Able-bodied and Employable

Only about 25% of working aged disabled areemployee or the organization if they weren't honest.
employed.Multiple Sclerosis is an unpredictable disease and one
Apply being disabled to a job search or volunteeringday the employee may feel fine but the next are tired
and that is a major challenge.and fatigued. Everyday is different and they need to
One major task is to educate others to see theremember that.
disabled as able-bodied people who can be a benefitWe have several things that we should look at before
to their organization. The first task is finding a positionwe even start our search. Do you suffer from fatigue
that suits the disabled person and allows them to thriveor? It wouldn't be good having a job where you
and grow as productive employees within anneeded to watch every little detail. There are jobs
organization.careers that are available to the person with MS. The
There are thousands of good employment andlocal employment office is a good resource for
volunteer opportunities available. What jobs areemployment leads. Most government agencies have
available in their area that they can apply their talentsspecific departments that deal with the disabled. There
and experience to? Questions need to be askedare employment agencies that only have disabled
about location, work environment and adaptations forclients.
the disabled person. Is the employer willing toStarting your own home-based business is an option
accommodate the employee's special needs? Whenfor people who can feel good one day and need to
applying for a job asking these questions may solverest the next. This can also be for people who need
problems before they arise in the work environment.special or flexible time tables and schedules that are
Most people with Multiple Sclerosis can not work insuitable for doctor's appointments.
extremely hot or cold weather; these things must beThere are also traditional markets for job seeking. Not
considered for the benefit of the employees and theeveryone with MS is markedly disabled. There are
employers. If the job has a height requirementthose who maintain their jobs or careers and that
someone who has balance, coordination problems, orhave adapted to their symptoms. Sometimes they are
in a wheelchair should not apply for safety reasons.fortunate and have no symptoms at all.
Also factory work were you stand all day wouldn't beFor those people who aren't capable of full-time hours
suitable either. For those who need to move aroundthey can look to part-time, flexible hours, telecommuting
because of spasticity sitting all day wouldn't workor volunteer work.
either.There are all kinds of agencies that need volunteers
People who suffer with vision problems like vertigofor everything from telemarketing to fundraising door
would not want a job where attention to detail, drivingto door.
or moving really fast is required. Some of haveSometimes it's those experiences that help to get you
different degrees of disability and/or symptoms thatin the door for future employment. There are MS
effects where they work and what they do. A personSocieties, Associations, and Organizations that need
wouldn't want to have tremors and be working withhelp to maintain local services. Sometimes doing
glass or hot substances.volunteer work can boost self-esteem, self-image and
The MS person needs to make a checklist and behelp others at the same time.
honest with themselves. It wouldn't be fair to the