The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was amended in 2008 to include bipolar disorder as a covered condition.
The original 1988 law was designed to protect people with disabilities from discrimination in hiring, job assignments, promotions, firing, pay, layoffs, benefits and other employment-related activities. It states that if a disability causes impairment that “substantially limits” a person’s ability to handle “major life activities,” whether on or off the job, the employer must follow ADA rules in treating the disabled person.
Reasonable accommodations that employers must provide under the ADA may involve job restructuring, part-time or modified work schedules, reassignment to a vacant position, or adjusting examinations or policies. It may mean a change or adjustment to a job or work environment that permits an applicant or employee to participate in the application process, to perform the essential functions of a job or to obtain the benefits of employment that those without disabilities have.
To gain accommodations, an employee must disclose the fact that they have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder (or another mental or physical disability) and make request for accommodations. Those who believe they have been discriminated against can report discrimination and file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The claim must be filed within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation or 300 days if the charge is also covered by state or local laws. The EEOC has an intake questionnaire to help you determine if you are eligible to file a charge. It can be filled out online or at the nearest EEOC office. Charges themselves cannot be filed online.
For ADA purposes, major life activities that may be limited by a mental health disorder could include learning, thinking, concentrating, interacting with others, caring for oneself, speaking, or performing manual tasks. Sleep also may be limited in such a way that daily activities are impaired.
Someone with bipolar disorder may temporarily experience “limits” to handling life activities. A deep bout of depression or insomnia may create a need for time off or for flexible hours. An individual may need time off for doctor appointments. In the daily work environment he or she may need a quieter work area to decrease stress and enhance concentration or more frequent breaks to take a walk or do a relaxation exercise. He or she may need office supplies to help them organize and focus more effectively.
To improve their work experience and productivity, individuals with bipolar disorder may need to create good structure to their day and to their eating and sleeping habits. They may need to develop special organizing behaviors and divide large assignments into smaller tasks. They will benefit from a firm schedule for work activities and rest, as well as strategies to manage stress and reduce distractions.
Disability by itself is not enough to be protected from job discrimination by the ADA. An individual must satisfy the employer’s requirements for the job, such as education, experience, skills or licenses. He or she must also be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.
Employers may be exempted from ADA rules under several conditions including cost, disruption to business, or health and safety, but regardless of whether these conditions exist, employees still can file a claim with the EEOC. The company will have to prove its assertions of inability to provide reasonable accommodations to deny them legally.
Sources:
Psych Central bipolar disorder library
About.com bipolar resources
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Disclosing Your Disability To An Employer
Showing posts with label manic depression. Show all posts
Showing posts with label manic depression. Show all posts
Oct 9, 2010
Sep 10, 2010
Thoughts on the Link Between Mental Illness and Creativity: Case Study Being Vincent van Gogh By Christine Stapleton
I love van Gogh – not just his paintings and drawings. I love his letters - hundreds and hundreds of letters in which he shares the minutia of his life – from impotence to absinthe. Gossip, advice, critique, paints, colors, hues, canvas, food, weather, God and his mental illness(es). Because the letters are dated it is possible to match a painting to a letter and hear van Gogh describe how he felt when he painted it – his state of mind and health. It as if van Gogh is the docent at his own exhibit.
Vincent van Gogh self portrait via public domain library
via: Psyche Central
Aug 10, 2010
Stanford Professor Robert Sapolsky, posits that depression is the most damaging disease that you can experience. Right now it is the number four cause of disability in the US and it is becoming more common.
Stanford's Sapolsky On Depression in U.S. (Full Lecture)
Stanford University:
http://www.stanford.edu/
Stanford University Channel on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/stanford
Stanford University:
http://www.stanford.edu/
Stanford University Channel on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/stanford
Jun 13, 2010
A Very Troublesome Symptom of Major (Clinical) Depression and Manic Depression
Psychomotor retardation or psychomotor impairment comprises a slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movements in an individual. This is most commonly seen in people with major depression, as well as in the depressed phase of bipolar disorder, and is also associated with the adverse effects of certain drugs such as benzodiazepines. Particularly in inpatient settings, psychomotor retardation can require increased nursing care to ensure adequate food and fluid intake as well as sufficient personal care. Informed consent for treatment is more difficult to achieve when this is present.
Psychomotor retardation is also referred to as "motormental retardation", commonly seen in depression and bipolar disorder.
Some examples of psychomotor retardation may include the following:
Psychomotor retardation is also referred to as "motormental retardation", commonly seen in depression and bipolar disorder.
Some examples of psychomotor retardation may include the following:
- Unaccountable difficulty with carrying out what are usually considered "automatic" or "mundane" self-care tasks for healthy people (i.e., without depressive illness), such as taking a shower, putting on clothes, self-grooming, preparing food, brushing teeth and exercising.
- Actual physical difficulty performing activities that normally would require little thought or effort, such as walking up a flight of stairs, getting out of bed, preparing meals and clearing dishes from the table, household chores, returning phone calls, etc.
- Tasks requiring mobility suddenly or gradually and inexplicably seem to be "impossible". Activities such as shopping, getting groceries, caring for the daily needs of one's children, and meeting the demands pertaining to employment or school are commonly affected. Individuals experiencing these symptoms typically sense that something is wrong, and may be confused over their inability to perform these tasks.
- Activities usually requiring little mental effort can become challenging. Balancing one's checkbook, making a shopping list, making decisions about mundane tasks, (such as deciding what errands need to be done) are often difficult.
Feb 25, 2010
A lot of links with healing depression in mind...
Latest NewsQuestions and AnswersBlog EntriesVideosLinksBook Reviews
A Heart of StoneA Mood ApartA Philosophical DiseaseActive Treatment of DepressionAdolescent DepressionAgainst DepressionAn Unquiet MindBeating the BluesBefore ProzacBlaming the BrainCalm EnergyConquering Postpartum DepressionConquering the Beast WithinDamageDepressionDepression FalloutDepression in ContextDepression Is a ChoiceDepression, the Mood DiseaseDepression-Free for LifeDown Came the RainDysthymia and the Spectrum of Chronic DepressionsEmotional ClaustrophobiaEssential Psychopharmacology of Depression and Bipolar DisorderEverything Is FineExperiences of DepressionHandbook of DepressionHandbook of DepressionHistory of SuicideHow I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying to Kill MeIn Pursuit of HappinessJourneys with the Black DogLifeForce Yoga to Beat the Blues--Level 1LifeForce Yoga to Beat the Blues: Level 2Lifting DepressionLincoln's MelancholyLucy Sullivan Is Getting MarriedMalignant SadnessMindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for DepressionMood GenesMy DepressionNatural Healing for DepressionNew Hope for People with DepressionOn the Edge of DarknessOutsmarting DepressionOvercoming DepressionPotatoes Not ProzacProzac and the New AntidepressantsProzac BacklashProzac DiaryProzac NationPuppy Chow Is Better Than ProzacRaising a Moody ChildSelf-CoachingSongs from the Black ChairSpeaking of SadnessStudent DepressionSubordination and DefeatSunbathing in the RainSwing LowTalking Back to ProzacThe American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Mood DisordersThe Anatomy of MelancholyThe Anti-Depressant Fact BookThe Antidepressant EraThe BeastThe Bell JarThe CorrectionsThe Cruelty of DepressionThe Depressed ChildThe Depression CureThe Emotional RevolutionThe Family SilverThe Feeling Good HandbookThe Mood CureThe Nature of MelancholyThe Noonday DemonThe Postpartum EffectThe Secret Strength of DepressionThe Van Gogh BluesThe Van Gogh BluesUndercurrentsUnderstanding DepressionUndoing DepressionUnholy GhostUnstuckWhat the Birds SeeWhen a Parent is DepressedWhen Nothing Matters AnymoreWhen Words Are Not EnoughWhy Are You So Sad?Writing Through the Darkness
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