Neurological disorders and injuries

Parkinson’s Disease

A progressive neurological condition impacting movement due to nerve cell damage in the brain.
  • enableDex
  • disAbility Atlas
      • Parkinson’s Disease

About

Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement. It occurs when nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine, a chemical that helps control movement, become damaged or die.

Symptoms include tremors, stiffness, slowness of movement, and balance problems.

This condition is often invisible.

Many disabilities, including this one, may not have outward signs—people can be significantly impacted even if they appear “fine” on the outside.

Common Challenges

  • Difficulty with fine motor skills (e.g., typing, writing).
  • Tremors that affect hand stability.
  • Slowness in movement, affecting productivity.
  • Difficulty with balance and walking.
  • Cognitive issues, such as memory problems or slower thinking.
  • Fatigue.
  • Communication difficulties, including softer speech or slurring.
  • Emotional challenges like depression or anxiety.

Practitioner Help

  • Assess the participant’s strengths and limitations.
  • Offer career counselling to identify suitable job roles based on abilities.
  • Suggest job environments that accommodate mobility or communication challenges.
  • Work with the participant’s employer to provide necessary workplace modifications.
  • Help the participant develop strategies to manage symptoms at work (e.g., taking regular breaks, using assistive devices).
  • Encourage participation in job training programs or skill development.
  • Support in advocating for necessary accommodations.

Common Accommodations

  • Assistance with tasks requiring fine motor skills
  • Flexible work hours or part-time schedules
  • Adjustable workstations to reduce strain
  • Special computer equipment (voice recognition software, adaptive keyboards)
  • Allowing more breaks to manage anxiety or fatigue
  • Modified work schedules or reduced workload
  • Assistance with transportation or parking
View more on enableDex

Notes

Parkinson’s Disease affects everyone differently, so accommodations and support should be individualised. Early intervention and proactive management of symptoms can help individuals maintain a good quality of life and stay productive in the workplace.

Picture

World Parkinsons Day is 11th April

Resources

  • Parkinson's disease - symptoms, causes, diagnosis and management | healthdirect
  • Info Hub Archive - Parkinson's Australia
  • Parkinson's disease - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
  • Parkinson disease-(WHO)
Neurological disorders and injuries

Help Us Improve the Knowledge Hub

This Knowledge Hub is a living library that relies on community feedback to stay current, accurate, and effective for everyone. We welcome all submissions, whether you've spotted an error, have an improvement idea, or want to suggest a new topic.

Report an Inaccuracy

Help us correct outdated information, broken links, or any factual errors you find.

Suggest an Improvement

Suggest an improvement to make an existing profile or resource much clearer.
submit feedback