Find Empathy

Only 20% of persons with multiple sclerosis are still employed after 10 years following diagnosis. In a 2015 paper entitled "Multiple sclerosis, etiology symptoms, incidence, and prevalence and implications for community living and employment," the researchers pointed to several reasons for the dramatic decrease in employment.

Some are obvious reasons - symptoms of the disease such as cognitive change, fatigue, or mobility challenge directly impact vocational performance.

However, many individuals with MS cite more subtle and difficult workplace barriers as reasons for leaving their jobs. Some of these include bias or outright prejudice on the part of management or coworkers, a lack of knowledge or access to workplace accommodations, or a lack of flexibility in accommodating changing MS symptoms and medical appointments. This three-part podcast course will help you guide your patients through a tricky maze of employment issues - from the time they are diagnosed with MS to deciding to leave the workforce.

In the first part, we'll look at ways to retrain or obtain a job that is flexible and can accommodate your patient's problems - as well as how to assist your patients through their fear of trying something new.

In part two, we'll discuss diagnosis disclosure in the workplace, as well as when and how to request accommodations with an MS specialty vocational counselor.

In part three, we'll go over applying for SSDI disability benefits with a lawyer. She will walk you through the process as well as how to assist your patients in planning for an application and appeals procedure. She also explains how to help your patients obtain letters of support or prepare their medical records for evaluation.

This course will help you become more knowledgeable about the employment challenges that your patients with MS face, as well as give you some practical tools to assist them through these tough transitions.