This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Hi, I'm new here, but found this forum years ago and remembered it now.

My DH has MS. He was diagnosed in 2009. He'd worked in the same industry since 2005, this month is actually 10 years.

He moved to a university doing his job as an animal technician 4 years ago. His work was unaware of his condition until recently. Last March he had a major relapse and was out of work for 10 weeks. Since his return he's been treated very poorly. Last week he was suspended without pay and written up. We believe he's being targeted to be fired. Items on the list included things he wasn't even at work for (Items from April and early May, he was out March 1st to May 20th). He argued he wasn't even there for those times and his work was shared by 3 people at the time, so how could those be counted against him? So they said it was also for things that happened in September and October. The items he were written up for are things nobody is written up for. I worked in the same industry for 5 years, never saw anyone written up for something like this.

Anyways, long story short we now have an ADA counselor that we found through his job, someone helping us from the MS Society, and we have a lawyer's number in case. Tomorrow we have a meeting with his ADA counselor for accommodations. His ADA counselor has said that it doesn't matter the cost of the accommodation, it can be provided.

The first accommodation he's asking for is to be transferred to another facility, he believes no matter what he should not stay at his current facility, and that one is closer to our home, therefore shorter driving distance.

His job is basically in research as an animal technician. He is standing all day (we asked for higher tables and equipment made for taller people and that was granted before), I believe he has a morning break (15 minutes), a half hour lunch, then another break (15 minutes).

So my question is, what accommodations have you asked for at a job? We've gotten a lot of information and tonight we are going over all of it and figuring out a game plan for what to ask for. We are also trying to figure out good justification for him transferring to another facility.

Thank you.

Well I guess this forum is pretty dead now but we spoke to our ADA counselor and we are getting some accommodations put in place for him.

1- We are asking instead of one 15 and an hour lunch, to break it up into one 15, then half hour lunch, then half hour break.
2- We are asking that the mop DH uses to clean the floors be changed to a lighter one.
3- We are asking to see if the hood he works in can be air conditioned because it can get warm.

We are also filing a grievance with the Union because he was never told he could respond to his suspension. And then we shall respond to the suspension.

Some hard times ahead for us, but I think it's going to be okay.

beera wrote:Well I guess this forum is pretty dead now...

Welcome to ThisIsMS. I don't think the forum is dead. 77 people read your post in the first day. It's certainly within reason that none of those 77 people had a useful recommendation for your question.

Didn't count views, my mistake.

I think you are at a point that you should be thinking about your long term income, meaning say the next 20 or 30 years. Hopefully not, but there is a strong possibility that your husband's energy level and disability will worsen over time. Maybe it's time to be thinking of an income stream which is 'disability proof'. Perhaps something on-line, a desk job or studies for a major career change. Maybe also you could be looking out for available benefits and programs from government or charity organisations that can help with the transition. All the best

Thanks, my husband's MS has gotten worse and now we are dealing with the insurance company denying payment because our neurologist put him on acthar gel instead of doing prednisone FIRST for 3 days then acthar gel. But prednisone does NOTHING for him now, Acthar gel is the only thing that helps. The doctor gave him the vial he had on hand so as not to delay treatment and now insurance is refusing to supply another bottle to my doctor (this is how we have done it in the past). He's already on short term disability with his job, we've exhausted all of his vacation and sick leave, and starting next week he'll get like $800/MONTH for 6 months, then for 6 months he'll be on his works retirement program, THEN after that he will apply for social security. The only good thing about that is then we can get his student loans forgiven. I'd rather him stay home than go try for another job. Stress seems to trigger him really badly. He's already looked in to some part time stuff after he goes on permanent disability, but on a volunteer basis. The major issue is because of the numbness and muscle weakness he cannot drive, and I don't know many jobs that he could do from home with his background in animal care. Many work from home things we have found are very demanding and I know it wouldn't be for my husband. Thankfully I have higher earning power with my science background and once we get things settled with him I will leave my company for a position that can pay more.

I'm really upset because we looked up the cost of acthar gel being well over $20 grand, that's not something we can afford! My husband and I can barely sleep, our doctor has appealed and they have denied the appeal. Which is really stupid because in the past my husband has taken acthar without prednisone and they approved it. But apparently this time because he was given a large dose of prednisone he isn't approved cuz he didn't do it for three days BEFORE the prednisone? They'd rather my husband be hospitalized like he was last March, spend a week in the hospital, getting prednisone which did NOT help him last time, then have to get acthar AGAIN? The large dose of prednisone didn't even help him (went from his legs all the way up his chest), the acthar did.

We have another appointment with his neurologist on Monday and then we shall see what happens. My husband is just not improving anymore, he's been numb from the upper thighs down since Mid December.

I've also looked into some acthar assistance programs, so hopefully we can get away from this issue and not worry for the future.

Also we will sell my husband's car if it ends up he needs to go on social security, I drive his car once a week as it is just to keep the juices and battery going.

I believe it might be best to apply for SSDI now, rather than to wait. You should seek the advise of an attorney.

ElliotB wrote:I believe it might be best to apply for SSDI now, rather than to wait. You should seek the advise of an attorney.

Agreed. SSDI works on a point system based on your past work. The sooner you apply after stopping work, the more points you'll have and the better off you'll be. In addition, the process takes some time to complete and medical coverage with SSDI, Medicare, doesn't kick-in until the second year on SSDI if I remember correctly. It's better to get the process started as early as possible if that's the road you've decided to travel.