The National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is a not-for-profit federation of voluntary health organizations dedicated to helping people with rare orphan diseases and assisting the organizations that serve them. Established in 1983, NORD is committed to the identification, treatment, and cure of rare disorders through programs of education, advocacy, research, and service. Through its Rare Disease Database, NORD provides reports in understandable, layperson's terminology on more than 1,200 rare disorders. Through its Organizational Database, it provides referrals to more than 2,000 nonprofit organizations and government agencies that help patients and families affected by rare diseases. In addition to patient education, NORD provides educational materials for medical professionals, including a series of free booklets for physicians. It administers medication assistance programs and research grants and fellowships, and it provides advocacy on legislative matters of interest to the rare disease community. NORD is the national sponsor in the U.S. for Global Rare Disease Day, which is observed around the world every year on the last day of February.

NORD hosts periodic conferences for patients and patient support groups.

NORD was established in 1983 by patients and families who worked together to get the Orphan Drug Act passed. This legislation provides financial incentives to encourage development of new treatments for rare diseases.