Work Options & Employer Benefits

Support persons for people with SCI can benefit from knowing about the rules about caregiving. In the United States, the rules about caregiving are a series of federal and state initiatives to help millions of unpaid family caregivers. For example, the National Family Caregiver Support Program is a federal program that gives grants for respite care, counseling, and information, and the VA Caregiver Support Program, offers stipend, training, and healthcare benefits to caregivers of eligible veterans. Some states offer paid family leave programs and tax credits for caregivers. However, even with all these programs, we still need one big, clear plan across the whole country to make sure all caregivers get the same help and support they need.  Support persons have been creative in their use of time off work. Sometimes, they save their “leave days” for when they need them the most. For example, one person said, “I try to come to the hospital twice a week, and would love to be here every day.  But I have to bring in some money. Plus, I want to extend my leave for when he’s home.”  Others got help from a donated employee leave program, so it’s a good idea to check if your company has one! Everyone’s situation is a bit different, but knowing about your rights to take time off and supporting policies can really help caregivers get the most support they can.  ​ Right after a spinal cord injury (SCI), thinking about going back to work might be the last thing on someone’s mind. However, if and when the person with SCI decides they want to work again, keep in mind that The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) makes it against the law to treat a person unfairly just because they have a disability. This law means that places like government offices and public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications and employers (private employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations) cannot treat people unfairly because of a disability.