Hello everyone! Although I’ve replied to posts before I think this is my first one so I hope I’ve posted correctly. My almost 18 year old daughter has juvenile arthritis and is currently at college. Due to her condition and the fact it hasnt really been under control she has had pretty bad attendance at school/college especially over the last 2 years.
As a mum I worry about her ability to get and hold down a full time job when she leaves college.
Do you tell employers up front that you have ra? Do you hide it? Do employers have to make provisions for her? I’m very confused about how this should all be handled.
Many thanks everyone and it’s so good this community is here.
Best wishes
Julie
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juliejswift
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It would be advisable to tell future employment she has RA,if her grades and experience is good enough and they like her i see no reason why they wouldn't take her on,but she should be prepared to be rebuffed. I wish her good luck in her endeavors.xxx
Look up the Equality Act which will tell you about her rights. In summary, depending on how it affects you RA can be classed as a disability. And there are protections for disabled workers, and employers have to make reasonable adjustments to cater for their needs. At the interview stage you don't have to say anything.
However, I don't consider myself disabled as my RA is well controlled. And when I was working apart from time off when I was first diagnosed I didn't have any special requirements. So your daughter may get her disease under control and be able to live completely normally. Her poor attendance record may have to be explained to prospective employers, but if she does well at her exams and gets positive references then it shouldn't be an issue. It could be harder for her of course, but not impossible.
Of course you're going to worry as a mum, but try to support her getting back to "normal". Unless there's no other option I personally wouldn't open the door to her feeling permenently disabled.
Yes I see your point and I think it’s only because we have been trying to get the right drug. She’s now started a biologic and I’m hoping it gets into remission. Thank you
Have a look at the information on the NRAS website about employment. There is a useful booklet for employers too which tells you what they should offer in the way of adaptions and help. There will be some occupations that are not suitable for us, but most things can be done with a little help!
I've just started a 2nd job, & at my interview I told them about my OA more or less straight away. They were very understanding about what I can't & can do, & if i'm struggling with any of the tasks, I just need to let them know & they'll try & adapt.
Granted I do work for the local council for both my jobs, & they are good employers.
I understand how you are feeling. My daughter has had her education affected by illness. She had surgery for scoliosis aged 15. She had already been diagnosed with CFS aged 7. She missed most of year 11 and although she managed to achieve enough GCSEs including maths and English to attend 6th form college, her attendance during her BTEC was erratic. She passed but the grades weren't what they should have been. She is now struggling to get on to a degree course, even though her health is now relatively stable. We did send an extenuating circumstances letter to one university but they rejected her. Someone suggested doing an access course but one of the universities said that it is for people who haven't previously had formal qualifications so they wouldn't accept it. So she is nearly 19, struggling to move on to the next stage and losing the little confidence she had. Getting a job during this "gap year" hasn't happened either. She never had a part-time job as we wanted her to focus on her education and her health, and mentioning her health issues to prospective employers/colleges now doesn't seem to make any difference. I truly don't know the best way forward. Disclose or not disclose.
The Open University are amazingly helpful regarding any level of disability or difficulty. A degree course is usually done as building up part time modules (16 hours a week). 2 modules represents a complete year of a degree course. If things are going well it’s possible to work part time alongside the part time module or you can do 2 modules simultaneously to finish the degree more quickly. You can also take a break without affecting the long term outcome. Credits for completed modules should be accepted by other universities.
It might give your daughter the flexibility and support she needs.
That may be an option. She hopes (and we hope too) that she could get away and enjoy the whole student experience. But it's good to know there are other possibilities if that can't happen. Thanks Creakywrists.
Juliejswift. I feel that the years 14 - 18 are some of the worst years to suffer from a chronic illness. It is hard to gain qualifications and then present yourself to a prospective employer when you haven't had the opportunity to prove yourself and have experience because you've been dealing with health issues. Also knowing whether to be open and potentially put an employer off, or not saying anything to get your foot in the door (but then struggling to explain absences or poor grades). Anyway, the best of luck to your daughter. Everyone deals with things differently and people are able to overcome all sorts of barriers.
Would she consider doing voluntary work? I have seen how this increases self confidence and can actually open up job interviews and employment. Its tough isn't it on them. I do some voluntary work for a childrens charity and most of the people who work there now seem to have started as volunteers! Good luck xx
I think that's a really good idea and it is something I suggested a while back. Some of my daughter's friends have jobs and she wanted to be like them and have her own money but I think now she has to face up to the fact that she may have to take a different approach to get some experience. Thanks for reminding me.
I was dx age 6 so told employers straight away, although no Equality Act those days. I knew I could only do a sitting down job, nothing that involved too much walking about or heavy lifting etc. I was a receptionist, then went on to be a legal secretary and paralegal. I managed to work 22 years. Good luck to your daughter.
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