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I'd Rather Be Working
Overcoming disability

About.com Rating

By Carol & Richard Eustice, About.com Guide

Updated November 01, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

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Chronic illness and disability can impact nearly every aspect of "normal" daily life. The limitations imposed by disability narrow ones existence. As the list of can-do's shrinks, the list of can't-do's expands. It can be as dreadful as it sounds or a person can decide to make the most of what they have. It's an attitudinal issue.

Is working just a dream?

It has been said that a person's self-esteem and self-worth are tied to their work. Imagine then what happens to good feelings about "self" when one becomes unable to work. More than 60 million Americans of working-age live with a chronic illness or disability which makes getting or keeping a job very difficult. The vast majority of this group would rather be working than unemployed or underemployed. Not only would working enhance their personal measure of value and contribution, it would stabilize their financial picture.

Is working a dream or a reality for people with a disability? How can someone assess their abilities versus their limitations in order to know what kind of employment is even possible for them? Can any accommodations be made or training be offered? "I'd Rather Be Working: A Step-by-Step Guide to Financial Self-Support for People With Chronic Illness", by Gayle Backstrom, is a valuable resource for any person with a disability or chronic illness considering the search for gainful employment. The first part of the book focuses on self-evaluation, while asking the tough questions:

What programs/services can help?

The self-assessment helps decide what is realistic and truly achievable. Once the realistic goals are established, the second part of the book concentrates on what programs and services are offered by the federal government. Information about employment rights and the protection offered by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), vocational rehabilitation, and financial assistance for retraining is presented. Even more information from the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), describe new initiatives and referral networks to help disabled persons find work.Another chapter is devoted to the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) whose mission it is to assist in the hiring, retraining, retention, or advancement of persons with disabilities by providing accommodation information.

Rethink, refocus, retrain

The pros and cons of self-employment are analyzed, along with questions about small business and entrepreneurship. How to undertake a successful job search is also addressed and there are myriad resources listed to help with the entire process of finding employment. Backstrom, who suffers with fibromyalgia lost fulltime employment several times, before working as a writer for most of the past 30 years. Her own personal story is inspirational as it reveals her positive attitude and realization for the need to adapt as her life changed. Interviews with about 20 chronically ill or disabled workers are included, emphasizing their perspective and approach to increasing employment options.

The book is a must-read for any disabled or chronically ill person who wishes they were working. There is a message in the book for those people: RETHINK --------REFOCUS-------RETRAIN. Gayle Backstrom teaches us how.

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