Discrimination Against People With Ms example essay topic

Do Americans Discriminate Against People with Multiple Sclerosis? Kevin is a quiet man who has known he has multiple sclerosis (MS) for six years. He hasn't told anyone. [Kevin explains] "I went to a doctor because I had a serious fall.

He decided to run some tests and a week later he told me that I have MS. No one can tell when they look at me. I've learned how to cover losing my balance. I'm only thirty-two. I'm not going to tell anyone because they might think I can't do my job. I'm sure not going to tell any woman I want to date. What's she going to think-I'm a cripple?" (qty. in "Disclosure") This story is a prime example of what people who have MS live with every day of their lives.

Kevin's initial reaction was not concern for his health or well-being, but the kind of discrimination he would now have to face because of this devastating disease. People with MS are discriminated against in several aspects of life. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) Web page, MS is a disease that affects the brain and the spinal cord. When a person has MS the tissue called myelin which protects the nerves are damaged. The damage to the myelin is called "sclerosis", commonly known as scar tissue, and "multiple" means many.

These scars impair the activity of the nerves, by making it difficult for commands to reach and leave the brain. This causes the different symptoms of MS ("What is MS"). According to the NMSS approximately one third of a million Americans acknowledge having MS ("About MS"). MS is a disabling disease.

It is common practice that people who suffer from the disease end up in a wheel chair. One way people who suffer from MS are discriminated against is in public accommodations. In the article, "A Ruling on Co-op and Disability", Jay Romano tells a story about a woman who as a result of having MS had to be in a wheel chair. Romano explains that the building she was living in didn't have a ramp so that she could easily get in and out of the building. Romano states she made several attempts to rectify the problem with the co-op board of the building but has not been accommodated. Further Romano informs us the woman sought out a lawyer and took the board to court.

Romano reports that she won the court case, not only where they ordered to build her a ramp but the court also awarded her monetary damages. Most MS suffers are forced to become aware of their disability rights. As maintained by the NMSS, "Every individual should be able to lead a full, productive life and participate in community activities. For people with multiple sclerosis and other disabilities, there are many obstacles to full participation in transportation... [and] recreation".

As stated by the NMSS, recently their Long Island Chapter has taken steps to make all pools in Nassau County, New York, accessible to wheel chairs by making waterproof wheelchair ramps. This seems like a small matter. However, when was the last time a person not in a wheel chair had a hard time getting into a pool? This is part of our everyday lives that we take for granted. These types of average aspects of public accommodations are ways in which people who suffer from MS are discriminated against. People who suffer from MS are people who can not afford health benefits for many reasons.

Many of them are facing the need to been on some sort of disability. Another way in which people with MS are discriminated against is in healthcare. The NMSS informs us that "many members of Congress believe that the current budget deficit requires limitation of prescription drug coverage to low-income beneficiaries... others believe a universal benefit is needed and that incremental steps to limit drug coverage to low-income beneficiaries will reduce the likelihood that Congress will enact a universal Medicare benefit in the future". However, in most cases disability benefits are not granted immediately creating monetary hardship (Shaw). "Of MS patients who were diagnosed with the disease more than five years ago, 49 percent are not taking drugs... the Harris poll interviewed 562 MS patients and 251 neurologists who treat MS patients. In addition to the patients who weren't taking drugs because they didn't have physical symptoms of the disease, 32 percent said they couldn't afford the medicine" (Neenan).

This is a continuous problem for suffers of MS. According to the NMSS Congress is unlikely to pass any form of Medicare prescription coverage in the coming year ("Advocacy"). Unfortunate for many MS suffers discrimination in healthcare will be an on-going battle that does not seem to be ending in the near future. Further people with MS are discriminated against in the workplace. There are many different forms of this discrimination.

They range from inappropriate treatment at the workplace to monetary troubles because of the disease. For example, in the article "When Disease Conflicts with Police Duty", written by Ralph Ranalli, he relates the story of a police officer who is reduced to a desk job in a storage closet because of his disease. Ranalli explains this officer had an outstanding record and was a very productive member of the police department before being diagnosed with the disease. Ranalli goes on to inform us that the humiliation does not end there. Ranalli tells us about the standing order from the Police Chief is that when this officer has occasion leave the station in a car, he must use his personal vehicle and he must wear his civilian jacket over his uniform so that the public does not mistake him for an officer who might be able to help in an emergency situation. While this type of discrimination is mostly damaging to the character of the MS sufferer.

There is also the kind of discrimination that is damaging to their pocket. For instance, in the article "Shrewd moves... State & Local Government Employees, Take Note!" written by Laura Cooper, we are told how new legislation has given new rights to employers against people with disabilities. Cooper informs us that because of this new legislation if you work for a state or local government you may or may not be eligible for social security disability insurance (SSDI). Cooper explains that the qualifications for SSDI are very difficult. This is another way in which discrimination takes place in the work force primarily in that people who thought they have or had good paying jobs with some sort of financial security are now in jeopardy of losing benefits.

In summary, discrimination against people with MS is a regrettable problem that people who suffer from the disease have to live with on a daily basis. The discrimination exists in many forms of life that individuals can easily help change and some that are going to be more difficult for the people who suffer from MS. Hopefully as a society those of us who do not suffer from MS are enlightened to the presence of discrimination and can look to ourselves to help eradicate it from our society. "About MS". National Multiple Sclerosis Society. 19 Nov. 2002 "Advocacy". 19 Nov. 2002 Cooper, Laura.

"Shrewd Moves... State & Local Government Employees, Take Note!" Inside MS. 2001 Fall. 19 Nov. 2002 "Disclosure". 19 Nov. 2002 National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

19 Nov. 2002 Neenan, Julia. "What MS Patients are Missing". Health Scout Reporter. 11 May 2000.2 Dec. 2002 Ranalli, Ralph.

"When Disease Conflicts with Police Duty". Boston Globe 7 Nov. 1999: A 1. ProQuest. Orange County Community College Library. 19 Nov. 2002 Romano, Jay. "A Ruling on Co-Ops and Disability".

New York Times 23 May 1999, late ed. 3. ProQuest. 19 Nov. 2002 Shaw, Katherine. "A Place in the Work Force".

Inside MS. Fall 2001.2 Dec. 2002 "What is MS?" National Multiple Sclerosis Society. 19 Nov. 2002.