5:13 p.m.
Dear Friends:
Yesterday, May 28, 2010 an article appeared in the Ottawa Citizen
newspaper written by James Ron, Associate Professor at the Norman
Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University
(carleton.ca/jron). In the article he related that his son diagnosed
with Type 1 diabetes developed some complications and he had to spent
time in the hospital. Given Canada's healthcare system, he stated he
feared the worst but was pleasantly surprised. He related that CHEO
has a one-room school for its patients and went on to praise how his
son was treated. He then went on to say how fortunate we are with
our healthcare as compared to countries like India.
Margaret has considerable experience with the school system and how
children ill with ME/CFS and FMS are ill but usually at home and have
to fight to get an education. She is a relentless advocate on behalf
of children and youth. She took this opportunity to write a
response to James Ron's article which appeared in the Citizen today
(May 29, 2010) and can be seen in its entirety below.
Our President, Margaret Parlor, was able to bring attention to the
children and youth ill with ME/CFS and FMS as well as other disabled
children. Please see her article below in its entirety.
Lydia
Students sick at home need an education, too
Lydia E. Neilson, M.S.M., Founder
Chief Executive Officer
National ME/FM Action Network
512 - 33 Banner Road
Nepean, ON K2H 8V7 Canada
Tel. (613) 829-6667 Fax (613) 829-8518
E-mail: ag922(a)ncf.ca
Web: http://www.mefmaction.net
The Ottawa Citizen May 29, 2010
Re: CHEO's one-room schoolhouse, May 24.
[Note: CHEO is an acronym for the Children's Hospital of Eastern
Ontario located in Ottawa, Ontario]
It was inspiring to read the story about how patients at CHEO receive
their education. An exciting program has been developed which
addresses the health, social and educational needs of young people
who are patients at the hospital.
It is important to recognize that not all young people who are ill
are in hospital. Many are isolated at home, some for months or even
years. There is very little recognition of their needs in the Ontario
education system. No special programs have been developed and
guidelines are virtually non-existent. School boards can even decide
whether or not they provide the student with a visiting teacher. One
school board trustee stated quite simply that, if a student isn't at
school, the student isn't the board's responsibility.
Contrast this to the situation in Britain, where its ministry of
education has developed comprehensive guidelines on access to
education for students with medical needs, school boards are required
to ensure that no student goes without access to education for more
that 15 days, and special online classrooms have been developed to
give isolated students contact with others.
Access to education for students who are ill is a major issue for the
National ME/FM Action Network. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Syndrome are frequent causes of
long-term school absence.
Young people who are sick at home in Ontario need educational
programs just as much as students who are sick in hospitals.
It is time to address the educational needs of these young people.
Margaret Parlor, Ottawa
National ME/FM Action Network
Read more:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Students+sick+home+need+education/30865...