MS Active Source

Living With MS

• Introduction
• You are not alone
• Positive approach
• Managing MS
• Therapies
• Finding support
• Finding inspiration
• Changing lifestyles
• Carer
• Work and employment
• eNewsfeature
  • Intro to eNewsfeature
  • Invisible symptoms
  • Travelling with MS
  • Family with MS
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  • Partner with MS
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  • Physiotherapy
  • Physiotherapy FAQ
  • Healthy living
  • Exercise and MS
  • Types of exercise
  • Diet and MS

How Will Multiple Sclerosis Affect my Work and Employment?

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The threat of losing a career or paid employment, with all the financial and social implications that this entails, is one of the major worries for many people with MS. For many years, the traditional view of MS has been that it is a permanently disabling condition. So, the argument went, people with MS were unemployable.

But it’s high time that these attitudes were challenged. The development of treatments that can slow the development of disability and reduce relapses has helped people with MS gain more control over their symptoms (and lives). And for those people who do have some disability, newer, less-restrictive working practices can greatly improve their chances of gaining or keeping employment.  There’s no legal requirement to tell your employer about your MS unless you work in the armed forces, or on a plane or ship (ref L4). However, could your MS have any impact on your or someone else's health and safety in the workplace? If it could then you need to tell your employeer so that a risk assessment can be completed. You now also need to inform the DVLA if you have MS, and may need to undergo a medical assessment to keep your license.  You may find that MS does not interfere with what you do for many years, but you shouldn’t hide information or lie if asked directly as it can cause problems for you if this comes out later on (ref L4)  .

It is now increasingly clear that, as long as the employer is prepared to be flexible, people with MS can be successful in the workplace. And despite the prejudice and discrimination that still exists, many people with MS are proving this to be true. Such trailblazers include both the famous, like the founder of Jooly's Joint, Julie Howell, and the not-so-famous.

For these reasons, the MS Society has started a training course to help people with MS either find new work or stay in jobs they already have. The course, is presently being tried out in the West Midlands, London and Sussex. More information is available here.

Disability

For those patients with Relapsing-Remitting MS, drug treatments and a positive, healthy approach to life can reduce attacks/ relapses and slow the progression of disability. For others, however, disability may be a current concern or something that will affect them in the future.

There are many sources of help and advice, covering subjects as diverse as mobility aids, respite care, welfare benefits, employment and housing, to name but a few.

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