Abstract
Individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are largely unserved by the health care and rehabilitation professions. Their numbers are growing and their needs are complex and extensive. Some persons with CFS (PWCs), who have the least functional impairment, may benefit from vocational rehabilitation services. While employment options or accommodations, as well as support services, may be available to PWCs, their disabilities are gravely misunderstood, requiring long-term, intermittent, knowledgeable, professional counseling, and support. Given the frequency of reports by consumers and advocates concerning unserved, unmet needs of PWCs, a survey was conducted among PWCs throughout Wisconsin to identify their needs both for independent living support services and for employment accommodations. A weighted scale was developed based upon self-reports of 119 respondents regarding importance and satisfaction levels for such services. Results provided rankings of PWC needs, to the degree that such needs were perceived as unserved and unmet. Furthermore, subjects reported the number of good days and bad days experienced monthly, describing dfferential levels of symptoms and function for these days on a CFIDS Disability Scale, created by David Bell, M.D. Results indicated the devastating impact of CFS upon health, daily activities, personal relationships, income, and work. PWC's reported significantly-unmet or highly-unmet needs for the great majority of the selected support services and employment accomodations.