Your Name or Nickname on Story Page (Check one)

I will use just my first name, or a nickname, and a last initial.
I want to use my full real name, or my maiden or former name, and I release the International Scleroderma Network from all liability for this. I understand that using my full name is always risky on the Internet, and that information I reveal may be used against me by former spouses or friends; identity thieves; disability reviewers; life, health or disability insurance companies; media representatives, or by current or future employers.

Your Name or Nickname on Story Page:

Copyright Release for Web Site Do you give the International Scleroderma Network the exclusive right to post your story on this website, indefinitely, with the understanding that you may submit changes to your story, or request its removal, at any time?

This means that other websites may freely link to your story, but nobody would have the right to reprint this particular story without the prior express written permission of both of us. This is to make sure that our site visitors will be reading original stories here, rather than "repeats" of stories from other websites.

This release refers only to this particular version of your story, which means that you remain entirely free to post other, different versions of your story anywhere you choose. Check one:

Yes, you have my Copyright Release for web site use.
No (Please stop here, or email our Story Editors with your questions about this.)

OPTIONAL: Copyright Release for All Printed Materials

We have closed submissions for our Voices of Scleroderma book series (Volumes 1, 2 and 3.) However we may want to publish your story some day. Do you give the International Scleroderma Network the right to post your edited story in any print publication, such as books, magazines, newsletters or brochures?

You do not have to agree to this in order to have your story posted on our website. Please feel free to email Judith Devlin if you have questions about this release. Check one:

Yes, you have my permission to print my story in any print publication, such as books, magazines, newsletters or brochures, in order to help raise awareness of scleroderma or related symptoms or illnesses.

No. Please do not publish my story in print publications.

For Patients: What is your diagnosis? This will be used for labeling and categorizing the stories, and will appear on your story page. Examples: Diffuse Scleroderma, Limited, Morphea, Linear, CREST, CTD, UCTD, MCTD, Overlap, Diffuse with CREST, Raynaud's, undiagnosed, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Lupus plus possible Scleroderma.

In your story, you can include all your diagnoses if you want. Just list the "main" thing(s) in this box. Remember, you may submit changes at any time, should your diagnosis change.

The primary purpose of our stories is to render emotional support and comfort with others who may find comfort in seeing how we have coped, and not to give specific reference to our medications or treatments, which can be found on our medical pages. If you advocate one particular still-unproven remedy, the best place to post your story is on a website that singularly promotes that remedy, or to just refer to it as "medication" and not by type or brand name.

We also avoid spiritual or political references since we serve a diverse, worldwide community. Using generic terms such as "My faith sustains me," or "I am very involved in politics," helps us convey the importance of our beliefs in this unique international forum, without raising anyone's ire. This helps us focus on what we have most in common, which is how we are coping with scleroderma or related illnesses. You can also just write what you want, and let our editors figure out the best way to convey your general intent.

For Caregivers/Friends/Survivors: Enter a description such as "Spouse of a Diffuse Scleroderma Patient", "Caregiver for Morphea Patient", "Mother of Linear Scleroderma Patient", "Widower of Scleroderma Patient," or "Surviving Friend of MCTD Patient."