#208 How to Support Career Planning When Chronic Health is a Factor with Annie Tulkin

Flourish Coaching

Jan 6, 2026

In this episode, Lisa and Annie discuss:

Career planning when chronic health conditions or physical disabilities affect daily functioning
Self-advocacy and accommodations across education, training, and employment
Aligning career choices with realistic capacity and long-term sustainability
Using real-world experiences and conversations to validate career fit

Key Takeaways:

College provides a structured environment where students can learn to articulate how their condition affects them, practice requesting accommodations, and build confidence navigating formal systems they will later encounter in the workplace.
Accommodations support access but do not eliminate essential job functions, making it critical to assess whether the physical, cognitive, and stamina demands of a role can be met consistently over time.
Hands-on validation through internships, clinicals, job shadows, and informational interviews reveals the lived reality of a job in ways that academic requirements alone cannot.
Sustainable career planning requires honest conversations about energy limits, recovery time, and quality of life, rather than defaulting to paths that are technically possible but personally draining.

“You have to be comfortable talking about your condition and your needs.” – Annie Tulkin

About Annie Tulkin:

Annie Tulkin is the CEO and Founder of Accessible College, as well as an educator, author, and public speaker. She is an expert in college preparation and transition for students with physical disabilities and health conditions, and has worked in the disability field for her entire professional career. She holds degrees from DePaul University and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, was a Peace Corps Volunteer and Fulbright Fellow in Mongolia, and resides in Silver Spring, MD, with her husband and daughter.

Episode References:

Job Accommodation Network (JAN): https://askjan.org/
Diabetes Link (formerly College Diabetes Network): https://thediabeteslink.org/
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation: https://www.christopherreeve.org/
#099 Navigating College with Physical Disabilities and Health Conditions with Annie Tulkin: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/podcast/099-navigating-college-with-physical-disabilities-and-health-conditions-with-annie-tulkin/

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