Think you can't be fired after disclosing a disability? Think again

When will the hiden agendas of firing people with M.S. end?

I have seen this happen time and time again. People are forced to disclose that they have M.S. and then they are fired without cause. That's it. In Canada you can be fired without cause as long as the employer makes good on common law.

However, when you are in you are 20 something and have just a few years of experience that amounts to a few months severence and a non-commital reference. Think i am wrong? Not so. Each week I receive a social media post about some poor young person losing their job after disclosing. Stress is the #1 cause of an excerbation; what then do you think unemployment does? People with M.S. have to stop making people aware. Its not helping, and people really don't care. To make matters worse, at an M.S. 101 seminar I attended recently, spososored by pharma, I should have the cognitive ability of a Stuffed bear. Great for selling product but not so good for the dozens of young people scared and confused.

I get it, promoting Resilience in the face of Adversity is bad for business. Destroying someone's livelihood is cruel and no amount of patient centric care or technology is going to change that. My husband and I have raised over $100,000 over the past decade for M.S. research. This year we are donating our golf tournament funds to services delivered to people living with M.S.

The jig is up. M.S. awareness campaigns are dog-whistle for fundraising. We are aware. After thirty-five years, I am going back in the closet with a "I have an neurological disorder with episodic flare-ups. So, please when the Ontario government implements its policy for people with episodic illnesses (November 11th Toronto Star) be aware and hire someone with M.S. Its the least Pharma and the Societies can do.

Marie Heron

Podcast Host, Patient Advocate,