tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30753983.post5319314031634943309..comments2023-09-30T03:37:30.315-04:00Comments on Guardienne of the Tomes: The Limping Librarian: A Post on Chronic Illness in the Workplacewarmaidenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08391769344411207864noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30753983.post-4514541758105602312013-08-04T12:24:34.371-04:002013-08-04T12:24:34.371-04:00Thank you for this post. Everything you've wr...Thank you for this post. Everything you've written here resonates. You are not a kingdom of one. I've been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Hypermobility Type) amongst other things and like what you are dealing with, there is no cure, just "symptom management". I am not "out" about my condition at work and am currently trying to maintain my high performer status in the library. Work/life/health balance is something I am currently struggling with A LOT. Its just good to know I'm not alone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30753983.post-2537753754289471312013-07-14T00:43:25.239-04:002013-07-14T00:43:25.239-04:00You are not at all alone.
And you should definite...You are not at all alone.<br /><br />And you should definitely talk to the relevant HR people. You are 100% justified in starting a conversation about reasonable accommodation. There is literally no such thing as "not impaired enough" when it comes to how the ADA is put into practice. It is only a question whether accommodating someone so they can still perform the essential duties of their position will place an undue burden on the employer. Which is defined by the employer's resources, not some abstract scale of "this makes sense and that doesn't."<br /><br />It is also completely illegal for people to take adverse employment actions (refusing to hire, imposing discipline, even given a cold shoulder if it is persistent and pervasive enough) on the basis of actual or perceived disability.<br /><br />I am not a lawyer, and more importantly, I'm not *your* lawyer. But I've sat through multiple presentations by multiple lawyers, one of them actually connected to the organization I was working for. You have *nothing* to be ashamed of, and anyone who gives you crap about it is a jerk who deserves all kinds of informal and formal sanctions.Mark Killehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11136177821995623112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30753983.post-79658653497154037172013-07-12T17:13:57.097-04:002013-07-12T17:13:57.097-04:00oh, Colleen. You are SO not alone! I'd like to...oh, Colleen. You are SO not alone! I'd like to add my thanks to the pile you already have, for being courageous enough to publish this. I'm fortunate (blessed!) enough to work at a place and for a boss that is willing to work with me to accommodate my bad days, and I too worry about my future employment situation, and dance along the edge of "leave without pay" on a monthly basis. All we can do is the best we can. (Some days that sounds so pathetic ... but whaddaya gonna do?)<br /><br />Thank you, thank you.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14739151215452946243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30753983.post-18349109083863959252013-07-11T21:29:05.920-04:002013-07-11T21:29:05.920-04:00This morning I started the a library faculty retre...This morning I started the a library faculty retreat in a way I hate: with an apology. But I had to. I'm hypermobile, and I've been more unstable this week than in a while, and I've had migraines and haven't slept much. So I was, going into 5 hours of facilitating and discussion, a little loopy. I felt the staff needed to know that.<br /><br />And my hope is that when I acknowledge that I battle chronic pain and am still a functional and useful professional, I'm also making space for people to acknowledge their own illnesses, issues, and disabilities, knowing that they too are still functional and useful. We're all people; we've all got baggage and issues. It doesn't make it easier to own or love or accept our own, but maybe it makes it easier to accept truth from others with compassion.Jenicahttp://attemptingelegance.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30753983.post-14886254039166226062013-07-11T14:26:29.233-04:002013-07-11T14:26:29.233-04:00Yes, workplaces need to be educated. It doesn'...Yes, workplaces need to be educated. It doesn't mean we will all be treated compassionately; but, I tend to assume the best of people first.<br /><br />I see it from both sides, as a person who struggles with issues stemming from an accident and I've had coworkers that have had chronic illnesses. I'm also a manager. I think that businesses and organizations are tasked with managing human resources. And sometimes those humans are not able to contribute as much one day as the next. I really think as a manager, it is my job to help staff succeed. The only way to do that is to have open discussions about what they can and can not do.<br /><br />The funny thing is that we are all people with emotions. There, I said it! I worked at a library that had a very ill staff person who eventually passed away. We loved her so much; we didn't care that when she came back to work she wasn't working to full capacity. I have even worked with another person who was not well liked and had a chronic illness and yes, there were some eye rollers and grumblers; but, mostly people just accepted that she took more time off.<br /><br />I like to think that people are ultimately accepting. And I do think it's our goodness and compassion that should override judgement about workload, etc. <br /><br />I was in a bad accident and sustained a brain injury and broken things. About 10 months after my accident, I attempted to return to work. I couldn't walk very far and was pretty fragile emotionally. I was also pretty foggy and hadn't mastered any coping skills for remembering and planning. My coworkers welcomed me back with open arms and propped me up at the reference desk.I was only working 12 hours over two weeks but it was too much and I left. But, I left. I think they would have let me sit at the desk indefinitely and just accepted whatever I could give.<br /><br />Now, I struggle with chronic pain and fatigue from the pain and I have pretty significant fatigue from concentration (reading, learning, driving)and stress. But, I'm 8 years out now and I'm finally getting to the point where I just don't care what other people think. I can't control what they think. I can, if needed, educate them about brain injury and pain management. Ultimately, I am in control of my own health. I get to call the shots regarding my work/life balance. I spend most of my vacation sleeping/resting; but, my off work time is extremely precious and I won't lose too much of it to recovering so that I can work. I have creative interests and a partner.<br />You are not alone. I understand your worries about the future and future employers tracking down these confessions some day; but, I think you just have to be you. <br />I would say this: Accept that you are doing the best that you can in each moment. I really feel that's the truth of it.Annhttp://www.civilcivilservant.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30753983.post-55766083466359767622013-07-11T11:49:47.165-04:002013-07-11T11:49:47.165-04:00Thanks for this. I was in a car accident a few mon...Thanks for this. I was in a car accident a few months after I got my library degree and I was still in grad school starting an LIS Ph.D. I suffered a spinal cord injury that has me in the cane/crutch using camp. This sent my career on a different path, away from tenured librarianship, not entirely by my choice.<br /><br />So I'm right there with you, pain, good days, bad days and all. How others perceive me is a concern, and at times self-sabotaging. <br /><br />You're not a kingdom of one and I wish I had answers for the questions you pose in this post. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16129145267946274007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30753983.post-33608997734987849252013-07-11T00:33:31.665-04:002013-07-11T00:33:31.665-04:00I'd take a smart and engaged librarian with ch...I'd take a smart and engaged librarian with chronic illnesses over a disengaged but healthy one. There are lots of people who are there all the time without contributing much to the organization. As someone who suffered in silence with an illness and worked herself to the bone instead of focusing on her health, I applaud you for making yours a priority. I know it isn't easy, but you are SO doing the right thing. And you're right that workplaces could be doing a lot more to make people suffering from chronic illnesses feel less horrible about what they probably already feel horrible about.meredithhttp://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30753983.post-20082076221916846492013-07-10T23:07:50.661-04:002013-07-10T23:07:50.661-04:00Thank you so much for talking about this! I am hyp...Thank you so much for talking about this! I am hypermobile, and have suspected Ehlers-Dalos Syndrome (same as the Librarian in Black!), and know exactly what you are talking about. <br /><br />I can particularly relate to what you were saying about being constantly worried that your bosses will get fed up at the amount of leave you take. I never have more than a day or two, and use up all my annual leave when I am in pain, which means I never have enough accrued to have a decent holiday. <br /><br />I am glad to hear from managers who have the same problems as mean. It gives me hope that I might actually find some employers I don't need to fear disclosing my chronic illness to.<br /><br />SuzieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30753983.post-66220141302872998052013-07-10T22:51:18.258-04:002013-07-10T22:51:18.258-04:00Incidentally, the reason I cut off the dreads I ha...Incidentally, the reason I cut off the dreads I had for 11 years (!) was because taking care of ALL THAT HAIR was so painful and time consuming it just didn't seem worth it anymore. I've been struggling with the idea of femininity and not feeling femme enough with short hair on top of all the illness and pain; hopefully you aren't struggling with the same.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11502445530673799964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30753983.post-71836559120160331872013-07-10T22:49:03.023-04:002013-07-10T22:49:03.023-04:00I'm out here, and I hear you. Though my strugg...I'm out here, and I hear you. Though my struggles with RA haven't been as severe as yours, I do still struggle, particularly with the concept of disability. I feel a great deal of shame around being sick, and the idea that my career will stall at middle-management because of my illness keeps me up at night. <br /><br />Thank you so much for being brave enough to write this, Colleen. You've helped so many people by speaking out. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11502445530673799964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30753983.post-69285973378777299082013-07-10T18:58:03.355-04:002013-07-10T18:58:03.355-04:00You are a rock star librarian and an all around ba...You are a rock star librarian and an all around bad a$$ chick. The world needs your perspective on this issue because far too many folks out there suffer from 'invisible' illnesses. <br /><br />Thank you for sharing. And for being awesome and inspiring.chalynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03501917345337755754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30753983.post-61529214765882457372013-07-10T16:13:48.753-04:002013-07-10T16:13:48.753-04:00Thank you so much for this, for a few reasons. Fir...Thank you so much for this, for a few reasons. First, it helps me empathize with some folks I know who struggle with long-term and chronic illness. Next, you probably know intellectually that there's nothing shameful about illness, even though it seems like you're feeling it... publishing this may not help you (I have no idea), but it's guaranteed to help others. <br /><br />If you were managing someone in your situation, can you imagine advising them against going to the Disability Resource Office? You'd tell them it was ridiculous and self-defeating not to take advantage of resources that might be available. At the very least they might be able to offer some good advice and insight. Worst case scenario is that they can't help you... which doesn't leave you in worse shape than you are now, right? <br /><br />You seem to be someone who has worked really hard for so long that now that you're in a more normal work-life balance, you feel guilty. I think you should try not to. You're not successful only because you sacrificed so much of yourself. You are still worthy! another librariannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30753983.post-32140092171114007052013-07-10T15:14:34.063-04:002013-07-10T15:14:34.063-04:00ACK! I must be more tired today than I realized to...ACK! I must be more tired today than I realized to do that you're/your thing. *embarrassed* Irishttp://pegasuslibrarian.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30753983.post-69551698769263157052013-07-10T15:13:21.478-04:002013-07-10T15:13:21.478-04:00I can relate to so much of what you wrote here. I ...I can relate to so much of what you wrote here. I don't have you're conditions, but the gist is the same. You are definitely not a kingdom of one.Irishttp://pegasuslibrarian.com/noreply@blogger.com