Work Accommodations for Narcolepsy

Does Narcolepsy Qualify As a Disability?

Determining who qualifies as a person with a disability in a work setting is an individualized evaluation made on a case-by-case basis. U.S. law defines an individual with a disability as “any person who has a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.” These activities can include caring for oneself, walking, speaking, learning, working, eating, sleeping, communicating, and concentrating.

A narcolepsy diagnosis does not, by itself, qualify any individual as “disabled” under the law. This evaluation is always an individualized process that considers the individual’s unique circumstance. It is important to note that any positive effects of treatment must be ignored in determining if a person meets the definition of disability. 

What Are Reasonable Accommodations?

Reasonable accommodations are changes or adjustments that allow a person with a disability to perform the essential duties of a job. This may include:

• changing the employee’s work schedule
• assigning non-essential functions of the job to other employees
• providing special equipment, devices, or software
• restructuring the job
• providing additional training
• providing paid or unpaid leave needed due to the disability

Most accommodations for narcolepsy have a very low cost to no cost. For example, having a nap space — that doesn’t really inhibit anything for the employer.”

– Nicole

Work Accommodations for Narcolepsy Ideas

These examples of work accommodations were compiled directly from people living with narcolepsy. Additional ideas can be found on the Job Accommodations Network’s database: https://askjan.org/soar.cfm.

• Taking nap breaks
• Providing space to nap
• Flexible scheduling
• Working from home
• Consistent scheduling
• Working environment
• Addressing cognitive issues

Disclosure

There is no hard and fast rule about when to disclose one’s narcolepsy to an employer, but it is a good idea to discuss narcolepsy with an employer before problems arise. Misperceptions and poor performance can hurt the trust and mutual respect between an employee and employer.

When requesting reasonable accommodations due to disability, be prepared to disclose your diagnosis along with specific examples of the accommodations you would like. A letter from your sleep specialist will be helpful for securing accommodations. 

I work on a pretty small team and most of them had never even heard of narcolepsy. Explaining what it is and how it affects me — I think that made an impact.”

– Lindsey

It may feel uncomfortable discussing your diagnosis and requesting accommodations, but if narcolepsy might impact your work, bringing this up is important. When disclosing your diagnosis, there are three main points to include for a positive and productive conversation with your supervisor or Human Resources: 

• Basic narcolepsy facts
• How narcolepsy affects you
• Accommodations suggestions

Work Accommodations for Narcolepsy: Key Takeaways

• Disclosing your diagnosis and seeking accommodations are personal decisions, and not a sign of weakness.
• Address concerns before problems arise.
• Brainstorm what accommodations you’d like before starting the formal process with your employer. Think about what you would need on your worst days.
• It may take time and effort to gain accommodations. Work with your sleep doctor and employer throughout this process.
• Accommodations may need to be periodically adjusted, depending on your circumstances, health, and job role.
• Keep personal copies of all documents (e.g. application, doctor letter) and written communication about disclosure and accommodations.
• Educational and advocacy resources can help you learn about your rights, the accommodations process, and your options in the case that your accommodations are denied.

For more information on this topic, download the Narcolepsy at Work toolkit!

Narcolepsy at Work: Listen or Watch!

Project Sleep President and CEO, Julie Flygare, hosted the “Narcolepsy at Work” broadcast with Rising Voices speakers Tre Burge, Lindsey Kizer, and Nicole Zamary to discuss how people with narcolepsy can work with their employers to maximize opportunities for success.

The Narcolepsy at Work broadcast originally aired on August 31, 2022.

Meet Our Guests

Tre Burge is a proud Iowa native and paraprofessional working with elementary school students with disabilities. He was diagnosed with type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy at age 18, and advocates for narcolepsy awareness through content creation, local outreach, and his clothing brand, SLEpPY. As a trained speaker with Project Sleep’s Rising Voices program, Tre shares his unique perspective and lifts up others’ voices in hopes of reaching the right ears and inspiring action.

Lindsey Kizer is from Belmont, NC and leads her workplace’s Chronic Illness and Disabilities employee group. She was diagnosed with type 1 narcolepsy with cataplexy at 29 after living with many of the symptoms for over 15 years. She loves to bake, listen to live music, and spend time in her garden and with her husband and rescue pup. Lindsey is a trained speaker with Project Sleep’s Rising Voices program and shares her experiences to help others on their narcolepsy journeys.

Nicole Zamary is a hard-working Human Resources professional at the University of West Florida. After more than 15 years of struggling with unexplained exhaustion and sleepiness, she was diagnosed with type 2 narcolepsy without cataplexy at the age of 44. She is a compassionate individual, enthusiast of all things crafty, and a grandmother. A trained speaker with Project Sleep’s Rising Voices program, Nicole aspires to spread the word to others about this misunderstood sleep disorder.