Disability

[Guest guest]

I have a question. My sister runs a company that gets people with

disabilities connected with employers. This is great stuff at the

surface: lets say it would find assembly work for a person with

Down's, CP, or Retardation, blind or deaf. They have a staff person

with them, as a coach, they are never absent or late, and many of

them do high quality work, plus it provides the employer with a tax

benefit and no insurance to pay, etc. etc. great stuff!!

However, there are other classes of " disabled " people according to

the state of Ohio, that my sis has as clients as well: People with

criminal records, drug problems (rehab),mental illness, veterans that

may have ptsd or amputees, and people that simply have chronic back

problems,injuries, health problems,etc., that keep them from

having " normal " situations.

At thanksgiving, she said I should solicit the state for funding and

support, as she cannot stand some of the abuses of the state programs

she sees. She says, " At least you truly have a disability, Tom, you

only have one ear! " " I would much rather see money/support going to

you than some of these *supposedly* disabled people that get it " .

She says there is a whole wealth of things, like college tuition

assistance, free health care, vocational assistance, tax benefits,

small business grants and low cost loans, housing, etc. etc.

I just never thought of myself as disabled i guess, I never really

considered that this may be an option. Now being unemployed, and

feeling the crunch, I think to myself maybe I could use a little

help.

Does anyone have insight to this, are you or your kids considered

diabled by the state?, If so, what kind of benefits are available?

Opinions?

Thanks, Tom

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/28/01 10:17:56 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

tdrummonds@... writes:

<< Does anyone have insight to this, are you or your kids considered

diabled by the state?, If so, what kind of benefits are available?

Opinions?

Thanks, Tom >>

Tom,

Brett was born in Texas with a cleft palate and bilateral microtia and

atresia. He was covered under CIDC-Chronically ILL Disabled Children. They

paid for all expenses that our health insurance did not pay. My husband was

in sales so had a low base salary but commission varied. That was a blessing

as I look back...they only counted the base pay. AZ was a little stricter and

helped through CRS - Children's Rehabilitation Services.........but that was

strictly financial need. I don't know if that helps.

Yours in Him,

Mickey

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/28/01 10:17:56 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

tdrummonds@... writes:

<< Does anyone have insight to this, are you or your kids considered

diabled by the state?, If so, what kind of benefits are available?

Opinions?

Thanks, Tom >>

Tom,

Brett was born in Texas with a cleft palate and bilateral microtia and

atresia. He was covered under CIDC-Chronically ILL Disabled Children. They

paid for all expenses that our health insurance did not pay. My husband was

in sales so had a low base salary but commission varied. That was a blessing

as I look back...they only counted the base pay. AZ was a little stricter and

helped through CRS - Children's Rehabilitation Services.........but that was

strictly financial need. I don't know if that helps.

Yours in Him,

Mickey

[Guest guest]

but they finally decided my microtia/atresia did not make me "disabled". They figured as an adult I would still be employable and and able to function in society.

I don't know if thats just Indiana's view on things or not. Of course it was 36 years ago and things could have changed by now.

Patton

oh my !

if ANYone has been paying attention to the articulations of linda, tom, bethany how does the word disabled DARE to arise?

challenged, perhaps...but you've BEEN there!

EXCELSIOR! (onward! Upward!)

disabled???????

no WAY! you guys are WAY cool!

jack

[Guest guest]

but they finally decided my microtia/atresia did not make me "disabled". They figured as an adult I would still be employable and and able to function in society.

I don't know if thats just Indiana's view on things or not. Of course it was 36 years ago and things could have changed by now.

Patton

oh my !

if ANYone has been paying attention to the articulations of linda, tom, bethany how does the word disabled DARE to arise?

challenged, perhaps...but you've BEEN there!

EXCELSIOR! (onward! Upward!)

disabled???????

no WAY! you guys are WAY cool!

jack

[Guest guest]

but they finally decided my microtia/atresia did not make me "disabled". They figured as an adult I would still be employable and and able to function in society.

I don't know if thats just Indiana's view on things or not. Of course it was 36 years ago and things could have changed by now.

Patton

oh my !

if ANYone has been paying attention to the articulations of linda, tom, bethany how does the word disabled DARE to arise?

challenged, perhaps...but you've BEEN there!

EXCELSIOR! (onward! Upward!)

disabled???????

no WAY! you guys are WAY cool!

jack

[Guest guest]

Tom wrote:

>She says, " At least you truly have a disability, Tom, you

>only have one ear! " " I would much rather see money/support going to

>you than some of these *supposedly* disabled people that get it " .

>She says there is a whole wealth of things, like college tuition

>assistance, free health care, vocational assistance, tax benefits,

>small business grants and low cost loans, housing, etc. etc.

Good grief! Having only one ear is NOT a disability, no matter what your

sister thinks. If you were to walk into the local Social Security office

and fill out papers to apply for SSDI on that basis, more than likely

they'd laugh at you. A missing/microtic/atresic ear is NOT going to be

considered " disability. " You can hear out of the other ear, right? Maybe

have a hearing aid on the microtic ear? You are otherwise able-bodied,

able to perform all the usual ADL (activities of daily living)? Able to

take care of yourself? The Social Security folks have specific criteria

for disability and I doubt very much that you'd meet them.

SSDI is not awarded that easily to people. But yes, there are major

problems in the system so that there are those who probably aren't really

entitled to it collecting the benefits every month while others who really

ARE in need of it unable to get past the application/review/appeals stage.

That's why there are attorneys who specialize in helping clients get SSDI

benefits. There is a lot of manipulation which goes on, no doubt about

that. I know of one person who is in the appeals process right now, a woman

who has many physical problems including Lupus, chronic pain, fibromyalgia,

degenerative disk disease, etc., etc., who had to stop working about two

years ago because she could no longer either sit for long hours or stand for

long hours... she is still trying to get SSDI benefits. Another woman I

know was able to sail right through the process and nail the benefits on her

first try although she was nowhere near as physically disabled; she was

claiming some psychological issues and she also had the advantage of living

in a different state than the first woman as well as personally knowing the

doc who did the SSDI evaluation. This sort of abuse makes me very angry.

And I know a third person who really DID need the disability benefits and

her physical condition was such that SSDI benefits were granted to her on

the first application because it was rather apparent that she probably isn't

going to live that much longer...

>I just never thought of myself as disabled i guess, I never really

>considered that this may be an option. Now being unemployed, and

>feeling the crunch, I think to myself maybe I could use a little

>help.

Sorry to sound harsh here, but IMO this is NOT an option for you. You're

NOT disabled if you're basing everything solely on the fact that you have

one microtic/atresic ear. And if you get into the mindset that you think

you are, that's really, really sad...

Also, SSDI is not a substitute for unemployment benefits. I can understand

that you're hurting financially and that things are probably rough right now

as you're trying to get back into the workforce but DON'T, DON'T try to

apply for benefits to which you are really not entitled. Don't add to the

fraud that is already being committed in the SSDI system...

And take pride in your abilities, your skills, your training that you've had

so that you can successfully find another job and get back into the

workforce....you've done it before and you will do it again...

--Connie

[Guest guest]

---

Lynne,

In Iowa they told me that getting labeled with the word disability is

really hard but to keep trying. They said that even though we

wouldn't qualify for any aid the label would open up a world of extra

educational assisstance for my children. You make me sorry I didn't

follow through. You had to appeal at least three times and usually

once more to get it done. I didn't want to put the time and energy

into it. I know they were right though.

Thanks.

In AtresiaMicrotia@y..., Lynne Bogner wrote:

> " Does anyone have insight to this, are you or your kids considered

> disabled by the state?, If so, what kind of benefits are

available?

> Opinions? "

>

> Tom,

> In Evan's case, here in New Jersey..yes, he is considered

disabled. For

> being classified as such, he was schooled (free of charge) from the

time

> he was 6 months old through the Early Intervention Program. The

state

> picked up the tab for bussing him to the regional deaf education

program

> when he turned three and entered pre school. This was a 5 day a

week

> program and the teachers were terrific!. He also attended a full

day

> kindergarden with bussing. When he entered first grade, we

mainstreamed

> into the local school system. There, he recieves speech therapy

twice a

> week at no charge. I have bi-yearly IEP meetings to update them on

his

> situation so that they can continue to classify him as disabled so

that

> he can recieve any services that are necessary.

> Hope that answers something for you about New Jersey!

> Lynne