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I'm also 52 with PD. Two years ago I was cut from the company I worked for as a Quality Engineer, due to corporate cut backs. I was with the company for eight years. They said that they eliminated my position for financial reasons, but they had to hire someone to fill my position within one month after I left the company. I know that the main reason I was let go was, that my boss was uncomfortable being around me. His father passed away with parkinsons. For months he would ask if I ever thought of trying to get disability. during the exit meeting with the plant manager, HR, and Quality manager I asked if the main reason they laid me off was because I had PD? They all denied that they knew that I had PD. They lied, they knew that I had PD for years. Well any way, I interviewed with a company and they were impressed with my resume but were reluctant to hire me because they were not sure that I would be physically able to perform the job requirements. I convinced them that I was the person that they needed. I made a deal to contract my services to this company on a temporary basis, and if they liked my performance they could hire me direct within six months to a year, I have just been hired in as a Program Manager after working as my own contractor for 19 months. Sometimes you have to prove yourself to a prospective employer when you have PD. When job hunting you have to sell yourself extra hard. I sent my resume to several companies and there were several I interviewed with that did not ask me in for a second interview. I learned from each interview and sold my self harder. I know it is depressing when you get rejected at each interview, I've been there. I have learned that you need to make the best with the hand that you have been dealt. PD is going to be with you for the rest of your life. With the job market in the dumper the way it is now, it is even harder to compete for jobs. They are not as plentiful as they used to be. One thing I found is, you need to keep your sense of humor or you will go nuts. Good luck in your job search Amanda. One thing you might want to try is don't mention that you have PD over the phone to the employment agent wait until the interview. Hang in there, good things come to those who wait. Keith In a message dated 10/3/2008 2:02:40 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: I just got made redundant due to the "credit crunch" - any ideas how to stop employers heading for the horizon when they find out I'm a 52-year-old with PD ? Yes, my left side shakes, so I walk with a stick & my typing speed isn't what it was, but I can think, talk and fix software - now how do I convince some wizzy 25-year-old employment agent of that, one such couldn't hang up the phone fast enough just now (ass!). Amanda (aging but still kicking) ---------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://www.ukonline.net ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn **************New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn