MS Strength

I like to mention financial opportunities that I come across. I know how hard it is to make a decent income and also have multiple sclerosis, so I especially think MSers who journal or blog are perfect candidates for any of the open spots at About.com.

This website is owned and operated by the New York Times Company and it pays a good monthly stipend for first and second year writers ($725.) The site states that writers can exceed the stipend amount with earned ad revenue, so the potential for income can exceed $1K a month, which is pretty good for writing a weekly article and a weekly blog post. About.com has hundreds of topics, with many current openings. Some are a little specific, but maybe you have a vast knowledge about Seattle or needlepointing. Another option is to suggest a topic to About.com (I’m in the process of this, since I couldn’t find an open topic that I could extensively write about.) In any case, those trying to obtain at-home work might find writing for pay a good, flexible solution.

PS: About.com mentions “published writing experience”, but many times they substitute vast knowledge for experience. Browse some of the established topics. And keep in mind that blogs count as great writing portfolios for potential gigs.

I’m glad the summer is coming to an end. We’re still having a few scorching days (90 degrees and above), but it’s summer’s last stand, I suppose. Then things calm down a bit and weather in the 60- 70 degree range takes over for a while. Good. I’m tired of the air conditioners and feeling like a limp dish rag. And I’m looking forward to some new fall endeavors.

I’m back volunteering at the library system. I’ve been there most Fridays ( for 2 and 1/2 hours ) since the beginning of July, helping with their literacy program by processing books for kids in social service custody. More recently I’ve worked with the system’s database to edit volunteers’ info and add new volunteers to the database. And the coordinator of the literacy program will have me come in another day each week to help with some of the PR stuff (phone calls, appointments, etc.) The last piece of the library volunteer puzzle is resuming my role as an English conversation group leader. It’s fun and helpful for foreign-born patrons to practice talking in a casual setting. Almost more like a weekly club to meet other immigrants and converse. I did this for several months in the beginning of this year until working and volunteering flattened me.

I like the whole volunteering premise. There is not so much pressure to be well and “on.” Somehow, with this notion, it makes it easier for me to schlep myself in to volunteer . I admit that I don’t have a ton of hours: less than 10 a week. But as my therapist once said, sometimes it’s important to thoughtfully build up a routine that will have a chance of lasting. So I’ll see what I’m capable of in the coming months. One of the ironies in my life right now is that I got accepted into an online library science program through San Jose State University in July. I’ve taken a non-matriculated class already, and 6 months ago this news of acceptance would have thrilled me, but since I am currently in work limboland, I’ll just wait until this winter and decide whether to pursue something that might not come to pass.

I would like to do some more work with my MS Society chapter. I’ve volunteered at their walk and bike events, but I’d like to be more closely involved with MS patient support. The nearest location is sort of a hike, but maybe there is something I can do from home. That’s the beauty of computer technology.

My last addition is to get to a yoga class, which I’ve been dodging for a while now. I guess I’m a little fearful of falling, since my balance is for shit. So I need to bolster myself up and just go. And Nadja has told me that yoga is great for MS. I keep reading this in MS books, too.

So I’m really just thinking out loud, but I have an easier time seeing things through if I write them down or tell them to someone like you.

The United Stated Department of Labor protects employed individuals who need to take a medical leave of absence for themselves or for immediate family members. This protection is referred to as the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA.) It is designed to grant workers an unpaid leave from their jobs for up to 12 weeks per year, and stipulates that a person can return to his or her original position or one similar/ with similar salary. For workers with multiple sclerosis, this can be good and bad news. Here’s why:

• The FMLA can keep a worker in the workforce, but he or she must have been working for at least 12 months with an employer prior to asking for a leave of absence. This is great for people who have been with the same company or organization for a year or more, but it does not protect individuals (especially MSers) who might be returning to the workforce in a new job after being home-bound. Those trying to test the waters might find themselves up a creek when they do not have 12 months of work invested and then they suffer a long relapse.

• The FMLA covers workers who are employed at a company or organization with 50+ employees. This works out well for employees of larger companies, but those who might work for small establishments are not protected. Many times people with MS hold part-time jobs with such places.

• The FMLA cannot guarantee the reinstatement of a high-level, high-salaried (key) employee. It will cover the leave, but the decision of whether to reinstate is determined by the employer. This is trouble for any executives (especially males, who tend to be in higher-level positions) who might fall ill with multiple sclerosis. Later MS onset also correlates with a higher likelihhod of disability, such as with primary progressive MS. Unfortunately, employees who tend to be key players usually fall in this over-40 age range.

• Probably the trickiest clause in the Family Medical Leave Act is the requirement of an employee to have put in a minimum of 1,250 hours in the year prior to the request for leave. This breaks down to roughly a 24 hour work week. Here lies a big problem. Many people with MS cannot physically handle a 40 hour work week, but maybe they can manage part-time, lower-stress employment. But can everyone work 24+ hours a week, and then manage to make it to the one year minimum requirement? This clause makes it so difficult for people with multiple sclerosis to get back on their feet and try to sustain a new, part-time job. It becomes very frustrating to keep trying to stay employed outside of the home, only to be a person who falls through the cracks in the FMLA’s base.

• The last problem is the fact that people with multiple sclerosis who suffer regular, long attacks might need to use the FMLA on a yearly basis. But they will be shorting themselves a minumum of 288 hours (the prior year’s 12-week hiatus) for the next work year period, thus making them need to increase their weekly minimum hours to almost 30, just to qualify for the FMLA again. Most people who use the FMLA use it once and don’t always use the entire 12 weeks. People with multiple sclerosis who are able to work outside of the home often need the entire 12 weeks on a yearly basis. But with all of its exceptions and restrictions, do many MSers even have a shot at sustaining this yearly Act? An inquiring mind would like to know..

*For more information about the Family Medical Leave Act, visit the US Department of Labor’s website.