Sunday, June 5th is National Cancer Survivors’ Day! We may not always think of cancer as a disability, but it can have serious, long-term health effects.
Did you know that many cancer survivors experience health-related issues that impact their ability to return to work? These can include fatigue, pain, mobility limitations, cognitive issues, and more. Our recent Research In Focus article looked at new NIDILRR-funded research on how cancer can impact employment and what health care providers can do to help their patients ease back into the workplace. More research is needed on this issue. On August 11th, the National Cancer Institute will convene a round-table to discuss a research agenda for improving outcomes for cancer survivors returning to work. Watch this space for more information on this event.
Did you know that, as a cancer survivor, you may be eligible for accommodations to help you at work? You’re not alone, many cancer survivors are unaware they may be covered by the ADA and can request reasonable accommodations from their employer. Check out this webinar from the ADA National Network state of the science conference!
The Job Accommodation Network has several articles on effective accommodation strategies for cancer survivors. To learn more about your rights, find your nearest ADA National Network Regional Center, call 800/949-4232 and ask about how you and your employer can work together to find the right accommodations to help you return to work as a productive member of the team!
Prevention, screening, and early detection are so important to surviving cancer. People with disabilities may not always get the screenings they need. The NIDILRR-funded Women Be Health project at the Lurie Institute created a curriculum to teach women with intellectual disabilities (ID) and their family supporters about important screenings. The curriculum also includes PSAs by women with ID that can be shared and posted, as well as material for healthcare providers to share with their patients with ID. If you’re a person with a disability, remember to talk to your primary care provider about cancer screenings. Check out our recent Research In Focus article on strategies for finding and developing a successful partnership with a primary care provider to make sure your health concerns are listened to and met.
More research and resources are available in our collection. Browse through publications from the NIDILRR community and other sources to learn more!
To all the cancer survivors out there and their families, we hope you had a great day and many more to come!
Collection Spotlight from the National Rehabilitation Information Center 