Julie,

Ah, I see you caught my quoted “reasonable”! That’s the kicker. However, it puts the monkey on the employer’s back because they have to provide paperwork to prove that an accommodation would not be “reasonable”. That’s another tack you could take, by the way: try to figure out a way to bury them in paperwork. In my experience, especially where change is concerned, government employees hate dealing with the mountain of paperwork required for some things. ADA makes it clear that proof has to be given showing that accommodations are “unreasonable”. Sometimes I have seen a simple memo copied to the right people (and blind copied to some important people) generate a firestorm of activity to avoid the paperwork. 😉 That’s a low-down trick, but when folks are not doing the right thing up front I have no problem not following tact and decorum. 😀

I completely understand trying to give them time to do the right thing. Political contacts can be a really great ace-in-the-hole too. I hope things work out for you without causing allot of hassles for you. I have noticed lately that my co-workers are basically writing me off not including me in any activities planned on days they know full well I’ll be in the office (every Tuesday). There is some jealousy there, I think. Also, there may be some resentment. I don’t know for sure, but I think some of them have an underlying doubt that CIDP can be as devastating as we here on the forums know all too well.

Julie,

I know you might not want to, but have you thought about making a State or Federal Senator aware of your circumstances?

I work for State government and they are well aware of ADA. According to ADA your employer, whether private sector or government, must make “reasonable” modifications to accomodate your disability. All that should be required is a letter from your neurologist stating your condition and its limitations. Getting a higher level government individual “on the case” could help you and that government individual, ie. being able to add helping insure laws are carried out in government to their “things I’ve done” war-chest for re-elections.

I have never lived in a small town so I can’t say I know where you are coming from where that is concerned, but the law states (federal law) that employers must make “reasonable” accomodations for handicap employees. You have the right to force the issue. As for the “filing” part of your job description, couldn’t they allow you to come in maybe once or twice a week to get that done? That seems like a “reasonable” modification to me.

Finally, the right attourney would jump all over this one should you be willing to take it that far. Like I said, I can’t relate to the small town ramifications, but your rights are your rights under law.