ADA Rights for People with MS in the Workplace

If you’re living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and managing a career, it’s important to understand your legal rights in the workplace. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with MS from discrimination and ensures fair access to reasonable accommodations at work.

What Is the ADA and How Does It Help Employees with MS?

The ADA is a federal law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Since MS can affect energy, mobility, cognition, and more, it qualifies as a protected disability under the ADA even when symptoms are invisible or fluctuate over time.

Employees with MS are legally entitled to:
    •    Equal opportunities in hiring, pay, promotion, and job assignments
    •    Reasonable accommodations to support job performance
    •    Medical confidentiality in the workplace
    •    Protection from retaliation for asserting their rights

Your Right to Reasonable Accommodations

A reasonable accommodation is any change in your job or work environment that helps you manage MS symptoms and perform your essential job duties. Employers are required to provide these accommodations unless doing so would cause significant difficulty or expense (undue hardship).

Common accommodations for MS include:
    •    Flexible or reduced work hours
    •    Remote work options
    •    Ergonomic workstations
    •    Extra breaks to manage fatigue
    •    Temperature control in your workspace
    •    Assistive technology or memory aids
    •    Written instructions or checklists to support cognitive processing

These accommodations can be temporary or ongoing, and they can be adjusted over time as your needs change.

Confidentiality and the Interactive Process

If you disclose your MS diagnosis to request accommodations, your employer must keep that information confidenti and separate from your personnel file. Only those who need to know (such as HR or a direct supervisor) should be informed.

Once you make a request, the ADA requires that your employer engage in an interactive process which is a collaborative conversation where you and your employer explore possible solutions together. You may be asked to provide documentation from a healthcare provider to support your request, but you don’t need to share your full medical history.

Protection from Retaliation

The ADA makes it illegal for employers to retaliate against you for:
    •    Requesting accommodations
    •    Disclosing a disability
    •    Filing a complaint under the ADA
    •    Participating in an ADA-related investigation

Retaliation can include reduced hours, demotion, negative performance reviews, being excluded from meetings, or any action that creates a hostile work environment. These actions are prohibited by law.

Do You Have to Disclose MS on a Job Application?

No. You are not required to disclose your MS diagnosis on a job application or during an interview unless you need a specific accommodation to complete the application or interview process.

Some job applications, especially from government employers or federal contractors may include an optional disability question as part of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) tracking. Your response is voluntary and confidential. You can choose to answer “Yes,” “No,” or “Prefer not to disclose” without affecting your chances of being hired.

If you do need accommodations during the hiring process, such as an accessible interview location or extra time for a task, you can request those accommodations without revealing your specific diagnosis.

Who Is Protected Under the ADA?

You are covered by the ADA if:
    •    You work for an employer with 15 or more employees
    •    You are qualified to perform the essential functions of your job, with or without accommodations
    •    Your MS symptoms substantially limit one or more major life activities, even if those symptoms come and go

A healthcare provider may be asked to confirm that your condition meets these criteria when you request accommodations.

Bottom Line: Know Your Workplace Rights with MS

Whether you’re job searching, currently employed, or managing new MS symptoms, the ADA is designed to protect your right to work and to receive the support you need to succeed. Reasonable accommodations are not special treatment they are legal tools to help level the playing field.

You have the right to advocate for yourself, access accommodations, and continue building a career that respects both your ambition and your health.