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Inhancing Employment Options It is never too early in the course of MS to think about career planning, employment options, and job security. Becoming informed about work-related issues and options, even in the very earliest days of the illness, can enhance your ability to stay productively employed. It is especially important for people who are newly diagnosed, or experiencing a change in their MS condition, to remain employed through the crisis period. Too often, people leave work during this difficult time and then realize that the decision was premature. Career counselors advise that it is much more difficult to find a new job than it is to maintain one through a period of illness. Some people with MS remain productively employed while others, with similar levels of disability, do not. Certain factors appear to be related to job retention, including: Basic knowledge of MS (including the impact of invisible symptoms like fatigue and memory problems) Knowledge of employment rights (including the ADA, Family Medical Leave Act, and other benefit programs) Symptom management through medication, occupational and physical therapy Use of assistive devices and workplace accommodations Career planning based on expert advice rather than the well-meaning but uninformed advice of family, friends, and coworkers The message of the National MS Society is that there are many resources available to help you make an informed decision, and support your efforts to remain in the workforce for as long as you want and are able to do so. Use the following links to learn more about symptom management in MS, disclosure issues, your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the use of assistive technology to reduce fatigue and enhance productivity, and a variety of employment resources. On-line Resources For Employment and Disability Rights National Multiple Sclerosis Society Facts & Issues on Disclosing Your MS ADA and People with MS The Win Win Approach to Reasonable Accommodations "MS and Employment" An Internet Program Government Vocational Rehabilitation (Social Security Administration) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Social Security Administration (Home Page) Family and Medical Leave Act President's Committee on Employment for People with Disabilities Other Assistive Technology Project Job Accommodations Network Americans with Disabilities Act Centers for Independent Living For more information about employment issues, contact the chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society near you by dialing 1-800-FIGHT MS (1-800-344-4867) and selecting option one. Produced by the Client Programs Department and the Information Resource Center. © 2000 The National Multiple Sclerosis Society. All rights reserved. Updated 20 July 2000 The National MS Society... One thing people with MS can count on 1-800-Fight-MS (1-800-344-4867) / info@nmss.org The National Multiple Sclerosis Society 733 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 |
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