The symptom burden of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is likely to impact your ability to work. Instead of pushing through despite your symptoms or becoming overwhelmed and quitting your job, ask your employer for accommodations. Your right to do so is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Here are some tips on how to ask for accommodations at work if you’re living with ATTR-CM.
ATTR-CM symptoms and your professional life
ATTR-CM has a diverse range of symptoms, which primarily impact the heart. Cardiac symptoms can resemble those of heart failure and can include fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, wheezing and brain fog. In some cases, the peripheral nerves are also impacted, causing symptoms such as carpal tunnel syndrome and pain and numbness in the hands and feet.
All these symptoms can affect your physical strength, mobility and mental health, and take a significant toll on your ability to work.
Your right to accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities, including chronic health conditions. The ADA defines a person with a disability as someone who “has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities” (this definition is different from how other other legal areas, such as Social Security, may define a disability). The ADA requires that employers make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, as long as they do not cause “undue hardship” for the employer.
Examples of accommodations
Each individual living with ATTR-CM will have a different experience, with symptoms of varying degrees of severity. Your approach to making life at work more manageable should be tailored to your needs. Here are some accommodations to consider:
- Flexible hours: A more flexible schedule can help you make time for doctor’s appointments or unexpected ATTR-CM-related issues.
- Work from home: Working remotely can help you avoid the stress and exhaustion of a long commute.
- Regular breaks: Frequent breaks give you time to take medication or rest.
- Change in responsibilities: If you feel unable to carry out the same role as before, changing to a new position can let you keep working. (Note that you will need to be qualified for the new role, and your employer is not obligated to create a new position for you.)
- Reassigned tasks: If there is anything too physical or that feels beyond your mental capacity, ask to have that task reassigned.
Tips on asking for accommodations at work
Before you speak to your manager, supervisor or HR contact, consider the following points:
- Know your legal rights: You have a right to accommodations, but you must still be able to fulfill your job’s essential functions, and accommodations must be considered reasonable. If you work at a desk and have carpal tunnel syndrome it may be well within your rights to ask for an ergonomic keyboard and mouse, but if you work in a warehouse it might be unreasonable to avoid all heavy lifting.
- Get support from your healthcare team: As part of your accommodation request, include a letter from your cardiologist describing your diagnosis and how it affects your professional responsibilities.
- Communicate openly around your needs: You’re not obliged to share all medical details with your employer. It is your choice as to how much information you share. But it’s important to be clear with your employer on which aspects of your professional life you’d like to modify.
It might feel daunting as you prepare for the conversation with your employer, but your well-being is the priority, and you need to defend it. In most cases, negotiations for accommodations run smoothly.
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