How can I get a job with a five year employment gap?

I need a little advice. I have a five year employment gap. I'm 33 years old and five years ago, when I was 28, I got really sick. I had crippling joint, nerve, and muscle pain and couldn't so much as run a comb through my hair. I was already in-between jobs at the time, but I spent the previous 6 years doing technical work for a financial printing company. And before that, the run-of-the-mill retail work.

It took five years to get to a good place with my health. I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, went through medication after medication (takes months to determine if one isn't working) and now finally, as of last April, I found THE medication that put my autoimmune disease into remission. Great right? The caveat being it's $6,000 a month, which is fully covered by my state health insurance.

I am extremely fortunate that my parent's are so supportive, but I am ready to work again. The problem is obviously the employment gap AND the autoimmune disease which is a disability. I want to find a part-time (so I can keep my health insurance and afford my medication) job and I am willing and ready to work retail. I've applied to a handful of different part-time jobs, but of course it's all online and I can't explain my situation very well.

I also don't know how much of my situation I should explain. I know legally employers can't discriminate if one has a disability but they can still just not hire me.

I guess I'm just looking for advice on what I should say to potential employers and how I should go about applying? Should I go into these locations and speak to a hiring manager in person? Should I come out and say I have an autoimmune disease? And if not, what am I supposed to say I've been doing for the last five years?

I'm an outgoing, super social and friendly person and now that I am on the right medication, I am able-bodied and ready to work. I just need to convince an employer to give me a chance. And I need advice on how I can do just that.

Thank you!

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