Thursday 24 July 2008 support@eastlancsme.org.uk www.eastlancsme.org.uk

THE EAST LANCS ME/CFS SUPPORT GROUP ON THE NET

WHAT IS ME/CFS? THE ME CHARITIES NHS CFS/ME SERVICE OTHER ME GROUPS USEFUL WEB SITES BOOKS ON ME/CFS RELAXATION CDs NEXT MEETINGS JOIN THE GROUP PERFUME CONTACT US HOME PAGE

USEFUL ME/CFS WEBSITES There are links to the main ME charities' web sites here. 1. INFORMATION SPECIFICALLY FOR THE UK ACCESS TO PERSONAL FILES How to get access to a range of personal files e.g. your NHS records. cfoi.org.uk/persfilesintro.html ADVICE GUIDE FROM THE CAB Essential source of information on health care, benefits and other legal rights. www.adviceguide.org.uk AXFORD'S ABODE David Axford's web site is one of the best known sources of information on ME and CFS (despite the quirky typefaces!). freespace.virgin.net/david.axford/me/me.htm BLUE BADGE SCHEME You can apply online from Lancashire County Council if you meet the UK's new criteria: www.lancashire.gov.uk/social-services/adults/blue-badge More information is also available from the Department for Transport: www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_mobility/... COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICE Essential leaflets including disability rights, employment law, equal opportunities and welfare benefits. www.legalservices.gov.uk/civil.asp DECISION MAKERS GUIDE The official document with the rules that benefits staff are supposed to follow. www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/dmg DIRECTGOV - DISABILITY Government website with lots of useful information and links. www.direct.gov.uk/disability DISABILITY NOW UK's leading disability website from the newspaper Disability Now. www.disabilitynow.org.uk DISABLED STICKERS (GPSP LTD) Online store selling a range of disabled stickers and disability products. Can request free catalogue. www.disabledstickers.co.uk DISABILITY RIGHTS COMMISSION The DRC is now known as the Equality and Human Rights Commission and its new web address is: www.equalityhumanrights.com DR MYHILL AfME advisor and nutrionalist Dr Sarah Myhill's comprehensive web site. www.drmyhill.co.uk EAST LANCS ADVOCACY A one-to-one support service for people in contact with health and social services. www.elas.org.uk ELECTRONIC MEDICINES If your prescriptions come without leafets - you'll find them here! emc.medicines.org.uk EMPLOYERS' FORUM ON DISABILITY The organisation which provides information and support to employers on a range of disability issues. www.employers-forum.co.uk FREE ME UK FORUM A moderated message board with a large file download area for members. groups.yahoo.com/group/FreeMEuk LANCASHIRE WELFARE RIGHTS SERVICE Essential local advice on benefit entitlement. www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/welfarerights LIVING WITH CHRONIC PAIN CD, tape and booklet by local consultant clinical psychologist Neil Berry - how to cope with pain, sleep, drugs, relaxation, and negative emotions. www.chronicpain.org.uk MERGE The Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Research Group for Education and Support. www.meresearch.org.uk MEActionUK An independent message board plus a wealth of information. http://www.meactionuk.org.uk MOBILISE MAGAZINE Formerly the Disabled Drivers Association -- useful regular magazine and website. www.mobilise.info MOOREY'S HEALTH STORE, BLACKBURN 10% discount for all group members at Moorey's shop around the edge of Blackburn's 5 day market. www.blackburnmarket.com/traders... NHS DIRECT AND LOCAL SERVICES Patient information plus local health trusts, hospitals and contacts. www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk hospitalsineastlancs.nhs.uk OVERTON STUDIOS TRUST Providing holistic online and offline production and support for sufferers from: ME, CFS, PVS and FM www.ostrust.co.uk RADAR - THE DISABILITY NETWORK A campaigning charity - best known as the organisation which runs the National Key Scheme (ideal if you are caught short when you can only walk a short distance!) www.radar.org.uk ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS Information and fact sheets for those who suffer from depression or anxiety as well as ME/CFS. www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinformation... You might also like to read their current position on ME/CFS. www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinformation... RIGHTS FOR ME Useful information provided by the Morecambe Bay ME Support Group through its Rights for ME project. www.bayme.org/rights_for_me_docs.htm SKILL SKILL, the national bureau for students with disabilties, is a charity offering a wealth of information. www.skill.org.uk SPECIALISTINFO.COM (UK) UK website listing consultants and their specialisms by area. www.specialistinfo.com SUPPORT ME A website set up by someone with ME for other people with ME. www.supportme.co.uk ZOE WILLIAMS'S TIPS Zoe Williams's tips collection and various AfME articles. www.metips.co.uk 2. FOREIGN AND INTERNATIONAL WEB SITES AACFS The American Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has a new website and is now known as the International Association for CFS/ME www.iacfsme.org AUSTRALIAN ME CFS ASSOCIATION The ME/CFS Association of Australia Ltd to give it its full title. www.mecfs.org.au CO-CURE WEB RING Nearing 100 sites all about ME/CFS. http://x.webring.com ... CFIDS ASSOCIATION In America ME/CFS is also known as CFIDS - Chronic Fatigue and Immunodeficiency Syndrome. www.cfids.org CFIDS/ME INFORMATION A huge international collection of links to information about ME/CFS. www.cfids-me.org/ CFIDS SELF HELP A range of articles on coping with CFIDS and fybromyalgia. www.cfidsselfhelp.org CFS DAYS Home of the CFS files. www.geocities.com/cfsdays CFS NEWS CFS News is an American website with links to recent stories in the international media about ME/CFS. www.cfs-news.org MEA OF ONTARIO The ME Association of Ontario's site contains lots of information. www.meao-cfs.on.ca NRF Canada's Nightingale Research Foundation. www.nightingale.ca