The stories will focus on the experience of disabled entrepreneurs and employees and examine how different businesses are innovating to help disabled people.
To mark the week, we caught up with Headway supporter Fiona Grant-MacDonald who has managed to return to work following a brain haemorrhage.
Fiona, from East Lothian, battles daily severe migraines and fatigue following her brain haemorrhage. She was forced to complete a phased return to her job as a physics technician in a college.
With the support of her employer and Headway East Lothian, Fiona slowly rebuilt her confidence, and began organising college trips with the physics students. Recently, Fiona's success meant she was successful in her application for a technician position in a new college and the next phase of her employment after brain injury is just beginning.
We asked Fiona what it was like trying to return to the workplace and what support she received.
What support, if any, did your employer provide when you decided to return to work after brain injury?
My employer provided reasonable adjustments to help me return to work. They were very supportive both within my department and at management level. They had never encountered an employee with an acquired brain injury (ABI), so it was very much a learning process for them as much as me.
I was allowed to attend medical appointments and they even bought me a small camp bed so if I had to lie down I could have a reasonable level of comfort! They were very good overall, and I would have to say I have no complaints about the process.
Were any allowances made as you eased back into a new routine?
I went back in a phased return, shorter hours and light duties. They hired someone temporarily to fill my position, and kept them on for the duration of my phased return. This meant they could do the day-to-day work, whilst I contributed when and if I was able to. They provided better working conditions too, including more comfortable seating and lighting, as well as access to the school counsellor to help me through the early recovery.
What challenges did you encounter as a result of your brain injury when returning to work?
The biggest challenges in the beginning were probably headaches, fatigue, and memory loss. I had to re-learn my job whilst in constant pain and suffering from exhaustion. The first 18 months or so were incredibly difficult for not just myself, but other colleagues around me too. I also experienced a very heightened sensitivity to light and sound, so working within a noisy school environment was probably not ideal.
What made you decide to change jobs and how have you found moving to a new college years on from your brain injury?
My old place of work was an hour drive away, and with continuing problems with headaches when concentrating, driving for two hours a day was exhausting. I had started to cycle, but with the fatigue, I couldn't manage the 30 mile round trip every day. The new job was only a couple of miles away, a 15 minute cycle. It also offered me better holiday allowance so the move was more for personal the professional reasons. I loved my old job and was sad to have to depart, but I had to look to the future and try and focus more energy on my recovery, which I felt was stalling in many ways.
Are there any issues that you are concerned your new employer will not understand?
Not so far thankfully. I was honest at the interview and explained why I had a large number of sick days and they were actually great. They built me a new room and put in special lighting for me, and I haven't been pressurised into extra work hours at all, which is probably unusual for the type of work I do. I think I have been lucky, as I know others have had horrible experiences.
Do you have any tips for others who may be anxious when looking to return to work after sustaining a brain injury?
Take it as slow as you can, don't try to go back too early and take as much leave as you are entitled to. I had to go back after only three months, as the reduction in pay just wasn't an option for me. In hindsight, more time may have helped.
In saying that, I think any return to my work would probably have resulted in the same struggles given the nature of subarachnoid haemorrhage recovery. Be prepared for a certain amount of frustration, anger and tears, it is an emotional roller coaster, and one which goes on for a long time. Everyone seems to be different as well, so you just don't know how your brain will react to returning to work, so try to be prepared for a long haul and setbacks which will hit you when you probably least expect it!
Help from Headway
Headway has a wide range of information around returning to work aimed at both brain injury survivors and their employers. You can access this in the Returning to work section.
Many Headway groups and branches offer support to help people get back to employment after brain injury. You can find your nearest Headway in the In your area section.
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