Welcome to the Page!

-
I'd like to say a huge welcome to any newcomers to this page. Over 3000 people from across the world have read my posts over the last month, and I'm delighted that so many of you have stopped by.

If you'd like to keep track of this blog, please feel free to like my Facebook page as I update it fairly regularly.

Speak soon!

Carla


Popular posts from this blog

Blogs, Vlogs & Lots of Dialogue: Where Have I Been?

-
Image
                                                         Copyright: C King It's been over a year since my last post and, if you're missing this blog, you're probably wondering where I have been. To say that I have been been resting on my laurels would be an overstatement, given that I'm not very good at pacing. After months of home-schooling finally ended, I threw myself into supporting others, including advocating for them.  I have been particularly busy in my advocacy work - guest blogging, filming, reporting, mentoring, public speaking. This year, I've also been a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for MS, which has been extremely interesting, and supporting others in navigating a health system which, whilst amazing, can be sometimes monolithic and uncommunicative at a time when some are going through the most difficult ...
Read more

Disclosing Your Condition to an Employer

-
I've worked with MS since 2008 and when I was diagnosed, I had already been working with an organisation for a year and a half. In this circumstance, in the haze of diagnosis, I felt obliged to call my line manager directly after telling my parents. I didn't have to, I probably shouldn't have. It would have made sense to let the news sink in, but I needed time off and I didn't just want to call in sick. This is tip no 1. Don't feel obliged to tell anyone until you're absolutely ready. This may be hours, weeks, months or even years. Unless you're legally required to, you don't need to disclose. My role was made redundant six months later and I was pregnant six months after that. I decided to take some contract work, knowing that I wanted to take a year for my version of maternity leave. I was quite far into the selection process, for a role I could have performed beautifully whilst asleep, and at the last hurdle they asked me if I had any holidays boo...
Read more

Reasonable Adjustments at Work - Why, What & How?

-
Image
The Equality Act 2010 (UK) says that in order for your health condition to be covered, it must have a long-term and substantial effect on your daily life, which is why those of us with MS are included (even if the impacts aren't obvious to others), as MS is classed as a progressive condition. The Act covers us from the point of contact with an employer to when we're in the workplace. Once you've told someone about your chronic condition, the natural follow-up question would be to look at your needs. Before any conversation around your needs takes place, I really recommend taking time to reflect and to research. Read one of my very first posts about disclosure as background. If you don't know where to start, perhaps these questions might help? Which areas of the role might you struggle with? (be as specific as you can)* What reasonable adjustments do you need? If you've had reasonable adjustments previously in another role or environment, how did they...
Read more