As a complex and unpredictable disease, MS can have varying effects on your ability to work. New symptoms might make you question whether you can continue working, and when those symptoms subside, you might wonder why you were worried about work at all.
You might find you need to ask for an accommodation from your employer to manage the effects of the symptoms on your work performance or you might find that you need to take time away from work to get the symptoms under control.
Understanding the legal protections available to you is one way to help you maintain your place in the workforce.
Learn more about the legal protections available to you:
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a law that protects against discrimination in the workplace and allows you to request reasonable accommodations.
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which allows you job-protected time off of work.
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which deals with maintaining health insurance coverage and pre-existing conditions.
- Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), which allows you to continue to buy into health insurance coverage when leaving your job.
- Know Your Rights: A Legal Guide for People Living with Multiple Sclerosis—Easy to read Q & A format containing information on employment, SSDI, family law, insurance, and more. Offers resources in each chapter, form letters and helpful guides for navigating legal difficulties.
- Your Education Rights as a Student with MS—Every person has a right to strive for his or her education goals despite having a disability. This brochure explains the differences in rights and responsibilities both for students and the schools they attend.
Still have questions? The National MS Society has staff specifically trained to work with you to navigate the intricate world of your legal rights in the workplace. Contact your chapter.