Tymes Trust Alert 2015-03 Message from Jane 12 May 2015 ====== ME AWARENESS : EQUALITY AND ME Plus Our latest colourful report Summer and ME Vaccinations and ME Plus Advice Line Team volunteering opportunity ====== ME AWARENESS : EQUALITY AND ME www.tymestrust.org/pdfs/meawareness2015.pdf This statement by Tymes Trust for ME Awareness Week sets out how the Equality Act is relevant to children with ME. We know that some parents have been threatened with fines and even prison for allegedly allowing truancy from school, and generally disbelieved. Our Statement can be shown to schools and other professionals to assist you in ensuring that your children are not discriminated against. Excerpt: 'The Equality Act has Technical Guidance for Schools. It states that Protected Characteristics (which Earl Howe has confirmed includes disability by reason of having ME/CFS) establishes a new form of disability discrimination - "discrimination arising from disability." It states: "The Act protects pupils from discrimination and harassment based on 'protected characteristics'".' We discuss what is meant by 'unfavourable treatment' and 'substantial disadvantage'. Unfavourable treatment of a pupil with ME is likely to be unlawful. SPRING REPORT 2015 www.tymestrust.org/tymesmagazine.htm In our latest colourful issue of 'Russell's Report' you can see what some of our Young Officers have been doing. We hope that some of our young members (and even the parents!) will enjoy colouring Greg's Springtime. Prizes waiting for those sent in to us, until we run out! In the Report you can also find: SUMMER AND ME Our Chair gives practical advice for children who are able to venture outside in summer weather. VACCINATIONS AND ME We are often asked about this thorny issue, so I have compiled some interesting facts to help you make up your mind. TYMES TRUST ADVICE LINE It is time once again to ask for volunteers to assist on our Advice Line. Full information is provided, and you will have support from our lovely Debbie. I expect you have talked with her when phoning us yourself. She is our very experienced Advice Line Team Coordinator, and she takes care to see that parents who join the Team enjoy their time with us. You will not be answering calls. Your role will be to phone families with the information that they have requested, which of course you will be given. If you're interested in finding out more, just email us on the Contact Us form at www.tymestrust.org or leave a voicemail at 0845 003 9002. Debbie will contact you to answer your questions. Don't hold back from coming forward! With all best wishes Jane Jane Colby FRSA Executive Director The Young ME Sufferers Trust PO Box 4347, Stock, Essex, CM4 9TE www.tymestrust.org Tel: 0845 003 9002 Holder of The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service: The MBE for Volunteer Groups ====== READ ALL PREVIOUS ALERTS AND SUBSCRIBE TO MY LIST AT www.tymestrust.org To unsubscribe, send an email via the website Contact Us form. ====== You are welcome to redistribute or reprint this email without seeking our permission provided: 1) you do not abbreviate, add to, or change the text in any way; 2) the authorship information is retained; and 3) www.tymestrust.org is credited as the source. Jane Colby is Executive Director of The Young ME Sufferers Trust. She was a Headteacher for nine years, a member of the government Chief Medical Officer's Working Group on CFS/ME and co-authored ME/CFS In UK Schools, the largest epidemiological study of ME to date. She is a life member of the National Association of Head Teachers and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Copyright (c) 2015 The Young ME Sufferers Trust