A Parents' Guide to CFIDS

ContentsAbout the Authors

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Personal Issues Surrounding CFIDS
Chapter 1. How Do You Know If Your Child Has CFIDS?
The Symptoms
Differences Between Children and Adults with CFIDS
Inaccurate Diagnoses
Chapter 2. The Misunderstood Illness
Chapter 3. How to Balance Your Family Life When You Have a Child with CFIDS
The YPWC
The Special Problems of Being a Brother or Sister of a YPWC
Your Changing Role As a Parent of a YPWC
Chapter 4. How to Be Your Child?s #1 Advocate
How to Have a Good Relationship with Your Child?s Doctor
How to Be Your Child?s Advocate at School
Further Consideration
Chapter 5. Helping Your YPWC Develop Socially
The Health Child?s Socialization
Social Issues for the YPWC
Chapter 6. YPWCs and Parents Speak About Developmental Stages of Coping with CFIDS
Obtaining a Diagnosis
Coming to Terms with CFIDS
Denial
Losses and Grieving
Depression
Anger
Fighting the Diagnosis
Reaching Out and Sharing
Identity Formation
Acceptance
Educational Issues Surrounding CFIDS
Chapter 7. Deciding How Much Your Child Can Do
How Many Hours of School Can Your YPWC Manage?
Scheduling Your YPWC?s Daytime Hours
Chapter 8. Discussing Some of Your Child?s Educational Options
Working with the Staff on a Day-to-Day Basis
Become Aware of Laws Pertaining to Education
Chapter 9. Evaluating Intellectual Abilities
Standardized Tests
Preparing for Testing
Interpreting Performance
Epilogue: Look How Far We?ve Come
Appendixes
Appendix A: Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction (CFIDS) Health Questionnaire for School Personnel
Appendix B: Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) Organizations and National Support Groups
Appendix C: On-Line Resources
Appendix D: Letters to the School from the Physician
Appendix E: Educational Resources
Appendix F: List of Abbreviations/Acronyms
Appendix G: Seventy-Five Tips for Coping with CFIDS in Children--From Pain to Schoolwork
Appendix H: Sample 504 Plans and IEP
Appendix I: Educational Citations
Index