PROTEST: Suspended from school 24 times - body odor

RAISE AWARENESS IN SCHOOLS
FOR CHILDREN WITH MALODOR CONDITIONS

PLEASE BE A PART OF THIS EMAIL
RAISING AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
You can email from anywhere in the world.

Message from Karen, MEBO Research Public Relations Director, UK

Hi all,

Maybe some of you may already have heard about this tragic story of a child of 8 who has been suspended from school because of her odour condition.

http://www.wjhl.com/story/21847947/2013/04/01/little-girl-suspended-24-times-from-school-for-smelling-bad

I think it is shocking stuff and I think it would be good if our community could come together to support the family and educate Washington's education system about odour conditions.

I intend to send the letter attached via e-mail to the 15 schools in Washington contactable via the following link ; to Karla Kyte (elementary education director), Shannon Bishop (school health supervisor) and Susan Kiernan (public relations), (all contactable via the following link(go to Board of Education page then Quick links then telephone directory) and also the board of education directors (I have listed their e-mails below).

http://www.wcde.org/education/school/school.php?sectiondetailid=22111&&PHPSESSID=ede109aa6da198308750951055c3df59

bbrinkley@eastman.com
ervinmilkman1@aol.com
tag0220@yahoo.com
dlhammond1@centurylink.net
jackleonard@embarqmail.com
clarencem@smamusements.com
williamsmasonry12@gmail.com
silversm@wcde.org
mclainp@embarqmail.com
moorej@wcde.org
moneyj@wcde.org

The gist of my e-mail will be:

As a British primary school teacher and a sufferer of metabolic malodour disorder, I was outraged to read about the case of the eight-year-old child in a Washington school who was suspended because of her pungent odour. Although I realise that the majority of people, including medical professionals, are ignorant about metabolic odour disorders such as Trimethylaminuria (TMAU), I am very disappointed that an educational establishment within a country which claims to be forward-thinking and tolerant of people’s differences, can react in such a damaging and hostile manner towards an innocent family in need of support.
Undoubtedly, the victimised child concerned has an incurable metabolic disorder beyond her control. The actions of the school have:

1. shown a complete disregard for the psychological wellbeing of the child and family.
2. further increased the mental scarring of the young person having to deal with this socially alienating condition.
3. stigmatised the disorder to such a degree that the child and her family will have lost faith in their ability to lead normal lives. (No wonder the poor parents went to the media . They had no choice!)

I would suggest that the school:

• apologise to the family immediately.
• research the disorder on the websites: meboresearch.org, tmau.org.uk., breathandbodyodour.proboards, rareconnect.org
• educate the school population about the disorder and ensure that the child is supported through it.

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A EURORDIS and NORD Member Organization