Tips for Brain Injury Survivors Returning to Work

Zac Bradley, MS, CRC, NCC, post-acute vocational specialist at Shepherd Center

Written by Zac Bradley, MS, CRC, NCC, post-acute vocational specialist at Shepherd Center

Due to lasting effects of a brain injury, there are unknowns about returning to work. The good news is: with the right support and planning, many people do successfully get back to work. Here are some tips I'd recommend.

Planning

• Talk to your doctor about returning to work.
• Know your interests and skills, as well as your strengths and weaknesses.
• Be knowledgeable of how the symptoms of your brain injury may affect you at work.
• Set realistic expectations for return to work.
• Be familiar with how working may affect your benefits (Social Security or long-term disability).

Looking For a Job

• Look for jobs you are qualified for based on education, training, work, experience, skills or licenses.
• Thoroughly search job descriptions to determine if the work setting and duties are suitable for you.
• Understanding your disability benefits and disability symptoms will help you determine if you should work part-time or full-time.
• Consider the type of accommodations you may need to do the job that interests you.

Disclosing Your Brain Injury

• Disclosing your disability is a choice. The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) states that you only have to disclose your disability if you need a reasonable accommodation(s).
• It is OK to disclose you have a disability, if asked, on an application. There's no need to address disability on your resume or cover letter (exception: If the job is disability-specific, it may be an advantage to list your disability on your cover letter).
• When you disclose, just provide basic information about your condition, your limitations and the accommodations you may need.
• Talk positively about your disability by sharing how you accomplish work tasks despite your challenges.
• It is better to disclose your disability and request accommodations before job performance suffers or other problems occur.

Resources

• Job Accommodation Network
• ADA National Network
• If you receive Social Security benefits, visit the Ticket-to-Work website at choosework.ssa.gov to learn how to return to work with help from community resources.