebius syndrome and other types of facial paralysis creates more positive impressions. Based on these findings, our lab is running an outreach campaign for Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day, January 24.

How Can You Help Raise Awareness?

Take a photo of yourself with a sign answering the question, “how do you express yourself?” Use our template, or write your own. Post it on the Moebius Syndrome Foundation Facebook album. Challenge two of your friends to do the same by tagging them. Post on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #moebiusawareness, or email them to [email protected] to be posted.

or

If you are a member of the OSU or Corvallis community, during week 3 of winter term, visit our table in the Memorial Union Quad to learn more about Moebius Syndrome, get your photo taken with a sign stating how you express yourself, and pick up a free Moebius Syndrome awareness wristband.

also,

Wear purple, the color of Moebius Syndrome Awareness, on January 24!

Learn more about how you can get involved here.

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