lenient about allowing me to
work from home when necessary—a definite stress cutter! (See
box to the right for more about
disclosure and employment
resources.)
And some great perks
Despite the challenges, the new
job has some great perks. The
best one for me is the onsite
fitness facility. I work out much
more than I used to, which has
been a great way to get out any
frustration and keep my body
strong. I am also not as overloaded with work as I was at
my previous job. I’m no longer
working late nights.
Overall, it’s psychologically
rewarding just to be back at
work. I feel more confident that
I can still support myself and be
challenged intellectually by new
work responsibilities. There have
been some major adjustments
that I’m still getting used to, but
I’m certainly happy to be back
in the workforce. n
In addition to being a regular volunteer for her chapter, Elizabeth Giardina is a member of Momentum’s
Readers Advisory Panel. She wrote
about her experiences being out of
work for our Fall 2009 issue (“I lost my
job … now what?”).
Disclosure how-to’s from our
Information Resource Center
The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) lets a qualified individual
with a disability request accommodations if they need them in order
to complete the essential functions of their job.
A person would need to disclose enough information about their
medical condition to show they have a level of impairment that
meets the ADA definition of disability. The employee should also be
prepared to explain the accommodations they feel will assist.
Under the ADA, disclosure is about enacting one’s rights in
order to have equal access to employment. To learn more about
these rights, go to www.ada.gov. Then visit www.nationalMS
society.org/disclosework and www.nationalMSsociety.org/
employment for more information. You may also call the IRC
at 1-800-344-4867 to speak to a specialist about employment
concerns or to find out about educational or job counseling
programs in your area.
