Education

The following resources are designed to assist sufferers with ME/CFS/FM in negotiating appropraite accommodations at Educational Institutions. There has been research done in the area of education and ME/CFS/FM. However, despite these efforts, there are still high incidences of discrimination and misunderstandings that surround the illness in Educational Institutions from staff and students. This section aims to alleviate this problem and provide more enlightened accomodations and education.

The following resources can be assistance in the negotiation of accommodations during your studies (be it University, School, TAFE or the like).   I would suggest that these are the best solutions to be enforced by Disability Officers.

The Tertiary Education Disability Code cited above is arguably a collateral contract that students with disabilities enter into when attending a University tha professes to follow its conditions.   I would particularly turn your attention to the sections of the Code that deal with the negotiation of accommodations.

If you cannot do examinations, then the Code recommends that one should be able to negotiate appropriate and reasonable accommodations for modified examination conditions or even replacement with assignments or other tasks that are able to be done within the boundaries of all symptoms of the illness.   However, please be aware that there will be obligations placed upon you to provide the instiution with Doctors Certificates that detail in full the effects of the illness and how it restricts your ability to undertake tasks.   Be this as it may, you will never get an accommodation that fits your needs if you do not ask for it.   You must be prepared to ask.

If you are in doubt, or in need of assistance, I recommend you discuss the matter with your Equity Officer, Disability Officer, Dean of Students or Student Association for assistance in these negotiations.

The following resources are what I would regard as negative accommodations for ME/CFS/FM sufferers. These policies do not give credibility to people with the illness. They force sufferers to constantly negotiate accommodations. People who are wheelchair bound, or whom have MS, and others with more visible disabilities are not required to constantly renegotiate accommodations. ME/CFS people do.

Disability Officers throughout Australia will access these guidelines and treat them as the be all and end all of accommodations. The unfortunate part is quite simply your needs are ignored. You may well end up forced to do an exam over 6 hours instead of 3, when what you really need is an assignment. This can spark a relapse, leaving you sick for some time. Feel free to examine the sites, but be aware a continual process of medical evidence and negotiation is not appropriate.