My husband got a questionnaire from the District Court re jury duty, and one of the printed notes on the form said that "qualified individuals with disabilities have the same...obligation to serve as individuals without disabilities."

That makes perfect sense. I know a couple of people in wheelchairs, for example (due to injuries) who would make excellent jurors. They are not in pain, their minds are sharp, etc.

But it reminded me of a comment my daughter recently made that my granddaughter (college age) knows of course that I'm disabled but probably doesn't realize that I'm "sick".

In other words, she's aware that I have trouble getting around, that my balance is bad, that I use a cane and walker. But she's much less aware that I have other issues such as fatigue, muscle spasms, cognitive problems, bathroom issues, general malaise, and all of the other symptoms with which we struggle.

I don't know what my point is. Just thinking, that's all.

I got called for Jury Duty, called and explained I had MS and they excused me. I think I scared them.

Did you just tell them you had MS, or did you go into detail about how it would affect your participating?

Peeps without MS (incl Docs), will never understand what it's like to have MS..

I think just the words Multiple Sclerosis scared them. I told them I didn't drive and no buses ran past my house. They could see I'd just be a problem.

I could see the court thinking, "But you look so good."

I understand if called, one must appear; but I think once they got a grasp of what people with a multitude of chronic illnesses deal with on an hourly and daily basis, jury duty is a big obligation.

Thinking as a defense attorney my concern would be the pain level, cognizant level of comprehension, not to mention the number and types of medications involved. All affecting the abilities of the potential juror. I would expect selection chances to be next to none.