— How do you think your stroke will affect your job?

Here are some things to know about going back to work after a stroke:

• Listen to your doctor. If your doctor says you are not ready to go back to work yet, pay attention to those instructions. If you go back to work too soon, you may put a lot of stress on yourself. That may slow your progress.
  
  
• Decide how much you will tell your employer. You don’t have to tell your employer everything. However, it is probably better to tell your employer how your stroke may affect your ability to do your job. That way, you and your employer can decide what changes to make so you can do your old job—or maybe do a new job.
  
  
• Know that you may be protected from job discrimination by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In general, this law applies to workers in companies that have 15 or more employees. Under the ADA, you have a “disability” if your stroke makes it difficult for you to see, walk, speak, do tasks with your hands, learn, or work. If your stroke makes it difficult for you to do these things, ask your doctor to write a letter to your employer explaining your situation.
  
  Ask your employer for a “reasonable accommodation” (change) if you need extra help to do your job. The ADA requires employers to make a “reasonable accommodation” so workers with disabilities can do their jobs. A reasonable accommodation, or change, might be as simple as giving you a parking space close to your office.
  
  Your employer also might make room in the office for your wheelchair. Or your employer might provide you with special tools so you can do your job. Or your employer also might give you flexible work hours or offer you another job at the company.
  
  Of course, if you don’t tell your employer about your stroke, the employer is not required to make any changes. The employer also is not required to make changes that are not considered “reasonable.” Extremely expensive accommodations may not be required of the employer.
  
  
• Understand that you must be able to do the job after a reasonable accommodation is made. Here are two examples. Example 1: Mary is an accountant. Her stroke has caused numbness on her left side, but she can still do her accounting work. She asks her employer to arrange her office so she doesn’t have to use her left hand. That is a reasonable accommodation, and her employer is required to make it.
  
  Example 2: Sam is an accountant. His stroke has caused memory problems. Sam has trouble adding and subtracting numbers. Sam is not able to do accounting work right now, even if his boss gives him extra help. Sam’s boss is not required to keep Sam in a job as an accountant.
  
  
• Call your state’s vocational rehabilitation office. Look for a telephone number in the government pages of the telephone directory under “State.” A state rehabilitation office may be able to help you get special equipment or training to return to work.
  
  
• Know your rights. If you think you are being unfairly discriminated against because of your stroke, contact the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission at 1-800-669-4000. Or go to www.eeoc.gov.

— My plan for my current job

I won't be returning
to my old job. How
can I find a new job?
If you are unable to go back to your old job, you can do other things.

• Talk to your hospital social worker. Ask about job training programs for people with disabilities.
  
  
• Call your state vocational rehabilitation office. Ask for help in getting trained to do a new kind of work.
  
  
• Go back to school. Find out about classes at your local college or vocational school. Many colleges have special help for people with disabilities. You also can apply for special scholarships to help pay for college.
  
  
• Call the American Stroke Association at 1-888-4-STROKE (478-7653) and ask for the Stroke Family Warmline. Ask for referrals to organizations that may help you find a new job.
  
  
• Use the Internet to hunt for a new job. Project ABLE has a resume bank for people with disabilities: www.ssa.gov/work/employers/able.html.
  
  
• When you get a job offer, check out the benefits. Make sure the company’s insurance plan will cover your medical condition. Good benefits are very important, especially when you have a health problem.
  
  
• Start your own business. Some stroke survivors have started their own businesses. When you are the boss, you can make your workday fit with your health needs.
  
  
• Volunteer. If you decide you are unable to return to a paying job, look for ways to volunteer. Helping others will give your life a new sense of purpose. It also may help you gain new job skills and may help you gauge when you will be ready to return to a paying job.

— My new job