at lunch on Fri with a fellow exec, in the midst of discussion she made an off topic comment that I was coping well with and should be open to special attn from the company due to my "disability"....I was floored and I still have not processed this.
I have known in the back of my mind that if my condition completely deteriorated or went for a full-on traditional brain surgery that I would need to claim short-term or long-term disability to work through my recovery, but I never not once consider myself as "disabled."
Are we who suffer from long-term TN considered Disabled? Are there some sort of definitions out there that outline this?
Please respond as I need to get my brain sorted out on this one
Just because someone is labeled "disabled " doesn't necessarily mean they can't do anything, I think it is just an obstacle that we need to find a way to work around it to make the best of our situation. With help and support we can achieve amazing things. Just my opinion.
I wish I could get one of those disabled signs for my car for parking in the winter time. Because walking in that cold wind sure is not fun. But I know trying to convince someone of this probably would not work because we look so darn normal. And as far as work goes.. I think people should be more considerate of what we have because there are days that we aren't going to be "ourselves". Calling it disabled is probably a good way for the company to get others' attention to the disorder. I think it is commendable on their part..
Because of this and and a auto immune condition which the cold effects, work have agreed that I work indoors rather then outside. This was after Occupational Health at work interviewed me and agreed I was covered by the UK disability act. This is of a huge relief to me.
For now, educate them and take any accomodations they will give you.
I just had MVD - and most people go back to work in 3 weeks or less if desk job
If you were to progress to the point of not being able to support yourself - there are experts on here that can show you how file for this particular "disorder" disability claim
disability from TN is subjective and individual. it's not a standardized disorder, something which governments recoil against. however, disability is not necessarily perjorative, and hopefully, your co-worker was intending to sound sensitive and informed.
TN is not in the list of common neurological disorders classified as permanent disabilities. several factors are responsible for this: no conclusive research to explain the etiology, no standardization of cause, symptoms or treatment, and little education and exposure to the public about the disorder.
my personal opinion is TN is receiving more attention now than ever, in part due to the people who work tirelessly to advocate for our population, and in part due to newer medical doctors who are taking initiative to learn more about lesser known disorders. i suspect within the next few years, it will be better acknowledged and hopefully, with the right advocacy, recognized as a legitimate medical disability.
In business terms, the word "disabled" means a person who needs certain adjustments to their hours or physical work area so they can adapt to do the job. Also, the company gets benefits from the government for hiring disabled people, so if they can classify you as such, they get the benefits, and so do you, in that they will help adapt to your needs. It doesn't mean that you are not able (dis-able). It's a political term, not the same as the social or medical term. The medical classification for disabled is different than the business term for disabled. Just a business word so they can get help from the gov't. Even a man who lost a leg is still completely able and probably more ambitious, but the label sticks because the gov't supports businesses who hire such people.