Case Management Eases Return to Work Following a Life-Altering Disability

By Diane Winiarski, M.Ed.

Director
Allsup Employment Services

Returning to the workforce after recovering from an illness can be challenging, but the value to employers and employees is worth the effort. Effective case managers can be critical in helping disabled employees find success in their return-to-work efforts.

For James, it was never a question of whether he would return to work; it was just a matter of time. After he was forced to stop working as an aircraft mechanic due to osteoarthritis, he qualified for Social Security Disability Insurance. Once physically able to work, James transitioned back to his former employer, where he works on a flexible schedule.

“Going back to work was a difficult transition, but my employer had a set plan of action and a checklist to help ease me back into the job,” James said. “I fix aircrafts for a living, and my employer recognized that I couldn’t do certain physical tasks anymore because of my hip — like going up long flights of stairs — and instead allowed me to do other work that utilizes my skills. They put my safety and my health first.”

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