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# JAN’S ACCOMMODATION FACT SHEET SERIES

**Job Accommodations for People**

**with Migraine Headaches**

To more than ten million Americans, migraine headaches can be both physically and psychologically disabling. The most common types of migraines are classic and common.  Classic migraines include a visual aura (a warning sign), which usually includes blind spots, flashing lights, or double vision. These symptoms are usually followed by a headache about 10-30 minutes later.  With common migraines, the most frequently occurring type of migraine headaches in the general population, individuals do not have auras, though some people might experience a mental fuzziness, mood changes, or fatigue prior to headache. During the headache phase, the individual might experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and increased urination. Both classic and common headaches can occur as often as several times a week or as rarely as every few years. Hemiplegic migraines, which cause temporary paralysis on one side of the body and vertigo, and headache-free migraines, which cause nausea and vomiting and have no associated head pain, are two other types of migraine headaches.  

The following is a quick overview of some of the job accommodations that might be useful for employees who experience migraine headaches. For a more in depth discussion, access JAN's publications at http://askjan.org/media/atoz.htm.  To discuss an accommodation situation with a consultant, contact JAN directly.

**Concentration, Attendance, and Pain Management:**

· Reduce visual and auditory distractions

· Use partitions to block distractions

· Move employee's work area to a more quiet area

· Use environmental sound machines (white noise machines) to mask any noise/sounds in the environment

· Use computer glare guards

· Replace fluorescent lighting with full spectrum lighting

· Modify attendance policy, provide flexible schedule options, and allow work from home 

· Grant sick/vacation leave without penalty to individual's performance evaluation

· Install proper ventilation system in the work environment and, if appropriate, use air purification devices

**Lighting Triggers:**

· Add fluorescent light filters to existing fluorescent lights to create a more natural lighting

· Change lighting completely

· Provide an anti-glare filter for computer monitor

· Provide a liquid crystal display monitor that has a better refresh rate

· Move employee to a private area to allow for personal adjustment to appropriate lighting

· Allow the employee to wear sunglasses or anti-glare glasses in the work area

· Allow telework

**Noise Triggers:**

· Move employee to a more private area or away from high traffic areas

· Provide an environmental sound machine to help mask distracting sounds

· Provide noise canceling headsets

· Provide sound absorption panels

· Encourage coworkers to keep non-work related conversation to a minimum

**Smell/Fragrance Triggers:**

· Implement a fragrance-free policy

· Request that employees voluntarily refrain from wearing fragrances

· Allow telework

· Move the employee to an area where the fragrances are not as strong

· Allow a flexible schedule

· Provide air purification systems

**Resources Specifically for People with Migraine Headaches**

**American Academy of Neurology**

1080 Montreal Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55116

Toll Free: (800)879-1960

Fax: (651) 695-2791

http://www.aan.com

**American Headache Society**

19 Mantua Road

Mt. Royal, NJ 08061

Direct: (856)423-0043

Fax: (856)423-0082

ahshq@talley.com

http://www.AmericanHeadacheSociety.org

Updated 3/23/10. 

This document was developed by the Job Accommodation Network, funded by a contract agreement from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (DOL079RP20426). The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Labor. Nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Fact Sheet Series

Job Accommodations for People with Migraine Headaches