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Non-24 Sleep-Wake Disorder is a rare disorder of the circadian rhythm (the body\u2019s internal clock). It is not the same as insomnia, apnea, or other sleep disorders because the sleep itself isn\u2019t typically disordered, the circadian rhythm is. (The circadian rhythm affects more than just sleep and is governed by neurological, hormonal, steroidal, chemical, and environmental processes). When Non-24 patients follow a strict sleep-wake schedule, they often experience the disabling symptoms of sleep deprivation. Because of this, Non-24 patients often require accommodation to work, to go to school, and more.<\/strong> Below, you will find possible accommodations for Non-24 Sleep-Wake Disorder<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a patient with Non-24 is not responsive to treatment, their only option is to follow a \u201cfree-running<\/strong>\u201d sleep-wake schedule. Free-running is when you sleep when sleepy and wake when refreshed. For someone with Non-24, their wake time and sleep period typically shifts forward every day and is likely to be unpredictable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As an example, someone with free-running Non-24 may never be awake on the same schedule for more than a few days at a time.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, someone with Non-24 who is working a flexible job might work 1st<\/sup> shift, then 2nd<\/sup> shift, and then 3rd<\/sup> shift \u2026 all in the course of two or three weeks. Many cases are even less predictable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The circadian rhythm cannot be reliably or safety controlled with willpower alone. Asking someone with Non-24 to control when they sleep is very similar to asking someone with a fever to control their body temperature with willpower.<\/strong> Requiring someone with Non-24 to wake up at the same time every day may cause serious side-effects of sleep deprivation and is typically neither healthy nor feasible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Sleep Foundation<\/a>, in the short run, sleep deprivation can cause:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For many with Non-24, the effects of sleep deprivation may be heightened and can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Someone with Non-24 might also experience the effects of long-term sleep deprivation from working an inflexible schedule for weeks or months at a time. According to the Sleep Foundation<\/a>, these increased health risks can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several websites also offer similar pages on understanding and accommodating this disorder:<\/p>\n\n\n\n NOTE: Accommodations can and will often look different for each individual with Non-24. While these are helpful suggestions, it’s important to remember employers, educators, caregivers, and loved ones should always work with the Non-24 individual to develop the best possible accommodations.<\/mark><\/strong> In the U.S., Non-24 Sleep-Wake disorder qualifies as a disability under the terms of the American Disabilities Act.<\/strong> Under the terms of the ADA, most employers are legally obliged to make reasonable accommodations for Non-24, as long as the patient is broadly qualified to do the work. (Source: ADA<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n For those with Non-24, flexible work hours are critical<\/strong>. The ability to set your own schedule is important, but, if this schedule is still \u201cset\u201d and required to be followed for any extended period of time, it is not truly flexible. This often cannot be a \u201cset your own schedule\u201d role where the employer requires that same schedule at all times. True work flexibility would allow the employee with Non-24 to be able to change their work hours from day to day or week to week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Likewise, being required to work only within certain hours is also limiting. As an example, only being able to set a schedule between 9 \u2013 5 limits a free-running person\u2019s work hours by half if they are awake at night the other half of the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many with Non-24 can work more efficiently when they simply need to meet a deadline rather than work certain hours at specific times of day. Project work, freelance work, remote work, and jobs with truly<\/em> flexible hours will best suit those with free-running Non-24. <\/p>\n\n\n\n People with Non-24 can be productive workers when employers make appropriate accommodations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similar to work accommodations, flexibility is key. Students with free-running Non-24 need to be able to work on the schedule that is healthiest for their unique circadian rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Educational accommodations for Non-24 Sleep-Wake Disorder include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Allowing flexible test-taking times helps accommodate students with Non-24. For example, a student who is required to take a test at 9 AM when their body wants to fall asleep at 7 AM will have an unfair disadvantage than if they could take the test a couple hours after their 4 PM wake time. (Imagine a typical person being asked to wake up and take a chemistry final at 3 AM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s one thing if a student feels unwell occasionally when taking a test or trying to pay attention in class, but when a student experiences slowed thinking, reduced attention span, and worsened memory due to sleep deprivation at least half the time, their academic experience will not be beneficial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This section is in three parts: 1) Family & Friends, 2) Living Together, and 3) Romantic Relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For many people with Non-24, they and their doctors have not yet found an effective treatment, let alone a cure. This is a difficult disorder to live with as it often limits a person\u2019s ability to lead a normal life\u2014or, at least, it changes what their life looks like. Many times, this is difficult for family and friends to accept. It\u2019s important to remember, the time of day a person with Non-24 sleeps is not under their control. Healthy sleep cannot be controlled with willpower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The circadian rhythm controls many other aspects of the body, such as our body temperature fluctuations, our guts, and our hunger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Accommodations for Non-24 Sleep-Wake Disorder go a long way to show you care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It can help to make accommodations for Non-24 sleep-wake disorder to the home to help when people living together are sleeping on different schedules. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Accommodations for Non-24 Sleep-Wake Disorder in romantic partners will vary a lot based on personal preferences. Romantic partners may need separate beds and\/or separate rooms to sleep different hours without disruption. While one partner might prefer to wake with the morning light, the other may need blackout curtains when sleeping during the day. Sleeping in separate beds or separate bedrooms should not be taken as a sign of an unhealthy relationship, as some might think; rather, it shows a willingness to compromise and maintain a balanced relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On this topic, a few Non-24 patients in relationships were surveyed for helpful accommodation ideas. They said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Accommodations for Non-24 Sleep-Wake Disorder vary from case to case. The most appropriate path is to openly discuss what will help improve work, school, and home life for someone with Non-24. To better understand Non-24, visit our FAQ page<\/a> and then visit our Resources<\/a> page. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Accommodations can and will often look different for each individual with Non-24. While these are helpful suggestions, employers, educators, caregivers, and loved ones should always work with the Non-24 individual to develop the best possible accommodations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":352,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[10],"yoast_head":"\n
<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nWORK ACCOMMODATIONS for NON-24<\/mark><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS for NON-24<\/mark><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
ACCOMMODATIONS for HOME<\/mark><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
FAMILY & FRIENDS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
LIVING TOGETHER<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n