PurposeFour African American women with multiple sclerosis (MS) participated in an evaluation of barriers to their continued employment.MethodsA trained interviewer completed the Work Experience Survey (WES) in teleconsultation sessions with each participant to identify their: (a) barriers to worksite access, (b) difficulties performing essential functions of their positions, (c) concerns regarding continued mastery of their careers, and (d) extent of job satisfaction.ResultsResulting largely from the physiological, sensory, and cognitive sequelae of their disease, participants reported a wide range of difficulties in performing essential functions of their jobs (15–45) that have the potential to significantly affect their productivity. Career mastery problems reflected issues associated with MS such as “believing that others think I do a good job” and “having the resources (e.g., knowledge, tools, supplies, and equipment) needed to do the job.” Other career mastery concerns reflected idiosyncratic aspects of a specific job setting such as “being able to speak with my supervisor about promotion.” Considering these barriers and relationships with employers, the majority of participants reported low levels of job satisfaction.ConclusionThe interviewer concluded the WES interview by recommending a job accommodation plan, which included suggestions from Job Accommodation Network (JAN) consultants. The interviewer also offered guidelines for the employee to follow in requesting job modifications and assistive technology.
The Experience of African-American Women with Multiple Sclerosis