That's very interesting.     At  the local university here on Vancouver Island, there is a Disability Counsellor.       I saw her a few months ago, preparing for some education.If you can make the analogy between the classroom and the workplace,disclosure of a mental illness seems to be almost required at the college.           They were prepared to give me breaks during classes , and more time for assignments and exams.

   So clearly, I think, preparation for the "worst case scenario" would be of benefit.    For example, if an individual's cognitive skills did not  live up to the expectations of the job that they were working at, the person should be prepared to accept an employment scenario with less intellectual strain.         I think for many people with SZ it is a trade-off.      Not to say that you are denying your full potential, that comes later, but sometimes even a menial job gets people on the right track.       All the good things that come with a little work: routine, responsibility, and a paycheck.

There are many consumers in my community who simply volunteer as their means of employment.        The government pays them a work incentive, they work just 10 hrs/mo and are quite happy in their stage of recovery.      And non-profit organizations benefit from their efforts.

  I live in a small city (100,000) and the people here are beginning to accept the mentally ill.        Fortunately, that narrows the field when looking for an understanding employer, one with high enough ethics to know that he can help others by opening his door.

Best Wishes

Don Fraser

Christina Bruni, Health Guide

11/21/08 3:50pm

Hi Don,

 

I'll do some research about going to school and having SZ at the same time.

 

It could tie in to "the Working Life" because education is also indicative of employment opportunities, right?

 

Cheers,

Christina