On Air and Unafraid: A News Anchor Navigates Disability to Reclaim Her Career

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For years, Madison residents welcomed Sarah Carlson into their homes through their television screens. As a trusted news anchor, she delivered the headlines with poise and professionalism. But in the midst of her thriving career, Sarah began experiencing moments where something felt "off" while on air. 
"I would hang on to the desk, and then we would go to commercial break, and I would say to my co-anchor, 'Is everything okay?' And she'd go, 'We're fine. What are you talking about?' But I knew something was wrong," Sarah recalls.

After months of uncertainty, doctors diagnosed Sarah with epilepsy in the form of simple partial seizures. Despite this initial diagnosis, Sarah continued working, determined not to let her condition define her career. But her health journey was just beginning.

When Life Takes an Unexpected Turn

In 2010, doctors discovered the cause of Sarah's seizures—a benign brain tumor. Although successfully removed, the surgery left scar tissue that continued to trigger seizures, some of which were increasingly more severe.

One of these seizures occurred while Sarah was on air on Channel 3. In a moment that later went viral, she attempted to read the teleprompter but spoke gibberish instead. "I tell people to go look," Sarah says, "mostly because I want people to see some of the comments. The stigma behind epilepsy is horrible. It's centuries old, and it's still there."

As her seizures worsened, Sarah's doctors advised her to leave broadcast journalism. What followed was a difficult period of job hunting, with few willing to hire her despite her impressive resume. "Nobody could morally or legally say 'that epilepsy thing,' but I feel like I'm not dumb," Sarah reflects.

The next few years brought tremendous challenges. Sarah moved to the Chicago area to be closer to family while raising her children. She cycled through multiple jobs as her health continued to fluctuate. At one point, she lost her license after having a seizure while driving and crashing her car. For six years, she couldn't drive.

Finding Support Through Ticket to Work

After years of struggling with uncontrolled seizures, a breakthrough finally came in 2020 when a new medication brought Sarah seizure freedom for the first time in over a decade. As her health stabilized, she began contemplating a return to full-time work.

This is where Employment Resources, Inc. (ERI) entered Sarah's story. Through the Social Security Administration's Ticket to Work program, Sarah connected with ERI PLUS (Ticket to Work), a Madison based non-profit. The staff at ERI PLUS helped guide her transition back to employment while managing her SSDI benefits.

"I was scared to death to take a leap out of the security of being on disability, but really anxious to get back on my feet and be back in the workplace," Sarah explains. "The Ticket to Work program was like an insurance and peace of mind for somebody who doesn't get a lot of that."

ERI provided crucial benefits counseling, helping Sarah navigate the complex process of reporting wages and ensuring she was doing everything correctly with Social Security.

"She came to us with a new position she had started a few weeks earlier " explains Terri Lannan, Sarah's benefits specialist and career counselor at ERI PLUS (Ticket to Work). "While the job was not in broadcasting, she was able to use the skills she honed as a reporter to build relationships with potential clients of the agency. It offered her flexibility in scheduling, which helped her transition back into the world of work.”

ERI PLUS (Ticket to Work) assisted with paperwork, helped Sarah understand the benefits transition process, and guided her through maintaining Medicare coverage even as her employment situation changed.

Breaking Barriers and Returning to the Screen

Sarah's journey back to full employment began at Sketchworks Architecture in Middleton. Later, her passion for epilepsy advocacy led her to briefly serve as Executive Director of the Epilepsy Foundation of Wisconsin. But the most unexpected development came in November 2024, when an opportunity arose to return to television news—something Sarah didn’t think was an option for her.

"She's a very capable, strong person, which is evident in the way she is handling the demands of her job at Channel 3. " Terri notes, reflecting on Sarah's determination throughout her journey.

"I always mention now that I feel like I was lying to myself," Sarah says about the years she told people she wasn't interested in returning to news. "What person wants to admit they'd love to be back in that business again if they think it's not possible?"

Today, Sarah is back on air, doing what she loves while also using her platform to advocate for others with disabilities. Her experience has made her particularly passionate about health reporting and disability issues.

"It's so fun to see her on the news," Terri says with enthusiasm. "It is great that she is also eager to share her story in hopes of helping others with health challenges to not feel so alone.

The Value of Support Systems

Sarah's story illustrates the critical importance of programs like Ticket to Work and organizations like ERI PLUS that help individuals with disabilities navigate the transition back to employment.

For many people with disabilities, the fear of losing benefits can be a significant barrier to pursuing employment. The security of SSDI provides a safety net, but it can also feel like a difficult system to leave behind—especially when health conditions are unpredictable.

"I always say to hold on to hope," Sarah advises others facing similar challenges. "I didn't know that I'd live, let alone work again. And I like to share my story literally to say, if you're wondering how, listen to this one. If you think you can't—crazier things have happened."

Sarah's journey from news anchor to disability beneficiary and back to the anchor desk demonstrates that with proper support, determination, and access to the right resources, individuals with disabilities can achieve their professional goals while managing their health needs. ERI PLUS will be cheering her on and available to help if needed for the length of the ticket program, which can last from 3-5 years.

Her story serves as a powerful reminder of why public benefits and employment support services like those offered by ERI/ERI PLUS are invaluable—not just for those currently using them, but for anyone who might need them in the future. After all, disability can affect anyone, regardless of their walk of life.