First, I highly recommend joining in on national group legislative action. When everyone pitches in, we win big. Participation is usually as easy as filling out a 1-minute form.

Every email, phone call, fax or letter gets counted and reported in a political office. Your participation makes our numbers grow, and getting attention is a numbers game. The federal level actions are a part of a long-term strategy by MEAction and partnering group SolveCFS.org (Solve).

ADVANCED ADVOCATES: Take political group actions to the next level and call your representatives, or write emails and letters that are not from the provided forms.

Share the group actions on social media, or write personal emails to friends and family encouraging them to take a few minutes to join in.

SUPER ADVOCATES: Take initiative to build a relationship with your representatives. Visit your congressman and educate them on ME and our goals. If you have the physical ability, sign up for the annual in-person ME lobby day in Washington D.C.

Join Florida’s working group and create state level legislative initiatives.

Being vocal in the doctor’s office is of course important to ME/CFS advocacy and your own personal care. A great source for information is the Clinician’s Coalition for ME/CFS, guidelines created by our leading specialists: mecfscliniciancoalition.org

SUPER ADVOCATES: Coordinate with your local hospital’s continuing education program to teach about ME.

Being vocal is of course an important part of advocacy. Social media is a great place for us to band together in order to raise our voice. Everyone is encourage to join in on social media actions during advocacy week and beyond by sharing their story.

SUPER ADVOCATES: If your comfort zone is writing or press outreach, consider contacting media outlets to cover ME/CFS.

Donate to your favorite research or advocacy group, or create an easy facebook fundraiser, or share those started by others.

A free way to fundraise is to support your favorite group through smile.amazon.com. Use that url instead of regular amazon.com every time your shop online.

SUPER ADVOCATES: Organize a fundraising event benefiting your favorite ME/CFS group.

Everyone can support for people with ME on social media. In a group like ours, these connections can be critical. Listening and sharing your experiences with others is a meaningful way to support the ME/CFS community. There are many subgroups in MEAction where you can find specific types of support such as caregivers or 25-and-unders. www.meaction.net/groups/

SUPER ADVOCATES: Create a local support group or organize a meet-up.

Or dream up your own ideas for helping others and improving lives of people with ME!