Despite advances in treatment, the availability of assistive technology, and passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), unemployment is a significant problem for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Some researchers have attributed this prob lem to personal factors, including fatigue or other impairments caused by MS or lack of education and training. Other writers focus on societal barriers, including negative public attitudes or lack of physical access. This article uses qualitative methods to ex plore another hypothesis: policies contained within federal programs themselves, such as income maintenance, health care, and vocational rehabilitation, constitute a third set of barriers to employment for people with MS. Key Words: Multiple sclerosis— Employment—Social Security Disability—Vocational rehabilitation—Health care.
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