The Challenge of Working with MS

Introduction
It’s not so long ago that a diagnosis of MS led your doctor to tell you to quit work and go home and rest. Many people did this, but they got bored.
MS affects people in different ways. Some have a relatively mild form of MS and may never experience any symptoms which prevent them from working. Others may have to cope with varying degrees of disability from time to time, whilst some people may become severely disabled quickly. It is only a small proportion of people with MS who are so severely affected.

However, there are many reasons why people leave the workforce ranging from problems with fatigue and cognitive dysfunction to embarrassing problems such as bowel and bladder difficulties. But many people are not aware of the treatments available and the accommodations that can be made to allow them to stay “on the job”.

While well meaning friends, family and healthcare workers could be encouraging you to reduce stress and give up work, there is only a tentative link between MS and stress and the stresses of unemployment with its financial burdens are not a good solution.

So let’s start with working outside the home.
There are many benefits for an employer who supports the employee with any kind of disability

1. • Maximising on their investments in an employee with MS, for example by not losing prematurely the skills and experience of a well trained member of the workforce
2. • Avoiding potential difficulties by adopting a proactive approach to intermittent medical condition policy issues now, instead of waiting for a situation to arise
3. • Confirming that existing/new policies and procedures comply with current or upcoming legislation
4. • Capitalising on the expertise and support provided by the MS Societies
5. • Promoting a positive perception/image of the organisation to both employees and external audiences.
6. For the employee there are reasons to keep going.
7. • Financial security: The longer you remain in the workforce the higher you benefits are likely be if you need to leave and the longer you can pay into savings.
8. • Fringe benefits such as health insurance may be one of your most valuable assets.
9. • Your identity is often defined , at least in part, by the kind of work you do.
10. • A sense of self worth comes from feeling productive and contributing to your family, your community and even society as a whole. Thus voluntary work can have just the same benefit.
11. • Being a role model for others feels good. A model for your kids, others with disabilities and even anyone else who’s paying attention.

If you want to stay in the home there are options you can look into.
There may be many reasons why people struggle to secure employment outside of the home, and disability and ongoing illness may be one cause. Problems overcoming physical limitations, in the workplace, or employer reluctance to hire you and give you the chance to try may arise despite laws that forbid discriminating against disabled applicants. Ongoing or frequent illness may mean that you miss a lot of work, or are unable to keep up with the required working pace. Working in the comfort of your own home ensures that all areas are accessible and safe, and any specialist devices that you may need such as computer screen readers for the blind are available to you.
Some home working may involve being employed as an at home agent of a larger company, whilst others may involve you being self employed; your own boss, answerable to no one but yourself. You may have to try several different things before you find something that is suitably flexible to work for you, or that meets your other needs and your likes.

The internet is a great, big equalizer and it can work to your advantage. The internet does not care if you are disabled – it only requires that you can deliver the work you promise.
Self employment can start very easily and if you are using social networks like Twitter and Facebook you will have a readymade audience to work with. Be careful not to sign up with some of the called “gurus” who claim you can make huge amounts of money in very little time. There is no such thing as a free lunch but by working consistently you can achieve your goals.

Tags: Working with MS, working with multiple sclerosis

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