This letter says it all for the people who have silent disabilities. I have Chronic Regional Pain Syndrom that covers all of my back, head and now eyes, it has now travelled inwards to the hips and knees. The frustrating aspect is that a lot of employers don't realise that you are giving one hundred and ten percent to the work place, but because of technical limitations with software and with how our database is designed, we can't do things as fast as others (I work in a call centre). Now, if someone had some commonsense they would have relocated me to a position where I could be more more efficient. *sigh* Just another day of dealing with discrimination against disability bc people just don't want to think outside of the box. I am grateful to be working, but please Mr Howard we have enough challenges just coping with the constraints of our pain and learning how to do things in a different way to reduce our pain and how we could do things one day doesn't necessarily work the next. What we need as disabled workers returning to the workforce is some meaningful and lengthy rehabilitation services which include pain counselling and encouragement, we need modified work environments and mentors who help us on our journey. The last thing we need to have to cope with is antagonistic agressive workers in HR or COmcare, who take great delight in making the system as adversoral as it is.

I agree the best sort of income is from work, but we as people with disabilities need additional support to get there. We can do it, and we will do it, but we will do it quicker with more meaningful and appropriate help.

Thank you Ken...my name is Fiona and have been told I have fibromyalgia. I have been on a workcover claim for almost 2 years and on light duties for the last 12months. Your letter makes so much sense. Unfortunately after being so accomadating with making the effort to return to work I am at the point where I feel defeated. I am a very capable worker given the appropriate rest breaks and flexible hours. I have been trying to negotiate part time work for the last 6 months to no success. I am confident I would be able to manage my life so much better if I worked 2 days per week instead of full time. You have given me a small amount of hope in my very dark world to know that there are people even with this dibilitating syndrome putting the effort in to fight for others in the same situation. Again thankyou...Fiona