Who Might Need Disability or Leave Support (And Why It’s Not Just “Later in Life”)

When most people picture disability benefits or medical leave, they imagine something far off — older age, a permanent condition, a clear before-and-after moment.

But that picture leaves out a lot of people.

Disability and leave systems exist for moments when life changes faster than your body, your health, or your capacity can keep up — and those moments don’t follow a timeline.

You might need disability or leave support if:

• You’re recovering from a major medical event and work looks different now
• You’re managing a chronic illness that fluctuates
• You’re experiencing severe mental health symptoms that affect consistency or stamina
• You’re caring for a partner, parent, or child with serious health needs
• You’re postpartum and your recovery doesn’t fit neatly into a few weeks
• You can technically work — but not in a way that’s predictable, sustainable, or safe

Many people I work with don’t see themselves as “disabled.”

They see themselves as:
– exhausted
– doing their best
– pushing through
– trying to stay employed
– trying not to lose benefits
– trying not to make the wrong move

And often, they wait too long to ask questions — not because they don’t care, but because the systems are confusing and the language feels intimidating.

Disability benefits and medical leave aren’t about giving up.
They’re about creating breathing room.

They’re about recognizing when support would actually protect your long-term health, your finances, and your ability to keep going — rather than pushing until something breaks.

You don’t need to be “at the end of the road” to deserve clarity.
You don’t need to be certain to ask questions.
And you don’t need to fit a stereotype to need support.

Understanding your options earlier gives you more choices — not fewer.

That’s the work I focus on here:
Education that helps people plan gently, without panic, and without shame.