Disability support options for eczema patients

Eczema can profoundly impact the lives of people living with the condition and their families. Symptoms like pain and itching can limit and impair different parts of life, like participating in school and work, and cause work disability, which can negatively impact your financial situation.

The Eczema Society of Canada (ESC) turned to expert Laurie Proulx, a disability and health policy analyst with over fifteen years of experience working in human resources and supporting employees in accessing workplace accommodations. She is also an advocate for people with disabilities and has lived with a disability for over thirty years. In this article, she shares the disability support available in Canada for eligible individuals. 

Our first question starts at the beginning: is eczema even considered a disability?

Laurie told us, “There are various ways to define disability, and it depends on the specific individual care, their situation, and the program or support people are trying to access. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities describes disability as “long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments” that interact with barriers experienced in daily life. Impairments and barriers hinder people’s participation in daily life, like education, work/employment, and community and social life. Many disability support programs aim to reduce the impact of impairments and barriers in different settings, like schools and the workplace.”

She further explained that many chronic conditions can certainly be disabling, “You may be experiencing impairments to fine motor skills and mobility and have difficulty concentrating. Social interactions can be challenging to navigate, and the added stress of living with eczema can add to the emotional challenges of the condition. Many disability support programs established in Canada recognize the impact of health conditions or impairments on the lives of people and their families. These programs offer support to help people with chronic conditions, like eczema, who are impacted by functional and activity limitations.”

What disability supports and programs are available?

Laurie shared her expertise, “Understanding the complex web of disability supports can seem daunting, but people with eczema can access various disability supports. Each of these programs has different criteria in order to qualify with different terminology used, like “limitations,” “impairments,” or “restrictions.” Each program has a unique process, which often involves a medical practitioner certifying that people meet the definition of disability used. To start, familiarize yourself with the specific requirements of different disability supports, and then tailor your application by highlighting how your symptoms, limitations, and impairments align with the program’s criteria. For example, to help address the additional costs of living with a disability, the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) was created as a non-refundable tax credit that helps people with disabilities or their caregivers. To qualify for the DTC, there are various criteria, like the “cumulative effect categories,” which include limitations in walking, mental functions, dressing, and feeding. Partner with a certified medical practitioner to build the case and provide the documentation necessary to apply.”

She continued, “Many of these disability support programs are governed by provincial, territorial, or federal laws, offering a framework to help you get the assistance you need. Since education is a provincial or territorial responsibility in Canada, each province or territory has set up a process for accessing school accommodation. This process often involves a formal procedure, including providing documentation confirming the student’s needs and limitations. Typically, a guardian or parent must request these accommodations, and a follow-up meeting is held with school staff and teachers to confirm the student’s needs and develop a specific plan. For students with eczema, the necessary support varies depending on individual needs. For example, some students may need to:

• Avoid environmental triggers, like specific cleaning products 
• Access soap and moisturizers that don’t trigger eczema
• Adapt school uniforms using eczema-friendly fabrics 
• Access flexible school attendance policies to manage eczema flare-ups 

Teachers and school principals can play a crucial role in supporting a supportive learning environment. To learn more about the procedure for accessing school accommodation, refer to the ministry or department of education in your province or territory (a complete list is available here).”

Support can be available for students or workers. Laurie shared, “The workplace requires disability accommodations to address the workplace-related needs of people with eczema. Across Canada, there are laws mandating that employers accommodate employees with disabilities based on other protected grounds, like family status, race, age, and sex. These laws apply to workplaces and other situations and require employers to offer reasonable accommodations to employees to the point of “undue hardship.” For example, people with eczema may need to: 

• Reduce exposure to irritants, like cleaning products and soaps
• Access protective gear 
• Access better cleaning practices
• Adjust temperature and humidity.”

What other disability resources would you recommend?

While there are limited eczema-specific resources here in Canada, Laurie shared some additional resources available to help us understand how individuals can request accommodations in the workplace, “The Job Accommodation Network, a US-based service, has information about possible accommodation for people with skin conditions like eczema. To determine what works best for you, consider your needs or “functional limitations and restrictions” in workplace terms and identify the required changes. Before discussing these concerns with your supervisor, prepare to best advocate for your needs. Although not specific to eczema, these resources developed through the Working it Out project can help people with skin conditions understand the steps in requesting workplace accommodation.”

What can eczema sufferers do to find more information on disability support?

Laurie shared, “Despite efforts to continue working, you may need to take a short-term leave of absence or stop working permanently to manage your health. The federal government has developed the Benefits Finder tool, which can help you determine what programs might be available to you. For short-term leaves of absence, you can consider applying for Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits, which provides up to 15 weeks of financial assistance if you lose more than 40% of your weekly earnings. For situations where you cannot work permanently, review the table in the appendix to see what programs are available in the province or territory where you reside. If your province or territory lacks a program, review information about the Canada Pension Plan Disability Insurance and other supports for Living with a Disability.”

She also shared, “We know it can be hard to speak up for yourself or a child and to ask for support, accommodation, or adaptation. These disability supports exist because they recognize the barriers that people with disabilities face in life and support their specific health-related needs. You have every right to speak up and assert your needs – you and your family deserve that support.”

ESC also offers family resources for navigating support at school and daycare, and we are here to help. Have questions? Reach out at info@eczemahelp.ca

Eczema Society of Canada (ESC) thanks Laurie Proulx for her volunteer contribution to this educational content.

This blog was developed as part of our Educational Content program, and funding support for this initiative has been provided by AbbVie, Arcutis Canada, Inc., Eli Lilly Canada Inc., Incyte Biosciences Canada, and LEO Pharma Inc.

Disclaimer: Information provided in this resource does not constitute medical advice and is not intended to be used as a diagnostic tool. The information is up-to-date at time of publication. All medications, interventions, and treatment plans have risks and benefits, and it is important that individuals discuss their or their child’s specific health care needs with a qualified health care professional.

June 2024

There are groups in every province and territory that can provide information and support. Below is our most up-to-date list.