Employment and workplace accommodation outcomes among participants in a vocational consultation service for people with multiple sclerosis

Unemployment is higher among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) than would be expected and vocational rehabilitation efforts to help people with MS retain or regain employment have been marginally successful. To better understand the role workplace accommodations may play in employment, 41 people with MS who had contacted the Kent State Employment Assistance Center between 10 and 15 years ago were telephoned as part of a program evaluation follow-up and asked about their experience with the accommodations and short term and long term employment outcomes. Sixty percent reported they were still working, and subjects reported that low cost, low impact accommodations were more likely to be provided. Further research was recommended.