Career Planning

This information is provided for your consideration; remember to always consult with your healthcare team.

As planning for postsecondary education and a career begins it is important to take into consideration how cystic fibrosis may affect your career choices and options. There are few career paths that can be wholly eliminated for people with cystic fibrosis, so one should be careful not to make blanket exclusions. In discussing career choices with a school counselor or career planner it is important to keep in mind how the disease affects daily life. Current and possible future physical impairments should be considered.

Whether a company or position provides health insurance is a critical consideration. Also important is how an employer deals with absences and what they provide in the way of sick leave and vacation time. Flexible hours and the option to work from home are ideal, with self-employment allowing for the most flexibility. It is also important to consider specific work environments, especially when it comes to exposure to respiratory irritants or infectious agents. For example, working with children may not be a suitable job for someone with cystic fibrosis, due to the higher risk of transmission of illnesses.