17 Be Proactive While Able to Work The primary reason that applications for SSDI are rejected is a lack of medical evidence. If you are working, what can you do to prepare for the possibility that you may one day need SSDI? 1. See your doctor regularly. A history of doctor’s visits about the problem that is causing your disability will be your strongest evidence. 2. Tell your doctor about any symptoms that affect your ability to work. You may tell the doctor you are experiencing a particular symptom, but if you fail to mention how it affects your work, that essential detail will not be in the medical records SSA requests. 3. Follow through with your doctor’s treatment recommendations. If your doctor recommends a treatment that may help you continue to work, follow through. Otherwise, the SSA will not be able to accurately determine whether you are able to continue working if treated. 4. Keep records of how your work is affected. If you miss work because of your condition, keep records of how much time you missed. If you have to request accommodations, or are written up for performance problems that are related to your illness, keep copies of this documentation. Learn More: SSA.gov/disability Accommodations – Where to Start? Depending on your situation and symptoms, you many require accommodations in your home orworkplace.As a memberof theworkforce, it is important to understand that it is your legal right to request and receive accommodations, so that you have the same opportunities as people who do not have a chronic illness. Before you make any requests, you need to know exactly what accommodations you need. Accommodations can range from ramps, to hand railings, to special floor mats, and all the way to speech-to-text software. So, identify instances where your typical routine is disrupted by MS symptoms and start there. This might mean special lighting or magnifiers for people with vision problems, fans or space heaters for those with temperature sensitivity, or even requesting a handicapped parking space if your workplace doesn’t have one. Some accommodationswill onlybe needed occasionally, but others will need to be more permanent. The options can be overwhelming.An excellent resource is the Job Accommodation Network — askjan.org/disabilities/Multiple-Sclerosis.cfm. This website offers dozens of suggestions based on either specific limitations you mayneed to overcome, orwork-related functionswithwhichyou mayneed assistance.