Until recently, people diagnosed with MS were often told by well-meaning family and friends – and even by their doctors – that they should leave their jobs and stay home and rest. The unfortunate message was that people with MS could no longer manage the demands of work or make meaningful contributions in their chosen fields.
However, many people with MS do not experience chronic debilitating symptoms. In addition, times have changed. Within the last several years, there have been a number of advances both in the management of MS and in societal attitudes towards individuals who have a disability. A range of medications and practical strategies exist to help people manage their symptoms. Treatments are now available to reduce the number, frequency and severity of exacerbations and to slow disease progression. Most importantly, the attitudes of employers and employees are undergoing a change.
The booklet 'Working with Multiple Sclerosis' outlines steps that you can take to maximise your employment options in the years ahead. First, you need to make the decision about whether you wish to keep working. Having made that decision, you may need to be flexible and creative so that you (and perhaps your employer) can adapt the way you do job-related activities or change the type of work you do.
Source: Working with MS: Information for Employees, MS Australia
