WEBVTT

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>> Meet Aubrey Lang,
a wife, mother,

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and Human Resource
Transitions Counselor

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in Cornell University's
benefit's department.

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>> When I was pregnant
with my son,

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I acquired a large blood clot.

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A lot of times these
things resolve

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and are temporary issues, but
for me the damage was permanent

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and so it's something that I
deal with on a life-long basis.

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It's something I've had
to grow accustomed to but,

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in the vein of
things happen for a reason.

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I feel is important to share
my story and help others

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if I'm able to do that.

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>> Aubrey wrestled with whether
she should disclose her acquired

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condition with her employer.

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>> It was an adjustment.

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And I had never dealt with
anything like that before,

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so I didn't know -- am I
supposed to talk about it?

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Can I talk about it?

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But, it became clear rather
quickly that the same type

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of work style that I had prior
wasn't going to work for me.

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And the concern was will I
continue to do what I do?

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Reaching out to my
supervisor and a few others,

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I learned about the
Employment Disability Institute.

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And, I wanted to better
understand the legalities behind

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it and what the recommendations
might be.

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And for me, personally, the
decision to self-disclose

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and open up a bit more
-- it was twofold.

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I needed to learn as much as
I could about my condition

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so that I could learn how
to better manage myself

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and then determine will it
impact the way I do my work?

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And in my case it would,
but I believe it's good

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to identify an issue and
then propose a solution.

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>> Aubrey now has a
sit-to-stand workstation.

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Co-workers and supervisors also
understand that she needs to get

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up and down and move
around a lot.

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>> It is not negotiable.

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I have to walk at lunch,

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and I have to walk
before bed otherwise I'm

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in an incredible amount
of pain and could clot.

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And the type of condition
I have,

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that could be life altering.

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>> Aubrey and her family
have had to make adjustments

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as they balance work and life.

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>> It's something that they're
just used to now so it kind

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of gives -- we joke about it.

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Like oh, moms got to go for a
walk so now dad and my son Liam,

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you know, can have
their time together.

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For instance, traveling
long periods of time,

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I have to stop every
hour to get out and walk

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around otherwise it
becomes problematic.

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And it's not beneficial.

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And I'll be in pain for not
just an hour or two but days.

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The thing that I wish people
understood more was that a lot

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of us -- this just
kind of happens.

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It wasn't something
that we planned.

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It wasn't something that we
would wish upon ourselves.

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In some ways it feels like
a blessing and a curse,

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but I'm not looking for
anyone to feel sorry for me.

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It's really -- I think over
time we all acquire something.

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You know, these ships
weren't built to last forever.