PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work

Disability specialists with Long Covid & ME researching accommodations, job modifications, assistive devices & supports to help those who are able stay working.

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

Lots of work #accommodation ideas too.

- flexible schedules
- easily accessible rest areas
- ergonomic furniture/devices
- mobility aids
- meeting recordings/notes
- employer education re. non-trad illness
- parking permits
- support

#LongCovid #MECFS #MEandwork
#longcovidwork

[Tom Kindlon @TomKindlon]

🧵
"Accommodating University Students with ME/#CFS"

I liked this. Has lots of ideas (though only some would likely be instigated in any one case).

US authors but many/most of the ideas would translate elsewhere

Also useful for other #spoonies

https://t.co/W3y4uV8vpt
#MEcfs
1/

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

🚨I'll be attending the
* 3rd Canadian Symposium on Long COVID *
St. John's NFLD🇨🇦 Oct 20/21

Edmonton 2024 was epic!
Hoping for more on Work & #LC

#LCandWork #RTWwithLongCOVID #longcovidandwork #disability #RTWpwLC #pwLC

https://t.co/ZBqgnE9wSN

#LCWSymposium #LongCOVID

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

Join us for the 2025 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation this Friday, April 25 - FREE

@mypossability will be part of Panel Discussion 2 @ 3:40 pm ET

Challenges, Tips and Strategies for Return to Work with #LongCovid

Registration for FREE Virtual Forum still open!

[Rehabilitation Science Research Network for COVID @UofTCOVIDRehab]

Don't miss out on the 2025 International Forum on COVID Rehabilitation next week! In-person registration closes on Thursday April 17 and online registration closes on Thursday April 24. Register at https://t.co/JOHUp87kbn or visit https://t.co/22Vlk523tR for more information.

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

Guidelines for a Sustainable Return to Work with #LongCovid

The Society of Occupational Medicine UK (SOM UK) has developed excellent resources for #returntowork

See the latest from Occupational Medicine Specialists and #pwLC . Includes links to other resources.

#RTWLC

[SOMCEO @somceo]

Long COVID- The Society of Occupational Medicine has produced detailed guidelines to try and achieve a sustained RTW, aimed at managers, employers, occupational health professionals and workers. https://t.co/p4BOxejFHO @LongCovidAP @LCCampaign @LongCovidSOS @LongCovidNL @SOMNews

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

Coming up April 25, 2025
9 am - 5 pm

* FREE Forum on Long COVID. Attend VIRTUALLY or in-person (Toronto) *

See agenda for key COVID researchers, clinicians & people with lived experience.

@mypossability will be participating in the afternoon panel.

https://t.co/IuPILBH2BB

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

Patient-Led Research Collaborative (PLRC) launched a fact sheet with key stats re. Long COVID.

At 2 yrs, only 40% of pwLC could work full time. 52% had reduced hours and lost an average of 25% of their monthly income.

Work accommodations are needed.

https://t.co/Dr8Xnrzcw7

[𝙹𝚘𝚎 𝚅𝚒𝚙𝚘𝚗𝚍 [email protected] @jvipondmd]

Great to see universal masking return to @UHN hospitals in Toronto!

Very important for patient visitor and HCW safety.

@AHS_media , your turn.

Source: https://t.co/37x8jIfxye

[𝙹𝚘𝚎 𝚅𝚒𝚙𝚘𝚗𝚍 [email protected] @jvipondmd]

Recently returned from representing the @CanCovSoc with @RougeMatisse and Marie-Michelle Bellon at the 2nd Annual Long COVID Symposium in Edmonton, hosted by @LongCOVIDWebCA.
Thrilled to see so many caring docs and researchers in masks, many in respirator masks.
1/5

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

@RemediesPodcast I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad, Scott. This is hard stuff. Thinking of you and your family.❤️ Sue

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

"There's an urgent need for evidence-based strategies or programs to promote Return to Work or Stay at Work for people with #Longcovid "

Excellent poster presentation by Gagan Nagra at @LongCOVIDWebCA Symposium.

Lots of folks working together on this priority!

@AngelaMCheung

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

In Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for the
2nd Cdn Symposium on #LongCovid @LongCOVIDWebCA

Will be participating in Friday mornings roundtable discussion on

Long COVID & Work with
Jessica DeMars @BreathewellPT
Erin Branton
Quentin Durand-Moreau

#longcovidandwork

@JCeoltaSmith

[Long COVID Web @LongCOVIDWebCA]

We are less than 24 hours from launching the 2nd Canadian Symposium on Long COVID: Affecting One, Affecting All.

To learn more and register, please visit: https://t.co/rJHEpNVmoM

#LongCOVID #LongCOVIDWeb #LCWSymposium

[Long COVID Web @LongCOVIDWebCA]

Join us in Edmonton on October 3-4 for the 2nd Canadian Symposium on Long COVID:

Long COVID – Affecting One; Affecting All

Find more info & register here: https://t.co/lDqfpo3rS5

[Daniel Missailidis, PhD @DanMissailidis]

If you are a researcher entering the LC or ME/CFS spaces: please have patients tear apart your study protocols beforehand.

Otherwise you are bound to do things like expose someone with multiple chemical sensitivity to strong perfume, or send somebody fogged out too much to read.

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

Activity. Rest. Activity. Rest.

Best advice I've got.
Thanks Dr. Allison Bested of @NSU_INIM

#mantra #mecfs #pwME #ME

#LongCovid #pwLC #energylimitingconditions #postviralillness

[🕸️Dr.T, PhD @chydorina]

For me personally what seems to make the most difference in terms of triggering PEM is constraining how long i engage in an activity. How 'long' I let my HR peak and remain 'too high'.

I can walk if I rest/sit every few minutes.
I can cook if i do it in 5min chunks and sit every few minutes.

Once I start an activity keeping HR low by actually taking breaks, sitting down, waiting for it to decline and then re-starting - has actually had the greatest payoff in terms of function.

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

An oldie, but goodie!

[shelley-lee waller @shellchat]

@colocha_rachel My wise OT. “If you cannot safely & repeatedly do the thing, then no, you cannot do this thing.” If choosing to shower means giving up leaving the house that day, you can’t do the thing.
It’s NOT about doing a thing - it’s abt the body’s failure to recover from doing that thing!

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

@Sabrina_Poirier It's like playing whack-a-mole. But we persist. There's no other option.

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

Excellent BMJ Article:
Work and rehabilitation for people living with Long COVID

More important contributions from PossAbility team members & co-authors @JCeoltaSmith & Clare Rayner!

https://t.co/z6BfFsl6Io

#longcovid #longcovidandwork #pwLC #returntowork #lc

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

🚨Resource: #LongCovid Manager's Guide #RTW 🚨

https://t.co/3jYoZFTbZh

"Often #pwLC need:

- a very slow, gradual return to work

- an individualized, regularly reviewed Return to Work Plan

- Managers need information and advice..."

[crr @crr7310]

Today SOM releases a package of publications and advice about long Covid and work.
1.updated long Covid for Leaflet managers leaflet.).
2.1 page infographic
3. themed issue of occupational medicine journal
@SOMCEO @SOMNews 1/
https://t.co/Y3Tc55gcot

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

@LudmilaPraslova Such an important conversation. Little has been written about how to accommodate @pwLC & @pwME at work. It's not the 'typical" #rtw employers are used to. They need guidance for a very, very gradual return to work & supports/strategies to sustain work. Thx for writing this!

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

@workaccommodations is the missing piece in #longcovid research.

@AngelaMCheung @EzeugwuVictor @UofTCOVIDRehab @KellyOBrien25 @iwhresearch @herlifeinpixels @LisaAMcCorkell @ahandvanish @JCeoltaSmith @WorkingWithLC @OT_Skiff @SimonDecary @ScribblerPen @somceo @LongCOVIDWebCA

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

🚨VERY important #LONGCOVID & WORK article!

ACCOMMODATIONS for return to work/sustaining work #pwLC

Quiet workplace
"Spoon Planning"
Ergonomic workstation
Talk-to-text software
Earplugs/noise cancelling headphones
Anti-glare screen
Scent-free
Wheeled bag
Scooter
Mtg transcript

[PossAbility: ME, Long COVID & Work @mypossability]

🚨VERY important #LONGCOVID & WORK article!

ACCOMMODATIONS for return to work/sustaining work #pwLC

Quiet workplace
"Spoon Planning"
Ergonomic workstation
Talk-to-text software
Earplugs/noise cancelling headphones
Anti-glare screen
Scent-free
Wheeled bag
Scooter
Mtg transcript

[Katie Bach @kathrynsbach]

Latest piece: Ludmila Praslova, Beth Pollack, and I wrote a guide on #LongCovid accommodation and #inclusion in @HarvardBiz latest #bigideas issue. No shock: inclusive practices that are good for chronically ill employees are good for everyone. https://t.co/0rjxV1rhDl