MSSANT Network Winter 15 WEB NEW 220615

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Multiple Solutions has been a specialist employment service since 1992. We seek to make a difference in the lives of individuals by helping them to break down the barriers to employment and assisting them to achieve a sustainable, self-directed future. By helping our clients identify these barriers, and by offering them ways to help address these issues, we are empowering individuals to maximise their abilities and life opportunities and impact those around them. Here are some of our success stories. Bradley Crack Bradley reached out to Multiple Solutions after being unemployed for six months. Despite suffering from Addison disease and hypothyroidism, he managed to secure a job as a delivery driver. He is overjoyed with his new role and thanks everyone who supported him. Olivia Bernauer After 4 years of unemployment, Olivia was able to overcome depression, a learning disability and obsessive compulsive disorder to start a new role as a massage therapist. She is over the moon with her new role and would like the team at Multiple Solutions for helping her in her journey. Medical Communication Systems Employment Consultant Danielle Carpenter (pictured) was able to secure a telecommunications traineeship with Medical Communications Systems (MCS) for a Multiple Solutions participant. James Hollo (L), Managing Director at MCS and Michael Mullins, MCS Project Manager, have been very supportive and proactive employers who have worked together with the Morphett Vale Multiple Solutions team to ensure the best possible outcome for the client, MCS and Multiple Solutions. MCS is the South Australian Integrator of Austco Nurse Call Systems, providing 24/7 technical service and the installation of Electronic Health Care Products and Care Assist Solutions to Hospitals and Aged Care facilities. For more information, head to multiplesolutions.com.au or contact us on (08) 7002 6500. 10 Winter 2015 The MS Society of South Australia & Northern Territory
Disclosure – to tell or not to tell? Mike Smith Disclosure is tricky. When diagnosed with MS, the event can either go by noticed or unnoticed to the outside world. This can then determine what path you may take with disclosure. You often get advice not to disclose, and often for very good reasons. There are a number of instances where it can be held against you. In my case, it was reasonably public right from the start. I was working on a major underground project, in a very tight team and in a small town, so there was nowhere to hide even if I had wanted to. The onset of my initial symptoms resulted in me taking some time off to get intravenous steroids. I then went back to work, only this time with unremitting sensory symptoms that are still with me to this day. At this stage it was the netherworld of waiting for confirmation of the diagnosis. Six months later, there was a subsequent event which led to confirmation of the diagnosis of MS. On returning to work, I informed my manager at the time and left with tears in my eyes. It was all just too traumatic for me. Subsequently, as I moved around the world working on various projects, I have informed each employer of my situation. Almost without exception, the result is the same, irrespective of nationality and country of location. Following a stunned silence, I sit down with the manager, inform them and after that, literally years go by without a mention. You may well ask, “Why don’t you initiate some discussion?” A valid question, but having made the disclosure in the first place, I don’t want to run around too much and reinforce or stimulate anything unnecessarily from my side. However, don’t be fooled. Even though no one may be talking to you directly about MS and how it impacts on you, people will still be talking - just not to you. I spent quite some time working for a global mining company and one of the key leadership aspects was that of establishing an environment of “visible felt leadership”. The focus was on leadership and the quality of genuine engagement with your team. In my experience, this can often translate into, “Do as I say, not as I do”. This was reinforced to me twice when I was directly and indirectly refused an opportunity to be considered for a transfer. On the first occasion, I had enquired about moving to an offshore location to an executive with whom I had never worked. The response was, “That may be an issue, because you would have to be medevac’d to an offsite major location”. This response came from nowhere, and I actually had to stop and think of what he was talking about. It then dawned on me, and I asked if this was related to my MS. He responded, “Yes”. I was then advised to keep looking for other opportunities. Four years later, out of the blue, and completely unprompted, I was informed by a colleague that he had mentioned my name to the same executive as a replacement, and the response was, “I don’t want sick people here”. On the first occasion, I just moved on, deciding it was not worth getting upset, but upon hearing the same message from a completely different source, I was furious. Here I was, running projects in the multi-millions of dollars, for ventures that would ultimately be worth billions, and the perception was that I was ‘sick’! My wife constantly advises me not to tell, as in my environment MS is regarded as a sign of weakness. Maybe my wife is correct; the silence that greeted me after I had the courage to disclose, and the reinforcement from third parties, seem to bear out her opinion, but given my achievements, I do not feel that at all. I fully recognise that our world has lots of variety – that’s what makes it so interesting - but in my case, disclosure and the subsequent reaction really unpacks some true human traits. In this day and age, when there is so much press and rhetoric about understanding and compassion, one has to be careful about just how disclosure will really play out. The cynic would say that in my experience disclosure has been analogous to having a brother in jail – everyone knows about it, but no one talks about it. These experiences I’ve shared are my own; they are simply my observations. Much the same as MS symptoms, no one person is the same. Similarly, the reaction around you will be different. Judge your own environment. Has my disclosure held me back? Apart from the annoyance of one very senior executive, I would have to say, “No”. While my symptoms are still with me as a constant reminder, I have been able to actively engage myself in my profession, and to work and travel globally. As a closing thought on disclosure, you need to be aware before you have to beware! Remember though, whatever you do – Aziko wo! (Zulu for “don’t stop”) There is too much to lose. The MS Society of South Australia & Northern Territory Winter 2015 11
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MSSANT Network Winter 15 WEB NEW 220615

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