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

Speaker slides

Your Questions Answered! (from Chat)

More resources

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

Sunday Conversation - January 2022

Details: Last Updated: 25 February 2022 25 February 2022

January 2022: Physical/Occupational Therapy for ME/CFS and Similar Chronic Illnesses

Dr. Kenneth J. Friedman

Sunday, January 16, 4:00 - 5:00 ET via Zoom
Featuring Kenneth J. Friedman, Ph.D.
Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine,
School of Osteopathic Medicine of Rowan University, Stratford, NJ

Discussants:

Alba Azola, MD
Assistant Professor
Co-director of the PMR Post-Acute COVID-19 Team (JH PACT) Program
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Amy Mooney, MS OTR/L
Licensed Occupational Therapist
Mom of a severely ill daughter with ME/CFS

The overlap of symptoms in ME/CFS, long-haul COVID, and other post-infectious illnesses suggests that the symptoms are not unique to the individual conditions. Rather, they represent a common response, most likely with similar underlying pathophysiologies. Guiding principles of patient management are then set forward for all healthcare providers including physical and occupational therapists.

Video of the full event
Playlist

Dr. Friedman video
Dr. Friedman's slides

Dr Azola video
Dr. Azola's slides

Amy Mooney video
Amy Mooney's slides

Q&A video

Resources from the chat

Dr. Friedman has contributed to three nationally-recognized primers on ME/CFS, written numerous articles about the disease in peer-reviewed journals, participated in the U.S. Department of Health’s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee, and edited three medical journal issues focused on ME/CFS. His research suggests ME/CFS is one of many post-infectious illnesses with similar symptoms and pathophysiologies, and that advances in one illness could benefit others.

Dr. Azola offers her perspective as a clinician working with over 900 patients in a Long Covid clinic; 30 - 35% meet the criteria for ME/CFS.

Amy Mooney, MS OTR/L, offers her comments about the unique perspective and guidance that Occupational Therapy offers.

The Moderator for this event is Kerry Lang, LMHC, an expressive art therapist and the Wellness and Mental Health Program Manager at the Dean Center for Tick Borne Illness at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, MA. She also leads support groups for Long Covid patients.

Invisible Disabilities: Long COVID and Other Post-Infectious Chronic Illnesses -- Videos

Details: Last Updated: 25 February 2022 25 February 2022

This program was presented on September 15th, 2021, by the Health and Disability Partnership at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, with the Massachusetts ME/CFS & FM Association.

View the videos for this event.

Imagine getting sick with a common cold or flu, or even an insect bite, and then never getting better. We present a diverse panel of people with post-infectious chronic illnesses, including Long COVID and Post-Lyme Disease, joined by a person with ME/CFS. Their personal stories are followed by a presentation from the former Medical Director of the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health: Alfred DeMaria, M.D. addresses the similarities between Long COVID, Post-Lyme, and ME/CFS.