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Sunday Conversations - February 2022, Applying for Social Security Disability
- Details
- Last Updated: 28 November 2022 28 November 2022
"Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits if You Have ME/CFS or Fibromyalgia”
The presentation is also relevant to Long Covid and Chronic Lyme Disease.
Sunday, February 20, 2022, 4 p.m. ET
The Conversation discusses when and how to apply for benefits, qualification requirements, the application process, and how to medically-document your disability – as well as how to optimize your chances for approval.
An experienced disability and worker’s compensation attorney discusses the role of an attorney in the disability process and the need for legal representation at hearings. A parent of an ME/CFS patient will discuss how he assisted his daughter win her benefits.
Links for this program
Playlist
Full event video
Part 1: Applying for Disability
Part 2: Patient Experience
Part 3: An Attorney's Role
Part 4: Q&A
Your Questions Answered! (from Chat)
Featured speakers
Atty. Ron Belluso, attorney specializing in disability at Keches Law Group, and a MassME Board member. Ron has successfully represented many ME/CFS and other disabled patients through the disability process and at Administrative Hearings and is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimant’s Representatives (NOSSCR).
Ken Casanova, MassME member and Disability Counselor. Ken is the primary author of the Association’s Disability Handbook, “How to Apply for Social Security if You Have ME/CFS,” and has guided nearly 100 people through the disability process over the years. He has been the Association's president twice, and has been a social worker, community organizer, and legislative advocate.
Bob Robitaille, MassME member and volunteer. Bob assisted his daughter win her Disability benefits and now provides guidance to others as a member of our Patient Services team.
Moderator: Karin Dove, MassME Patient Services Volunteer
In Memoriam - Ronald G. Tompkins
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- Last Updated: 03 February 2022 03 February 2022
It is with great sadness that we learned of the sudden passing of Ron Tompkins, MD, ScD. The Massachusetts ME/CFS & FM Association was fortunate to be able to collaborate on a number of projects with Ron, and he was always extraordinarily generous with advice and guidance. The Massachusetts ME/CFS community has lost a strong ally and a good friend.
Read more: In Memoriam - Ronald G. Tompkins
Sunday Conversations with MassME
- Details
- Last Updated: 01 February 2023 01 February 2023
A monthly speaker series
3rd Sunday of each month at 4 p.m. ET
Free and open to everyone
“Sunday Conversations with MassME” is a monthly speaker series with discussion on a wide variety of topics. These sessions are appropriate for patients, family members/caregivers, and health care professionals. Sunday Conversations take place via Zoom on the 3rd Sunday of each month at 4 p.m. ET, and are free and open to anyone. Presentations are recorded for later viewing. Registration is required.
Sunday Conversation for February:
Pacing for PEM: An OT and PT perspective on what it is and how you can use pacing strategies in your daily life
Sunday, February 19, 2023, 4 p.m. EST
Amy Mooney, MS OTR/L, presents an occupational therapist's perspective of pacing for PEM. Amy will describe the essential strategies of pacing for PEM and create a framework to analyze activity and tasks within the limitations of PEM. Offering the physical therapist perspective, Melinda Maxwell and Sallie Rediske will discuss physiological biofeedback strategies of pacing. This OT/PT team will offer examples of how the pacing for PEM framework can support pwME and Long COVID as they engage in redefined meaningful and purposeful activities of daily living.
Register for the February 19 Sunday Conversations
Links to recordings, slides, and other resources from past events:
"Selected readings from The Long Haul, with Ryan Prior and Cynthia Adinig" January 22, 2023.
"Coping During the Holidays with ME/CFS, Long COVID, and Related Chronic Illness" November 20, 2022. This was a small group conversation event and was not recorded.
There was no Sunday Converstion in October. At our Annual Meeting on October 22, Dr. Anthony Komaroff presented "MECFS and Long COVID: Emerging Similarities and Why it Matters". For full coverage of the meeting, visit our Youtube playlist.
"How Those Living with Long Covid and ME/CFS can Enhance Their Quality of Life by Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine Into Their Healthcare Plan" September 18, 2022
Sunday Conversations: Special Edition - August 21, 2022 Small group conversations about a variety of topics. This program was not recorded.
"A whole-person health approach to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – Lessons for Post-COVID conditions." June 19, 2022
"Fibromyalgia" May 15, 2022
"Working with Your Healthcare Provider" April 24, 2022
"A Functional Medicine Approach to Complex Chronic Illnesses" March 20, 2022
"Applying for Social Security Disability if you have ME/CFS or Fibromyalgia" February 20 2022
"Physical and Occupational Therapy for ME/CFS and Similar Chronic Illnesses" January 16, 2022
More Articles ...
Notice about names
The Massachusetts ME/CFS & FM Association would like to clarify the use of the various acronyms for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Chronic Fatigue & Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) on this site. When we generate our own articles on the illness, we will refer to it as ME/CFS, the term now generally used in the United States. When we are reporting on someone else’s report, we will use the term they use. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal agencies, including the CDC, are currently using ME/CFS.
Massachusetts ME/CFS & FM Association changed its name in July, 2018, to reflect this consensus.