People with HIV infection should work as long as they possibly can. Work contributes to people’s sense of self-worth, to their knowledge that they are contributing members of society. HIV infection should not keep people from working unless fatigue or other symptoms make it impossible.
Occasionally employers have used the fact of HIV infection to limit someone’s employment or to change their job assignments. The employee has considerable legal recourse as a result of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which protects every citizen against unfair discrimination based on sex, race, or handicap. Under this law, HIV infection is a handicap, and those who have HIV infection are legally protected. The employer must provide the employee with continued employment in the same job as long as she or he is capable of performing the job.
Maintain Mental Health-HIV infection carries an enormous psychological burden, both because of the nature of the disease and because of society’s reaction to it. It is critically important for a person with HIV infection to deal with the psychological impact of the disease. Mental health may even affect the state of the immune system. Methods of maintaining mental health will differ with different people. Resources available include mental health professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers), support groups, and AIDS-advocacy organizations.
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