[Starznight]

The DH and I decided it was time to finally get an adjustable bed, and a new couch. So off to the furniture store we went, and while browsing an older lady in a wheelchair comment about mine (i basically only use it when out and about for a while, but this time really needed it thanks to the knee.) she had one of those beast invacare ones... the kind that weighs 30 pounds and has that awful vinyl seat... so we showed off my ultralight, how the wheels pop off and how it folds down to nothing for easy transport.

Anyways, that got us talking, she has cerebral palsy, which does have a few similarities to MS, so much so that we even have the same doctor . But she did seem truly amazing, she is trying to work with blue cross to employ those with neurological disorders, to find ways to have folks being able to work around their disabilities. Like if you can manage 2 hours a day...that's better than nothing, gets you out of the house, helps in allowing folks to be "productive" members of society. She's also working with a vocational training program in Jacksonville that tries to train folks for employment based on their abilities, but even the program understands that some of the disabilities really limit the hours which one can work and knows that employers don't want to high people with such limited hours. Furthermore with little to no notice that one might not be able to come into work because it's a bad day.

But altogether it was nice sitting down and talking with someone and explaining to one whose trying to help people be productive, about some of the unique possible limitations of MS and how it can affect ones ability to work. Fatigue being a large factor, memory issues, muscle control.... and one that I noticed the most when I used to work is illness, catching anything and everything from my coworkers and their families. If someone's kid had the flu, even if my coworker didn't I'd catch it. I'd end up knocked out for a month when strep was going around the schools, a rather miserable existence and it didn't help that most of my jobs involved dealing with the general public so they'd get me sick too, and I couldn't go to work wearing a mask and gloves to prevent it. Mysophobia looks soooo unprofessional (even if you don't have OCD, but a very real health concern) my old employers thought it was better I call in sick for a month straight then wear gloves. And masks were completely out of the question and even stated as such in the employee handbooks.

But since she got me on thinking about what would enable me to work (public transportation, limited hours and a low priority position so it wouldn't effect them if I had to call out, the ability to wear gloves and a mask are my top three conditions)

What would be your ideal work environment?

[ewizabeth]

Ideally I would work from home so that I could rest when necessary and be near the bathroom. Most companies require working from an onsite location first before being promoted to a work from home type of position. My last employer was like this. The work from home jobs were highly sought after and many of them required being on the road extensively at times, as well.

I've wracked my brain trying to think of small business ideas that I could do from home that would earn a decent living, and that wouldn't require a lot of physical strength or energy.