Career Options for Chicago Workers With Spinal Cord Injuries
Instead of ending your career, a spinal cord injury may simply represent the beginning of a new path. Valid options include customer service, digital marketing, accounting, and many other administrative or clerical jobs. If you need to retrain in order to enter some of these fields, consider taking advantage of vocational rehabilitation. Provided your spinal cord injury occurred at work, a workers’ compensation lawyer in Chicago can help you access this benefit.
Your Career Options Depend on Your Unique Circumstances
While it is easy to find generic, broad career advice for those with spinal cord injuries, the best career option for you depends entirely on your unique circumstances. First, not all spinal cord injuries are the same. Spinal cord injuries not only affect different parts of the body, but they also range in severity.
Secondly, you need to consider your existing skills and experience if you want an effective career transition. Even if your physical mobility is now limited, you can still leverage your industry knowledge or tertiary skills to enter a new career path that is tailored to you.
A personalized vocational rehabilitation plan is easier to achieve if you take advantage of existing resources and programs. An obvious example is the vocational rehabilitation benefits offered by Illinois workers’ comp. As long as your spinal cord injury occurred at work, you should be able to get help with your career transition without paying a dime.
If your injury is not work-related, you can still access vocational rehabilitation through the state’s Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS). This program is heavily subsidized, and you may qualify for assistance at free or affordable rates.
Employers Cannot Discriminate Against You Based on Your Disability
Remember, employers are legally prohibited from discriminating against you because of your spinal cord injury. If your disability does not impact your ability to do your job, you must receive equal consideration when applying for the position. Employers may also be required to treat you the same as other applicants if you are able to work with reasonable modifications.
Many Remote or Office Jobs Are Ideal for Spinal Cord Patients
Many remote and office jobs are ideal for spinal cord patients. For example, a position might simply require you to talk to customers on the phone. There are also many desk jobs that could be viable for spinal cord injury patients.
Consider Volunteering if Continuing Your Career Is Too Challenging
If continuing your career seems too challenging but you want to remain productive, why not consider volunteering opportunities? With this career pathway, you can choose an organization that reflects your values, contribute to society, and give your life real purpose. By taking advantage of workers’ comp claims and other forms of financial support, you can continue volunteering without worrying about earning an income.
Can a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Chicago Help Me?
A workers’ compensation lawyer in Chicago may be able to help you access vocational rehabilitation, one of the most effective benefits for those who want to enter new careers after workplace injuries. Illinois also offers assistance through its Division of Rehabilitation Services, even if your injury is not work-related. Contact Connolly Injury Law at 312-635-4639 if you’d like to have a more in-depth conversation about your legal options.
Sources:
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4349173/
msktc.org/sci/factsheets/employment-after-spinal-cord-injury