Caroline Reilly & Lauren Kornegay
Who are we? Caroline is a journalist and a J.D. who has endometriosis. Lauren, the founder of Endo Black—an organization focused on advocating for African American women and women of color with endometriosis—also has endometriosis. Together, we compiled our best tips and tricks for asking for the accommodations you deserve; balancing work, school, and chronic illness; and making sure you’re taking care of yourself and your body.
If you’re going back to school
Meet with your professors individually to speak with them about your endometriosis. Try to find students who have taken your classes in previous years and get a sense of what that professor is like about absences and accommodations.
You are legally entitled to accommodations that help you manage your coursework, thanks to the Americans With Disabilities Act. Remember that when you ask for accommodations you’re not inconveniencing anyone—it’s the job of the people in your school’s disability services office to make education accessible.
If you’re going back to work
Forge a relationship with your co-workers in the human resources department. You’ll be working closely with HR, so it’s a good idea to connect with them. All of the same ADA accommodations that apply to students also apply to workers.
Create an “endo kit” that includes all of your tools and essentials to manage your health while at work. If you have a desk, keeping items there as a safety net will likely come in handy in the future.
Read more, here.