Empowering people with disabilities: Knowledge

Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy's 

Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

Accommodation and Compliance Series: Employees with Fibromyalgia

Accommodation and Compliance Series: Employees with CFS

JAN’s Accommodation and Compliance Series is designed to help employers determine effective accommodations and comply with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Each publication in the series addresses a specific medical condition and provides information about the condition, ADA information, accommodation ideas, and resources for additional information.

Is a FMS/CFS a disability under the ADA?

The ADA does not contain a list of medical conditions that constitute disabilities. Instead, the ADA has a general definition of disability that each person must meet (EEOC, 1992). Therefore, some people with FMS will have a disability under the ADA and some will not. 

A person has a disability if he/she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment (EEOC, 1992). For more information about how to determine whether a person has a disability under the ADA, visit http://askjan.org/corner/vol02iss04.htm.

Fibromyalgia and accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act

This a quick overview of some of the job accommodations that might be useful for people with Fibromyalgia and CFS. For a more in depth discussion, access JAN's publications at http://askjan.org/media/atoz.htm. To discuss an accommodation situation with a consultant, contact JAN directly.

JAN's Searchable Online Accommodation Resource for Fibromyalgia

JAN's Searchable Online Accommodation Resource for CFS

A comprehensive list of all JAN publications.

Remeber: Knowledge is power.

Gentle hugs and always be learning,

Jessica

So I'm trying to win a Nook...

If you don't know what a Nook is, it's an electronic book reader much like Amazon's Kindle. It is much more versatile, however. And, the thing is, I've wanted one for quite a while.

My Fibromyalgia has advanced (or deteriorated) to the point that I'm unable to hold even a paperback. As I've been an avid reader since the 2nd grade, having my ability to read books taken away from me is more than I can bear. All I can do these days is read and peruse the Internet. Even typing a simple, short message such as this one takes a lot out of me. But reading has always been my first love and I don't want it taken away only because I can't hold a book long enough to read a single page.

The Nook is lightweight and weighs less than a paperback book, so I'm thinking it is exactly what I need. I was supposed to get one for Mother's Day, but with the looming foreclosure, rising medical costs and general cost of living, it was just not meant to be. So the only way I'm going to get one is if it's giving to me. And since they are giving this one away, I would like the chance to win it.

So I'm asking - nay, begging - for your help to win a Nook from a contest hosted by a website called backmybook.com. All you have to do is click on the link. There is no registration or purchase necessary. Just a simple click will gain me points to winning the competition.

fmslife recommends Ancestor on http://backmybook.com

Gentle hugs, gentle reader,

Jessica