Employment With Parkinson's Disease

4 Ways Parkinson’s Disease Might Influence Your Job Performance Review

By Dr. Paul Short.  Published by LinkedIn, January 19, 2016

Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can be perceived as personality flaws rather than neurological change. Promotions, raises, bonuses, even continued employment may be at stake unless you share some basic information about 4 common symptoms of PD with your employer.

8 + Parkinson’s = 12 Hour Workday

Dr. Paul Short.  Published by LinkedIn, August 29, 2016

This short web page recommends that when a working person with Parkinson’s begins to notice doing their job takes an inordinate amount of time, it is time to talk with the boss about what he/she can do to help.

I’m Ill, but Who Really Needs to Know?

By Lisa Belkin.  Published by The New York Times, February 21, 2008

This is a comparison of different paths taken in disclosing chonic or long-term illness on the job, the protections offered US employees by the Americans with Disabilities Act and successes and failures of employers to follow the spirit of the law, and the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) as a useful resource.

Parkinson's and the Workplace: Five Tips from Our Community

Published by The Michael J. Fox Foundation, February 14, 2017

Using personal accounts from those with PD, five tips are offered for talking about your diagnosis at work, making a plan about accommodating your workload, exploring gadgets and software to make working with your symptoms easier, dispell misconceptions about PD, and getting coworkers and your employer involved in the race for the cure.

When and How Should I Talk to My Employer and My Coworkers?

By Jackie Hunt Christensen.  Published by Parkinson's Foundation

This webpage discusses the advantages of telling your boss sooner than later, how to share your condition at work, and contacting the Job Accommodation Network.

Job Accommodation Network (JAN), Accommodation and Compliance: Parkinson’s Disease

Published by US Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)

This webpage includes both the text and audio versions of the "Accommodation and Compliance Series: Employees with Parkinson’s Disease" and "Effective Accommodation Practices Series: Parkinson’s Disease."

Legal, Financial & Insurance

Published by Parkinson's Foundation

This comprehensive guide covers legal rights and protections for people with Parkinson's and their care partners, including Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protections, Social Security benefits, Medicare/Medicaid coverage, and employment rights. It also provides detailed information on estate planning essentials such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and advance planning strategies specific to managing a progressive condition like Parkinson's.

Parkinson’s Disease and the Work Place

By Maria De León, MD.  Published by DefeatParkinson’s.com, August 10, 2016

This blog post addresses six things to consider with respect to your job after a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, including whether and when to tell your boss, ways to relieve undue work stress, prepare yourself for having to quit or change jobs, whether any aspect of your PD interferes with your work -- even mood and financial planning -- both short and long term.

Workplace Challenges

Published by The Michael J. Fox Foundation

This webpage addresses whether Parkinson’s disease will affect the ability to work, protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act, if and when to tell an employer and what happens financially if one can no longer work.

Employment With PD: Working it Out  

Published by Parkinson’s Foundation, 2019

This two-page fact sheet discusses factors that go into deciding if and when to tell your place of employment about your Parkinson's disgnosis. Also included is a discussion on workplace accommodations and tips for job comfort and safety.

Sharing Your Parkinson's Diagnosis at Work, A Practical Guide (two parts)

Published by The Michael J. Fox Foundation

This is a two-part guide.  The first part (three pages) provides practical tips and tools for crafting a personalized strategy to bring PD into the workplace.    The second part (five pages) recommends strategies for continuing conversations, handling common reactions and situations, and managing long-term professional relationships.

Parkinson's Disease: Financial, Legal and Medical Planning - Tips for Care Partners

By Parkinson’s Foundation, June 27, 2019

This 75-minute webinar, presented by CPA and elder law attorney, Martin Shenkman, lays out a 12-step plan for getting your financial and legal documents in order, and keeping them that way as financial assets, family status, medications, etc. change over time.

Work, Money, Meaning, and Parkinson's

By Davis Phinney Foundation, August 25, 2020

This one-hour webinar delves into questions over work issues like, should you keep working, your righs as an employee, can you afford not to work, should you tell your boss and co-workers, and more.

Talking to Your Employer About PD Series

By Parkinson’s Foundation, June 27, 2019

Part 1: Where to Begin?

This 18-minute podcast episode covers employment considerations after a Parkinson's diagnosis. Occupational therapist Julia Wood discusses the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Job Accommodation Network resources, privacy issues, workplace accommodations, and how occupational therapists can help develop work accommodation plans.

Part 2: Disability Inclusion and Accommodation at Work

This 18-minute podcast episode features Jim Sinocchi from JPMorgan Chase's Office of Disability Inclusion discussing communication with managers and workplace disability inclusion. Brian Baker, a former Chase employee with young onset PD, shares his experience with workplace accommodations and implementation strategies.

Workplace Accommodations with a Diagnosis of Parkinson's

By APDA Massacheusettes, April 20, 2021

This 50-minute webinar is presented by a lawyer specializing in employment counseling and litigation and an occupational therapist.  Together they cover legal issues and workplace accommodations so people with Parkinson's can make informed decisions about how long they can continue to work.