New to the Site?

Welcome to the AYME website!

Firstly, if you haven't already, then please consider joining, as the more members we have then the louder our voice is when we represent young people with ME/CFS in the government, the medical colleges and the press. We can also offer you loads of services to help you deal with having ME! Why not start to have a look at what we can offer by reading through some of our most popular and useful articles in the following sections?

Medical

Why not start by looking at What is ME?, a concise starting point to explaining ME; or The Symptoms of ME/CFS, which looks at the symptoms of ME - everyone has different symptoms and suffers them to different degrees and you may find that you get these symptoms at some points during the day but not others. The Functional ability scale gives a percentage scale so you can work out roughly where you are in terms of your illness. Don’t worry if you don’t seem to fit into any percentage grade or fluctuate over time or even through the day, the scale is meant to be a rough guide only!
If you’re trying to understand what ME is like for a sufferer then What Is ME Like? gives some of the feelings that young people often get when suffering from ME.
This is just a sample of the information we have in our Medical section.

Education

When you’re in school and you’ve become ill, explaining to friends is always hard so Friends, Relationships and ME gives some tips on how to tell them and about friendships with other young people with ME.
For parents whose child has just been diagnosed it can be very difficult to find information when it comes to your child’s education. The New Parent's Essential Information on Education gives quick and concise information that can help you get started, and Education of Sick Children Policies and Guidelines Around Britain gives numbers and websites for points of contact and information around the UK.
If you are unable to go to school then there are alternative ways of getting your education. Education Otherwise is our guide to what help is available.
There are many other useful articles in our Education section.

Benefits

Applying for benefits can be very confusing so we have compiled a list of phone numbers and websites of people who can help you get information whether you’re making a claim or if you need help appealing a claim. Each contact has a small piece about what each of them are for so you can go to the best help possible!
We also have information about the Disability Living Allowance, and A Rough Guide to Incapacity Benefit, and how they can help many people with ME.
This website has a whole Benefits section with useful information.

Legal Information and Official Guidelines

If you need more information and guidance to make important decisions concerning a child with CFS/ME, our Child Protection Guidance is a useful resource.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have also written Evidence Based Guidelines for the Management of CFS/ME that gives more good advice and information to paediatricians and patients about CFS/ME.
Education Law and ME describes the legal framework that LEAs (Local Eduction Authorities) must follow when dealing with a child under 16 who is too ill to go to school full-time.

Fundraising

There are lots of Fundraising Event Ideas that you can hold to help AYME continue to run and how you can contact AYME for help and advice on fundraising issues that you may have. Once you’ve planned what sort of event you’re going to have we have lots of Helpful Fundraising Tips to make your fundraising as successful (and fun) as possible!
Fundraising is just one way to help AYME so if you are not well enough to have an event for AYME or if its just not possible now, there are Other Ways To Give so that you can help out and make a difference.
Browse our Fundraising section for more ideas and support!

Finally, the AYME website has lots of other information dealing with many aspects of CFS/ME and is frequently updated with new information and news of fundraising events. There's also an active message board to talk and discuss with other members.

Article last edited on Thursday 13th August 2009                          Printable Version