| Too often,
we hear about the failed attempts at living and working with
a chronic
illness and resulting disability. But don't throw in the towel
too soon! There are success stories,
too, if you are committed to your goal and willing
to fight. I had been working since 1991 for a large employer
in Minnesota, which offered an excellent
benefits package. I had never paid too much
attention to exactly what this meant, but 1998 was not a good
year for me. Not only was I diagnosed
with scleroderma, but also breast cancer and needed
to take a medical leave of absence to have a mastectomy at
46 years old. Often people with scleroderma
or any other chronic, progressive illness
are afraid to divulge their condition to their employer, but
I did not have the luxury to postpone
telling my employer. Granted, the breast cancer diagnosis
alone was enough to gain the maximum sympathy/empathy factor,
and I decided that it was in my best interest
to capitalize on this and be completely
honest with my employer by asking for everything I felt I
needed to keep working
and retain my sense of usefulness.
My leave of absence began on June 2, 1998.
When I felt that I was ready
to return to work, by the end of August, my
boss allowed me to start off at 4 hours
per day. I was able to do my paperwork at home and go into
the office to do my computer work, which
took approximately one to two hours per day. This arrangement
also kept me in contact with my coworkers who always have
been very
supportive.
With the cold winter temperatures approaching,
I began to question if there
was anyway I could get a computer connection at home. Also,
I had found that the office air conditioning
in the summer was difficult to control
and my hands, affected by Raynaud's Syndrome, would get too
cold while using the keyboard. While,
at first, they didn't say "yes", they didn't
say "no" either.
Then, in October, 1998, the Human Resources
department advised me that it was time to start
the application process for Long Term
Disability (LTD). I was indignant! That is not what I wanted.
I was not ready to be "totally
disabled". However, my six months' paid leave
would be ending in December, and it was becoming
more apparent that I wasn't ready to
return to work full-time. I just couldn't shake the fatigue
or deal with
the temperature changes.
Reluctantly,
I decided to obtain the necessary physician's statement and
explore my options. As strange as it sounds,
when I received the letter saying that
my claim for LTD had been approved, I was devastated. I still
wanted to believe that things weren't so bad,
and I hoped that I would bounce back
soon. But, now it was down on paper that I was not invincible.
Most likely, I would not get better.
What a huge blow to the ego! The upside to this
was that by continuing to work part-time, combined with the
disability, I would be able to retain
my full-time earnings. This was very important with
two teens (one in
college and one about to finish high school).
My
immediate supervisor was very accommodating and willing to
work with me.
However, she was not in a position to solely approve such
a request. As the weather
and my condition deteriorated, I repeatedly
shared my difficulty with her. To press
my point further,
I used my accrued
|
vacation time
to escape to Arizona from mid-January
to mid-February, 1999. She took my requests
to her supervisor and through the chain of command.
In
March, 1999, it was finally approved that if the LTD carrier
would share
the cost, my employer would provide a computer set up from my
home. The arrangement would still require
the daily exchange of paperwork and timely
response to any telephone calls, but I lived close by and was
determined to make it work. Thankfully, I have
a very supportive, loving husband
and family, and many caring friends who rallied around me.
Finally,
in May, 1999, a meeting with the representatives from the LTD
carrier was held, and they agreed to fund this
"accommodation". Although I
had a home computer, my employer wanted to ensure a secure connection
using one of their computers, and they
put in the purchase order. My employer also required that I
have a separate work area with acceptable (ergonomically correct)
furniture. This could become a workers' compensation issue if
there were any injuries resulting from the unsafe installation
of company equipment. With my teens either off to college or
voluntarily relocated to our lower level, I had the available
space. For my own convenience and to prove my intentions, I
purchased a computer desk and printer stand.
With my ongoing persistence and repeated inquiries,
in October, 1999, my computer was delivered and installed in
my home office along with a separate telephone/computer
access line (installation and monthly fees paid by my
employer). Currently, I am working 30 hours a
week, which maintains my full-time
benefits.
It
has not been without its obstacles, hurdles or delays, but I
was very determined,
and I am too stubborn to give up. I am not so naive to believe
that my employer acted only out of the goodness
of their big corporate heart. I know that
they are fully aware of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) and were not looking for a legal challenge. I had
been a good and loyal employee and had
been promoted four times in seven years. My position
requires an extensive training period, and I believe that it
has been a win/win/win arrangement for
all of us (myself, my employer, and the LTD carrier).
Incidentally, I did consult once with an attorney experienced
in disability cases, just to be sure I
was on the right track. This provided peace
of mind that was well worth the consultation fee.
I
would encourage anyone who find themselves in similar circumstances
to, first, SEARCH
THEIR OWN SOUL, and decide what is best for them. Learn to accept
the help offered by
others. And then, prepare to fight for their life! |
