Posted by Bob on September 14, 1999, at 20:26:40
In reply to Re: cogwheeling and stuff, posted by dj on September 14, 1999, at 16:55:02
The cogwheeling was purely physiological, a response of the build up of the perphenazine in my system. Thankfully, it was easily remedied. If you want to hear about a physical nightmare, look up tardive dyskinesia ... an irreversible condition that can be induced by meds like perphenazine.
>I'm not clear still what ADA is ...
The Americans with Disabilities Act, my friend. The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (www.nami.org) has some good information on how it applies. It particular, they have a good description of how Title 1 of the ADA applies to mental illness and employment. Much of the ADA is about requiring public and private organizations to provide "reasonable accommodations" for those with physical or mental disabilities. In the workplace, these disabilities receive similar protection against discrimination as gender, race, ethnicity, age, etc. The NAMI page about the ADA Title 1 (issues in the workplace) provides a list of "reasonable accommodations" that have stood up in court -- one in particular that my supervisor doesn't like is the right to a "supportive and understanding supervisor" :^). But before you can run off to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a "right to sue" letter, you (A) must make your condition know to your employer and (B) exhaust reasonable means within the workplace to resolve the issue. (A) is part of the law, (B) is more common sense -- if you go crying wolf without taking reasonable steps, you won't even get to court ... the EEOC won't be interested, and neither will any lawyers. (Thankfully, not only is my girlfriend a clinician-in-training, she's an ex-lawyer!)
One recent "setback" to the ADA by the US Supreme Court was a ruling that the ADA does not apply to conditions that are easily treated with medication or by other means. That was to prevent stuff like someone who is nearsighted demanding a 21" monitor so they could set it to a lower resolution to not strain their eyes. I can foresee some cases about psychopharms coming up against this ruling ... but just about anyone's experience on Babble can show that none of our conditions are easily treated through medication.
Cheers,
Bobbtw, the URL for that NAMI page on the ADA is http://www.nami.org/cgi-bin/printfyl.cgi?/nami/www/helpline/ada.htm
fyi -- tla = three letter acronym (lol!)
poster:Bob
thread:11448
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990914/msgs/11571.html