Information Provided by the Job Accommodation Network 1-800-526-7234 http://janweb.idci.wvu.edu

(Note: People with MS will develop some of these limitations or symptoms, but seldom develop all of them. Limitations will vary among individuals. Also note that not all people who have MS will need accommodations to perform their job and many others may need only a few accommodations. The following is only a sample of the possibilities available. Numerous other accommodation solutions exist as well.)

Physical Limitations

• Install ramps, handrails, and provide handicap parking spaces 
• Install lever style door handles 
• Clear pathways of any unnecessary equipment and furniture

Visual Problems

• Provide written information in large print 
• Change fluorescent lights to high intensity, white lights 
• Increase natural lighting 
• Provide a glare guard for computer monitors 
• Consult a vision specialist particularly with someone who has lost a part or all of their vision

Maintaining Stamina during the Workday

• Flexible scheduling 
• Allow longer or more frequent work breaks 
• Provide additional time to learn new responsibilities 
• Provide self-paced workload 
• Provide backup coverage for when the employee needs to take breaks 
• Allow for time off for counseling 
• Allow for use of supportive employment and job coaches 
• Allow employee to work from home during part of the day 
• Provide for job sharing opportunities 
• Part time work schedules

Maintaining Concentration

• Reduce distractions in the work area 
• Provide space enclosures or a private office 
• Allow for use of white noise or environmental sound machines 
• Allow the employee to play soothing music using a cassette player and headset
• Increase natural lighting or provide full spectrum lighting 
• Reduce clutter in the employee's work environment 
• Plan for uninterrupted work time 
• Divide large assignments into smaller tasks and steps 
• Restructure job to include only essential functions

Difficulty Staying Organized and Meeting Deadlines

• Make daily TO-DO lists and check items off as they are completed 
• Use several calendars to mark meetings and deadlines 
• Remind employee of important deadlines via memos or e-mail or weekly supervision 
• Use a watch or pager with timer capability 
• Use electronic organizers 
• Divide large assignments into smaller tasks and steps 
• Assign a mentor to assist employee determining goals and provide daily guidance
• Schedule weekly meetings with supervisor, manager or mentor to determine if goals are being met

Memory Deficits

• Allow the employee to tape record meetings 
• Provide typewritten minutes of each meeting 
• Use notebooks, calendars, or sticky notes to record information for easy retrieval
• Provide written as well as verbal instructions 
• Allow additional training time 
• Provide written checklists 
• Provide environmental cues to assist in memory for locations of items, such as labels, color coding, or bulletin boards 
• Post instructions over all frequently used equipment

Problem Solving Deficits

• Provide picture diagrams of problem solving techniques, (i.e. flow charts)
• Restructure the job to include only essential functions 
• Assign a supervisor, manager or mentor to be available when the employee has questions

Working Effectively with Supervisors

• Provide positive praise and reinforcement 
• Provide written job instructions 
• Write clear expectations of responsibilities and the consequences of not meeting them 
• Allow for open communication to managers and supervisors 
• Establish written long term and short term goals 
• Develop strategies to deal with problems before they arise 
• Provide written work agreements 
• Develop a procedure to evaluate the effectiveness of the accommodation

Difficulty Handling Stress and Emotions

• Provide praise and positive reinforcement 
• Refer to counseling and employee assistance programs 
• Allow telephone calls during work hours to doctors and others for needed support
• Provide sensitivity training to coworkers 
• Allow the employee to take a break to use stress management techniques to deal with frustration

Attendance Issues

• Provide flexible leave for health problems 
• Provide a self-paced work load and flexible hours 
• Allow employee to work from home 
• Provide part-time work schedule

Issues of Change

• Recognize that a change in the office environment or of supervisors may be difficult for a person with a brain injury 
• Maintain open channels of communication between the employee and the new and old supervisor in order to ensure an effective transition 
• Provide weekly or monthly meetings with the employee to discuss workplace issues and production levels

Information Provided by the Job Accommodation Network 1-800-526-7234 http://janweb.idci.wvu.edu

~ Taken from the Sno-King MS Community Services ~

Simple Enhancements To Increase Accessibility And Conserve Energy

Around the House:

• Rearrange furniture, spacing it adequately for increased ease of travel through rooms.
• Move those items most commonly used for various tasks to within your working reach range - either sitting or standing.
• Remove clutter - a trip hazard!
• Pace your activity level early on to have more energy at the end of the day.

Bathing:

• Use a tub or shower seat to prevent long periods of standing.
• Decrease, when possible, your full baths or showers to 1-2x/week, then do sponge bathing the rest of the time.

Dressing:

• Change the style of clothing you wear - from buttons and zippers to pull-over or elastic waist styles. Also - loose fitting clothing is much easier to put on than snug or more tailored clothing.
• Change to slip-on shoes versus tied shoes.

Personal Hygiene:

• Consider a personal hygiene, bidet-type setup that can be attached to your toilet when there is difficulty with reach or trunk balance.

Meal Preparation:

• Microwave or delivered hot meals.

Enhancements That Take A Bit More Planning

• If your bedroom is upstairs consider moving it to a location on the main floor of your home.
• Ramp a set of outside entry stairs, or change to a different entry if one is more level than another. This may mean pouring a concrete sidewalk.
• Caregivers can use mechanical lifts to assist with transfers.
• Hire a personal assistant. This can be especially helpful if you're working and need assistance with your morning routine. You'll have more energy for the workplace!

Enhancements That Are Considered "Hi-Tech"

• Installation of stair lifts, elevators or exterior lifts.
• Installation of overhead track systems or other lifts for moving between rooms and from bed to wheelchair or scooter, on and off the toilet, etc.
• Remodeling of a single room or an entire home.
• New construction for custom, accessible home.

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The Multiple Sclerosis Association of King County
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