invisibleillnessconf  

Curtis Dean Hall taught in Kansas public school systems for twenty years. His experience with the brokenhearted children and overwhelmed teachers he encountered daily led him to become a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist, specializing in stress and trauma. Widely regarded by his colleagues as a clinical innovator, Curtis has developed several therapeutic programs and CDs for stress management, published two surgery preparation programs and written two books and writes a weekly advice column entitled "Thinking Like A Therapist," that is published in several newspapers across the nation. In addition, Curtis is a cancer survivor and credits his faith in God and his use of mind/body strategies for his total recovery to health and wellness. Curtis had donated a copy of "Psalms for Surgery."

Missionary kid Naomi Kingery grew up in India and saw physical struggle her whole life as her parents worked with the disabled. At twelve years old she faced her own physical struggle as she went into a coma and woke up with a diagnosis of juvenile diabetes. She soon felt a calling on her life to encourage diabetic teenagers and to help touch other teenagers who deal with invisible illnesses. When she was eighteen she published her first book Sugar Free Me (inspirational book for diabetic teens and their loved ones.) With Sugar Free Me in one hand and a Bible in the other, Naomi wants to spread hope within the diabetic community. Visit her web site at www.livetolovediabetes.com . Naomi has donated a copy of her book, "Sugar Free Me."

Mr. Davis is regarded as one of our nation's legal specialists in representing clients who are disabled due to fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome. Mr. Davis has successfully represented Social Security disability clients of all ages throughout the United States. Mr. Davis has won Social Security disability cases in every region of the United States and in approximately 40 states. And Mr. Davis' extensive experience is evident in the fact that his firm wins chronic pain and fatigue Social Security disability cases over 90% of the time. This success rate is significantly higher than the average disability attorney and more than double the success rate of Social Security claimants who are not represented. Visit his web site which features many wonderful articles on the application process and other FAQ.

Karen Lee Richards’ career as a writer and patient educator/advocate grew out of her determination to learn more about her own illnesses. Karen first became ill in 1989, but it would be seven more years before she finally received an accurate diagnosis of fibromyalgia and ME/CFS. In 1997, Karen teamed up with Lynne Mattalana, another FM patient, to found the nonprofit organization now known as the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA). For the next eight years, Karen served as NFA’s vice president. In 2002, when the NFA launched Fibromyalgia AWARE, he first full-color, glossy magazine devoted to FM and other invisible illnesses, she became its Executive Editor. Currently Karen is the Patient Expert and Community Leader of HealthCentral's ChronicPainConnection. Her goal is to educate, encourage, equip and empower patients so they can take charge of their health care to ensure that they have the best possible quality of life.

OUR GUESTS HAD TO CANCEL 2 HOURS BEFORE THE PROGRAM... You can hear last year's program on the same topic/same guests here http://tinyurl.com/4l5v22 We apologize for the inconvenience. Lynn Royster, J.D., Ph.D., is founder and Director of the Chronic Illness Initiative at the School for New Learning, DePaul University where she also teaches in the on line program. She is on the Board of the Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome Association of America and the parent of young man with chronic illness. Paula Kravitz is Assistant Director for Student Services for the Chronic Illness Initiative at the School for New Learning, DePaul University. She has been employed by the Illinois Department of Mental Health and several not for profit agencies in the areas of clinical therapy, teaching, program development and administration. She holds an MSW from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Jolene Phillo, author of "A Different Dream For My Child"