Rehabilitation
Research and Training Center onAging with a Disability
Post-Polio Syndrome Case Study
Many post polio survivors who are aging with a disability report increasing fatigue and pain. These problems can have a major impact on maintaining their employment. The following case illustrates one man's approach to managing these problems.
GC, who is 59 years old, contracted polio at 3 years of age. He has been a high school teacher for 34 years. Beginning at age 51, he experienced functional changes that greatly increased his level of disability. Since that time, he has accommodated himself in a variety of ways and feels that his accommodations, along with the few provided by his employer, have enabled him to maintain his employment. He wants to retire at age 60.
His main accommodations were related to his teaching schedule. Because GC becomes very fatigued at the end of the day, he arranged his schedule to teach 5 classes in a row, without breaks. He was then able to go home earlier than the other teachers who also taught 5 classes, but with breaks.
Commuting to work was very tiring, so GC rented a room close to the school during the week to avoid the commute. He also found ways to minimize tasks that were hard for him by having students help or by restructuring some of his curriculum. For example, to minimize the grading of long essays, he assigned fewer writing assignments and more poetry and shorter assignments.
GC's resourcefulness, organizational ability and his supportive employer will most likely make it possible for him to work to his projected retirement age, despite physical changes.
Rehabilitation
Research and Training Center on Aging with a Disability
Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
7601 E. Imperial Hwy, Building 800-W
Downey, California 90242; (voice) 562-401-7402; (fax) 562-401-7011
webmaster: chuck.sanders@agingwithdisability.org
last updated 7/14/2008
