I have done several things in my work life. I started a Comptroller, after which I was an HR Manager, then a teacher. The VP of HR once told me that, "You can get rid of anybody if you put them under the microscope." He was telling me not to disclose that I had MS.

There are laws, but be smart about it too.

Thanks to everyone for your responses! I appreciate the help with understanding all of the laws. It is great that they exist and I know they are there to protect us but I think that even with all of these different laws/regulations in place there could still very well be discrimination and bias. Managers are biased even toward people who don't have disabilities. It happens all the time. They won't blatantly fire me but I could see things happening sort of beneath the surface and indirectly to where I could get less and less work, they could be more critical toward my work or just more hostile/less engaging in general. and I don't want to be treated that way .

I've seen things like this happen to people who had other medical issues or came back from maternity leave. Of course the company will never ever say it had anything to do with taking time off or illness. I think some of this is just human nature and people don't always consciously know what they are doing.

I also wonder if a company can actually claim that you are incapable of doing your job. If you have cognitive difficulties and are in a job where accuracy is critical and there is no leeway in how/when things are done...I mean at a certain point wouldn't they be able to claim that you lack the skills to do it?

I guess I'm torn because I've seen and heard of so many things that have happened in workplaces that are probably technically against the law or inappropriate where managers or other employees act differently toward someone and try to push them out of their job or mistreat someone due to a bias. I also think that aside from the legal stuff people do view you differently if you have a "disability" and this perception worries me. People talk and someone can tell someone else about my diagnosis and that could hinder me from getting a job elsewhere down the road. People are very biased during interview processes and such and I don't want word to spread.

I wish I could sit comfortably behind all of these legal protections but I just can't. Especially since MS affects both the body and the brain - I don't want anyone to know that I am "slower" than I used to be. Disabilities act or not, it will change the way people treat me. My question also extends beyond all of the legal issues to relationships and general best practices in the workplace. I don't know how people will react - whether it be with empathy or with hostility - and I want to make sure that I think that part through. I've read about people disclosing MS at work and then their coworkers giving them a hard time because they don't look sick on the outside. MS is a whole different animal compared to other disabilities, especially physical ones (and those that are more obvious).

You are protected by the American With Disabilities Act... I\

I never told my manager or anyone at work. I feel that it's not their business and I don't want anyone to use my medical issues against me (even though that would be illegal) or gossip about it.

I filed for FMLA. Talk to your Dr about it. Google Know Your Rights with Multiple Sclerosis