The AFM acts independently and is guided only by the interest of patients, which is why they are directly involved at different levels of the Association.

• The board of governors – decision-making authority
  The AFM is directed by a board of governors exclusively made up of patients or patients’ families, elected at the annual general meeting of members, themselves concerned by the disease.
  
  
• The delegations – regional representatives
  The delegations responsible for the activities of the AFM’s regional teams are also directly concerned by the disease.
  
  
• Working groups – bringing together experts and protagonists of the disease
  Each working group (WG) brings together researchers, physicians, patients and families around a pathology or a group of pathologies. Their objective is to identify particular “bottlenecks” and the action necessary to speed up knowledge about the therapies in the pathology concerned. The AFM wants to reassert the families’ leading role in carrying out research – a role fundamental in the close working relationship between patients and professionals.
  Five groups exist (November 2004) : Dystrophinopathies WG, Facioscapulohumeral WG, Steinert Myotonic Dystrophy WG, Motoneuron Diseases WG, and Autoimmune and Inflammatory Muscle Diseases WG.
  
  
• Thematic task forces
  Based on the developing needs of families and of the environmental context, these groups allow axes of lobbying and action plans to be drawn up. They constitute a channel through which proposals are made to the Directorate, the Presidency and the Administrators and work in close collaboration with the departments and project leaders concerned. These task forces are centred around seven themes: Housing and technical assistance, Personal assistance, Respite and accompaniment, Education, Employment, Tracheotomy, and Care and prevention.
  
  
• Interest groups – experts per disease at the disposal of families
  In order to optimise its response to patients and their families, the AFM has set up groups according to specific diseases. These groups play a major role of support and mutual assistance.