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Bipolar Disorder and the Americans with Disabilities Act By Lynda McCullough

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

Network of Care for Behavioral Health

Welcome to the Network of Care for Behavioral Health, a comprehensive resource for individuals, families and agencies concerned with behavioral health. This website provides an extensive directory to put people in touch with the right services at the right time. It also offers vital information about diagnoses, insurance and advocacy, as well as daily news from around the world concerning mental health. This unique, one-stop information tool enables you to find pertinent mental health Web sites, keep personal records, and communicate directly with elected officials to make your voice heard in the legislative halls. The San Diego Network of Care for Mental Health website is provided by the County of San Diego with the sponsorship of the California Department of Mental Health. It is the inaugural Network of Care for Mental Health developed by Trilogy Integrated Resources. Recommended by the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health (see excerpt), the Network of Care helps you find what you need and it helps ensure that there is "No Wrong Door" for those who need services. Regardless of where you begin your search for assistance with behavioral health issues, This Web site can greatly assist in our efforts to protect our greatest human asset - our beautiful minds. Click anywhere in this sentence for a direct link to the site...

A Very Comprehensive Resource with 100's of Links

Wikipedia's Index of Psychology Articles...

History of psychology Branches of psychology Basic science Abnormal · Behavioral neuroscience Cognitive · Developmental Experimental · Evolutionary Mathematical · Neuropsychology Personality · Positive Psychophysics · Social Transpersonal

Personality Theories

   Introduction
   Sigmund Freud
   Anna Freud
   Erik Erikson
   Carl Jung
   Otto Rank
   Alfred Adler
   Karen Horney
   Albert Ellis
   Erich Fromm
   B. F. Skinner
   Hans Eysenck and others
   Albert Bandura
   Gordon Allport
   George Kelly
   Snygg and Combs
   Abraham Maslow
   Carl Rogers
   Ludwig Binswanger
   Medard Boss
   Viktor Frankl
   Rollo May
   Jean Piaget
   Sociobiology
   Buddhist Psychology
   The Ultimate Theory of Personality
   Bibliography

This is an electronic textbook ("e-text") in Personality Theories. While it is copyrighted, you may download it or print it out without permission from the author, as long as the material is used only for personal or educational purposes, and the source is indicated.

Via:  Dr. C. George Boeree

MedicinePlus...Trusted Health Information

Interactive Health Tutorials

The tutorials listed below are interactive health education resources from the Patient Education Institute. Using animated graphics each tutorial explains a procedure or condition in easy-to-read language. You can also listen to the tutorial. Click anywhere in this sentence linking you to a huge clearing house of health resources and education...

Via:  US National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Health

Psychology Blogs

Link To 40 Superb Psychology Blogs

"Forty of the best psychology blogs, chosen to give you a broad sweep of the most interesting content being produced online right now.

The list is split into three sections: first are more general psychological blogs, followed by those with an academic slant, followed by condition specific and patient perspective blogs. "...click anywhere in this sentence to continue reading.

Via PsycheBlog: Understand Your Mind

A Psychology Today Informational and Comprehensive Website

Mood Swings

A Psychiatrist Surveys the Mind and the Wider World

by Dr. Nassir Ghaemi