A Message from Time For Lyme Co-President Diane Blanchard

Attitude can either drive a wedge between a child’s school and his family or draw them together as a team. I learned this seven years ago when my children were first diagnosed with Lyme. Our family was able to engage the school on behalf of our children, forging a path in our school district that would benefit all children struggling with Lyme.

Although our first efforts were misunderstood, we continued to talk through the conflicts until our school principal became involved, realizing the pain and suffering our family endured. She helped us build supports our children needed, which in turn helped our organization, Time For Lyme, Inc., learn to navigate the school district, so we could educate others.

Lyme disease symptoms are so complex that children who have Lyme often become isolated. The most important people in their lives (including their parents, siblings, doctors, teachers and peers) may not believe they are ill. As others debate the issues children are caught in the crossfire.

Children should feel safe and protected in their schools, but those with Lyme disease often feel alienated and misunderstood. Five years ago Time For Lyme, Inc. decided to promote change by developing a Lyme Disease Curriculum to educate our school district. Our commitment came from the knowledge that our community is highly endemic for lyme ticks, which makes Lyme disease awareness an important matter for all students and educators.

In a cooperative effort between Time for Lyme, Inc. and school administrators, we created a curriculum about tick borne diseases with age appropriate goals, activities, and measurable guidelines. The curriculum includes information on tick awareness, prevention tips, a tick removal kit, and important information on the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease.

The TFL curriculum is designed for use in elementary school (grades K and 3), middle school (grade 6), and high school (grade 9). The program delivers an appropriate prevention message to each grade level.

The 6th Grade program includes a 22 minute DVD Lyme Disease, A Guide to Prevention focusing on prevention. The high school program includes a 20 minute DVD Living the Lyme Life. It is a discussion of the psychological, emotional, and social ramifications of Lyme disease, described through the voices of high school students themselves.

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