This is an important issue. I tried working entry level positions and kept hitting the wall because my mind had nowhere to go, even though I liked the mindlessness of the job most of the time. Then I found a job that engaged my mind, but the work environment wasn't supportive enough. So now I'm at home writing fiction, hoping for a sale. :p

(I'm autistic and long-term unemployed.)

Jakki, my apologies.  I was just following the discussion in the article, which addresses only programs that provide paths for the disabled into entry-level positions.  The focus is at that level to drive home the point that competition for jobs - any job - is extremely fierce and pushing out those traditionally filling them - including the disabled persons featured in the article.

I know little about disability issues, though I do know that even my use of the term "disabled" is contentious/problematic.  It is also fairly conventional, which is why I used it anyway rather than differently abled, which is more appropriate, many would argue. 

Finally, I'm trying here, so I appreciate the correction but question the need for the word "supposed", as if I am a wolf in sheep's clothing.  I find these unemployment rates alarming and am trying to raise awareness, apparently clumsily so!

It was good to have a reminder of 9% versus 62%. It's easy to forget, and the numbers are rather staggering.

When the Autism blog ended, there was talk of perhaps having a disability rights blog here at Change.org instead. It would be a good idea.

Jakki I totally agree with you!! While I do suffer from PTSD, that is not my main disability. I am 29 yrs old and have severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. I fought for 3 yrs to get on SSDI, facing several predjudices due to my age. Evidently, I'm "too young" to be on SSDI. Funny, since I'm not too young to get sick. I finally got approved and am receiving help. I hope to one day join the workforce again, and I am your example! I am very intelligent and have no problem finding a good job... when I was healthy. Now that I have all these medical problems, am I going to be stuck in a job that I'm over-qualified for?? Due to my physical limitations, I am unable to work. I hope that one day, this will change. And I hope that when it does, I can really make a differance. We are so close to finding a cure for RA, I just hope it's not too late for me to not be a statistic, like I am now. Thank you very much for standing up for me, and the millions like me. God bless.

I'm glad Leigh wrote her post and got us all talking.

It would be great to have a disability blog here where we could share experiences and maybe even ideas for change.

Emily, I'm standing up for myself too, I am one of the millions.  I am trained and capable in a profession but have spent over 6 years out of work, when all I would need would be fairly minor accomodations.  Bless us all. I must say, while the situations of many writing here are terrible and I sure wish things were better for us, hearing from other people on these topics is a comfort, just in the sense of knowing of others living with similar challenges.

@Ms. Graham:

Since Ms. Johnston didn't say it, I will: apology accepted. Not to excuse it, but I think that the disabled tend to be rather defensive (when we aren't hating ourselves).

And yes, I'm disabled - Asperger Syndrome, a cousin of autism. I haven't been able to work since 2006. My last job is a hell I wouldn't wish on anyone - working in an inbound call center. (I think it's striking to note that many inbound call centers are now based in prisons. What does that say about the work?) And yet Social Security denied my initial claim - probably because I'm in graduate school (mostly part-time). Apparently being able to read and write assignments equals being able to work out in the "real world," which is absurd (IMO).

The word differently abled stratches my neck in the wrong way.  I am disabled.  If you want to be ultra politically correct use person with a disability or PWD.  Most people I know use disabled among ourselves and PWD is mixed company,

Scott - you need to have a sense of humor. Laugh before they do. There's ALWAYS something funny about anything, if you look at it the right way.

Check out this music video I did last year. It's based on actual experiences - including a night I actually got hit by drunk drivers - twice in the same night, while riding my bicycle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ4nd1rrtVA

And if they laugh at you - laugh at them.

I agree that something needs to be done about the issue regarding people with disabilities finding work. I also have a disability, a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) so issues that invovle people with disabilities interest me greatly. I actually speak on behalf of the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota, trying to raise awareness about my specific disability and what I went through. This semester at the college I attend I am taking an Argumentation class. Our semester project is to put together an argument on how the U.S. can decrease poverty. While some in my class are focusing on things like WIC, I am focusing on the fact that people with disabilities are "the largest minority group in poverty". Through my reasearch I have learned a great deal more than I expected. I have found a lot of services and programs that I had never heard of. For instance, a service that is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor called the Employee Referral Assistance Network (EARN) which is a service that "puts employers in touch with qualified candidates who also happen to have a disability." I think in order for us to be able to help ourselves we need to know about the resources available to us. This post is not meant to attack anyone, I am just another concerned American with a disability. I hope that once I graduate from college I will be able to find a job that will use the skills I have aquired in the past 5 years. Thanks!

Once ther's a section, HERE, for us - we can delve into some of these ideas. A big problem is the bureaucracy that makes decisions on what we NEED is made up of normal people whose 'expertise' on disability comes from books.

We'd do best to solve our own problems - since we're the ones who actually understand them.

What petition is this and where do we find it? I couldn't agree more!

http://uspoverty.change.org/actions/view/reform_social_security_disability_ssdi_and_ssi_determination_processes

And Remember, PLEASE pass it to your friends, it is my life's passion for us, America's Forgotten, to be aknowledged and assisted URGENTLY! I have sent a print letter to President Obama and his Asisitant Dale Kareem for Disability Policy! To Change and Help for us ALL. I am tired of being sick and tired without ANY Medical care. I already won at the Hearing level 2006, why the heck should I ever have to reapply? Cruel how the USA treats us as if they think we should just curl up and die? How can the right be Pro-Life, but just before one is born?

Rachel, that's a question I've long asked.  Either you have a right to life/live - which INCLUDES by logical definition the help with things necessary for survival like food, shelter and medical care - or you don't have that right.  It makes absolutely NO sense to say that right exists but only up until you're born.  To say the right to life ends at birth is one of the most illogical - and hypocritical (and particularly so since they base their argument on religious views) things I have ever heard - about human rights. Why?  Because it puts an unborn child's rights ahead of all other things - even the health and wellbeing of his or her own mother - and won't even provide for his or her mother to be healthy and have a safe pregnancy and child birth and then is perfectly content to sit idly by while the child suffers - or even dies - due to lack of food, shelter and/or medical care - saying that THESE are solely the responsibility of someone else like the child's "family" even after pushing their own choices upon those people to make them a family or to expand their family.  Blech.  The mental gymnastics and logical failures are bringing back my migraine.

Yep. Unfortunately, this is the attitude I have encountered. Their stance is that it is my personal responsibility, disabled or not. I say, well at least offer me humane euthanasia if you think I should starve to death because I am disabled, unable to drive or work due to disabilities I cannot help. Sickening, if you ask me.  I am a Christain, and Jesus said it like this:

I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord when was it that we did these things for you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.
Matthew 25: 35-45

How can one pursue Happiness, if he/she is not allowed to be Healthy enough to pursue such?

Rachel, I am a devout Atheist and I agree with you. I think many people who Profess to be Christians are really just self-centered ingrates who do not care about anyone or anything except lining their own pockets at the expense of others. HMmmmm? Time for a REAL tea party instead of these fake ones that have been criss-crossing the country lately? Maybe.

I am disabled with COPD. I draw SSDA and SSI for my son who is 16 and still in high school. I live in the state of TN and just recently got kicked off of Tenn-Care. Now, the state will no longer pay the premiums on my Medicare so I am having $100 per month held out of my disability checks AND; having to pay a co-pay when I go to the doctor. I don't know if I can afford to keep doing it. We have a Democratic governor, Phil Bredesen, who I voted for in 2002 and 2006 and I campaigned for him in 2006. I sent him an e-mail and told him: "Even a dog knows better that to bite the hand that feeds it sir." In 2010; I will vote for the Republican just for spite.

Did you miss a deadline to be able to refile a claim without having to re-apply?  I can't remember what the deadline is for SSI and it may be different in different states. 

I went on SSI in NY state when I was about 21-22.  I had to be emmancipated because of my disability.  My father couldn't afford my medical bills anymore, that was more than 20 years ago.  I have worked on and off over the years, while on SSI, building up my "quarters" until I became eligible for SSDI in 2004.  Because I was working at the time I became ineligible after my 9 month trial work period, but to my confusion I was again eligible for SSI.  I have only worked "full-time" for relativly short periods.  Currently I'm back on full SSDI.  I'm getting $3 over the maximum for SSI/Medicaid. 

The government has limits on what medical care can be covered on Medicare and Medicaid.  One of the jobs I had was direct care with people with developmental disabilities.  Anybody know how many wheelchairs a person can have covered by Medicare in a lifetme?  You'd be surprised.  How do you get to work, even by cab, when your personal convaiance, as in wheelchair or scooter or even cruches, is in need of replacement because it doesn't fit or no longer meets your needs.  My disability isn't physical.  I'm in the local community college for retraining because my disability and arthritis in my spine prevent me from doing human services type work, beside the fact that the pay is generally terrible.  When I disclosed my disability to my coworkers I discovered how ignorant most of them were.  Which gave me another reason to leave. 

I went back on SSDI as of January but there was a 6 month period of "I have no idea what's happening with my payments".  They had given me an expidited application because I had gone off SSI less than a year before.  I tried to work full time in a residence without appropriate accomidations.

I still work as an election inspector twice a year and that pays something just before Christmas.  I'm looking forward to paying bills when that check comes and maybe I may be able to get some presents for the family. I wonder what effect that work will have on my SSDI... When I reapplied the guy that typed my application into the computer said I couldn't work for 2 years if I wanted to get another 9 month trial work period.  Are they trying to keep me from working, if I can, by removing the saftey net?  What will happen when I try to go out there and get another job for real, do I get cut off immediatly?  I have 2 years before I will be looking and the field I'm training in could net me a living wage for the area I live in.  SSI/SSDI are far below a living wage and I went back on the system with debts to repay then racked up more prepping for school and paying my part of those costs.  I eat off of the foodstamp program.  Ask anyone working at a county Social Services office how anyone could eat for a month on foodstamps and they will tell you that foodstamps are not supposed to be your whole food budget.  I've lost weight since I stopped working... But I'm eating healthier because I can't afford not to make every foodstamp $ count. 

I can't wait until I can get some of these things paid off (most likely after I get real work some time after James T. Kirk and Spock are born).

Hi Grace,

From my understanding, folks on SSDI get 9 trial work months in every 5 year period.  I believe you can still qualify for Medicaid even though you are on SSDI.  You could work part-time, earn less than $700 per month so you don't trigger a "trial work month," and then you would qualify for the New York Medicaid Buy-In Program, which is an incentive program to encourage disabled people to work.  By working a little, you will earn some money and also get Medicaid to supplement your Medicare.

In California we have a program called CMSP where people on SSDI do not have to get a part-time job in order to qualify for Medicaid.  I'm not sure if New York has a program like that, however.  Hopefully you will be able to find a part-time job, keep your SSDI check and get Medicaid again and that will get you through until you can go ahead and start working full time again in two years when you are eligible for your trial work months again.  Otherwise, you could just start working full-time (or near full time) and you would lose your SSDI check, but you could keep your Medicare insurance for something like 93 months if your new job doesn't offer health insurance up front. 

Best wishes to you.

Hi Grace! No, I did not miss any appeal deadline;

I won at the hearing level 2006, but got cut off soon after that due to husband making too much $ for SSI/Medicaid. Now hubby left, have to reapply all over again in April! Just got first denial notice... Here we go, reconsideration, again. Not so sure I'll make it for hearing again this time. It is ridiculous

Mike, you claim to be a devout atheist and that is your choice.  But it isn't fair to bash Christians because I am a Christian and I try to help whoever I can.  I found your comment about Christians to be very offensive.

RE: Delay in Social Security:

Isn't it ridiculous? The Obama Administration or Congress (or both) need to do something about the SSA - hire more people or something - to speed up the process. I've been told by my law firm (I'm on my first appeal - hopefully my last...) that waiting 12-18 months for your appeal to be heard is fairly common. If it weren't for SNAP, TANF, and my ever-swelling student loan debt (*sigh*) I would be nothing but a burden on my girlfriend, who could only get work as a cashier (recently promoted - now she's an attendant / coordinator) despite having a BA and lots of worthwhile job skills.

Brax; It is simply unthinkable to me to think of someone with a debilitating disease having to live on the streets. We need to make it unthinkable to our government as well. How about it? Who's with me? I will sign any petition or help in any way that I can.

Scott, In countries like Costa Rica and Cuba and some european countries one can attend university for free. Amazing that a wealthy country like the US doesn't offer this to it's citizens.

Mike, I'm fortunate, I have a support system in my family. I would have already been on the streets if not for them. I know many people don't have this resourse. Besides disabled people on the streets there are also many families with children on the streets or living in cars.

I know that for less money than have been spent on these wars the U S is in, the U S, could insure a basic level of housing be available to all homeless.

braxpeace.blogspot.com

@Brax:

I know, right? That's one of the reasons that I support the movement to forgive student loan debt and start reforming how we finance higher education.

http://www.forgivestudentloandebt.com

The way I've seen this - posters promoting demonstrations, demanding money for "students, higher wages, Immigrant Rights..." and every imaginable cause.... but NEVER for the disabled, and it leads me to question...

Is it that, because we can't march on City Hall, and be a part of some 'thugocracy' that intimidates anyone who disagrees with their "wants" - that we are, as is admitted in words from Rob't Reich and zeke Emmanuela, not contributing ?

I take it that most of you sound like your fairly new to Disability - but I've been dealing with it for 53 years. For the first 40, I kept denying to myself that I was being discriminated against - even though all of my friends were telling me otherwise.

We can't depend on the government. So we need to figure out alternative methods of survival. Whenever Leftist governments have needed to cut costs - the first cuts made are us. In the mid 1990s, I saw far too many Disabled suddenly on the street - cut off from their Social Security - while Clinton boasted his 'balanced budget'. If only we'd had a voice then.

I'll do what I can. I am disabled, and am passionate about diability rights.

I've put in my application. Of course, many say I'm "too opinionated" -  which means 'experienced' - so we'll see.

I thought I had commented on this, but I think the website ate it. If this turns out to be a double-post of sorts, my apologies.

Anyway, I really like your point about the range of incomes - one might say outcomes - for the disabled. In the autistic and Aspie community (people and their supporters) there's a cottage industry of trying to figure out who, alive or dead, is on the autism spectrum. There are three different lists on Wikipedia - known, suspected, and fictional. But a few famous (or infamous) people doesn't mean that we're all hunky-dory or living and working at the level we can or want to be at. It's damned hard to get a job when you don't deal with people well - how do you get through the interview?

That might not be the final name of it, but it was the updates to the ADA pushed through last year that are "supposed to" (we'll have to see if they really do) close a lot of the loopholes from the original law or created by stupid court decisions (like the ones that say if your accommodation really helps with the effects of your disability then you're not a person with a disability and thus not covered by the ADA and therefore have no right to request said accommodation - try wrapping your head around THAT).

I agree completely re: ADA. And I'm curious about this ADA Amendment Act you mentioned. I guess I'll have to look that up.

But yeah, the loopholes are ridiculous. The last time I tried finding work (ha ha) I was counseled by everyone and their neighbor to try to "pass" as neurotypical until I was hired - and then I could fight with my employer for accommodations. That strategy doesn't work when they figure out you're faking and don't hire you....

Did you know that admitting to a mental illness - even if you literally carry a note or letter from your mental health provider(s) "certifying" that you're not dangerous AND that anyone involved in sheltering you can contact them for verification of your mental health status and that they're still your provider(s) - is enough to automatically be denied a spot at many shelters on the grounds that you "present an automatic danger to the other residents"?  Did you know that even when they don't automatically deny you a spot, the treatment is often blatantly discriminatory?  Like the time a DV shelter repeatedly questioned me about where I'd "really been" each time I signed out, asked me near daily "what kind of friend" my friend I'd stayed with prior to arriving "really was" (I guess relationships can't just be platonic), accused me every other day or so of drug use but wouldn't re-test me and even made sure I wasn't palming my medications.  It's not like you can lie about it by omission either since many shelters make you turn over all medications to be kept in a "safe location" and then ask for your pills when you need to take them.

Having a service dog, especially one that's not specifically a guide dog or hearing dog, is enough to get you denied a spot in a shelter too.  There's an article or two over on the homeless blog about problems with this.  Shelter seem to pick and choose which - if any - parts of the ADA apply to them.  This part (about service animal) seems to be one that seldom to never applies or that only applies to "certain types" of service animals.  I could show shot records, training records, the not-required-by-law service animal license, not-required-by-law service animal certification (and totally worthless BTW, since you can make this yourself or buy this on-line), etc. and STILL be denied shelter space at a LOT of shelters as long as I wanted to take my service dog because he does psychiatric service work, neurological service work and even some mobility work.  Or I could get a spot if I wanted to find boarding for him (and pay for it - but if I could do THAT, I could afford a lot of hotels).

Getting the laws isn't always as easy as asking either.  Plus there's the constant risk of retaliation.  I was told I had QMB when I got Medicare.  MEDICARE thought I had QMB.  Problem was, my Med Coupon (what they give out here for Medicaid, including Medicare Savings Programs like QMB) didn't properly denote QMB.  Calling my local Community Service Office didn't get any answers.  Calling multiple times, finally got me bounced to a regional office.  That finally, eventually got me bounced to Olympia (state office).  Eventually, I ended up at the main office of the applicable problem where they got really snotty and made the we (my estranged spouse and I) suddenly had become 2 families of 1 ONLY for the purpose of figuring our "medical benefits".  This gave him a "full" medically needy person med coupon since all income was in my name (all we had was my SSDI) and gave me QI-1 (the state paid my Medicare premium - like anyone right at the poverty line can pay Medicare co-pays).  We had a similar fight when they tried to cut off our food stamps because almost two years after our arrival to WA, someone went back and used a checking balance that included my SSI back pay - which was long gone.  They upped the food stamps then tried to cut medical, then added medical back in messed with food stamps again.  This is why I keep the computer.  I finally found their policies and policy manual on-line along with how to look up the applicable WAC codes.  There's been more than once, the DSL has paid for itself.  And being able to look from home beats hours running around finding a law library I can get access to and doing it by hand.

Ultimately though, unless SSDI is supplemented by SOMETHING, it's not really survivable either.  It's just not quite as dire a level of poverty.  The "minimum entry rent" for Seattle is currently $750-800.  If I moved and stayed without getting rent assistance or housing assistance of some sort, that'd leave me less than $400/mo.  Median rent is twice that and more than my SSDI. It varies a bit but the figures aren't much better for the whole of "Western WA" and the Puget Sound.  Which ultimately helps to illustrate how badly torn our safety net is and how horribly inaccurate our nation's assessment of poverty is.

Milan, if you are on social security disability, you can work and keep your Medicare.  I work part time, earn a few hundred dollars a month at an employer who gives me accommodations for my disability, and I am also getting my full disability check and Medicare. If I could work full time, I could earn more money and still receive free Medicare insurance for the first 7 years, and after that could keep Medicare by paying a very small premium.  The rules applying to working on SSDI and SSI are different, however. To find more information about working while on Social Security Disability, put these words into your google search: working disabled (then put in ssi or ssdi and put in the name of your state to find the specific rules for you.)  Best wishes.

That's what the rules are SUPPOSED to be.  However, the SSA is notorious for deciding somewhere or another along the way - and often quite quickly - that if you can TRY to work, then you CAN work.  So they do a really thorough disability review where, just like in the beginning, they make the disabled person prove that they "can't work a normal job or at the level of substantial gainful activity" rather than they "don't want to".  I've seen this happen to a lot of my friends.  Though the rate at which they do this may vary based on type of disability or even the office involved in the particular case file - which in itself is an issue since things are SUPPOSED to be nationally standardized...which all too many of us know from experience they're not.

Dear Danetta,

That's why I earn less than $700 a month, because that's the current limit for Social Security.  Above that they would consider my work "Substantial Gainful Activity" and I would be in a "trial work period" working for only a few months before I would lose my disability check (although I could keep my Medicare, even in that case, as I mentioned in my posting above.)  If I thought I could count on my abillity to work full-time, I would go for it and do a trial work period, get off disability and keep Medicare.  Best wishes to all the fellow disabled people who are posting here.

As I said, it seems to vary a lot based on who's handling your file.  One of the people I know who was reviewed was on their 3rd or so month of a job that maxed at around $400/mo.  Decidedly NOT anywhere near the SGA amount.  How they got "might be able to work" out of that, baffled all of us.  But then again, maybe it was just a Bush scare tactic aimed at cost cutting - though it sure spent a LOT on stupid re-reviews for nothing.

Seems like some of the offices - and reviewers - take the rules and use them more for inspiration.  When I initially got my SSDI, I was assigned a designated payee on the grounds of an IMAGINARY "standard policy" that all people with one of my types of disability HAD to have a designated payee - not because I'd been determined unable to handle my finances, simply because of one of my types of disability.  They took it one step further and - without consulting me (something that's NEVER supposed to happen unless the disabled person is legally incompetent - which I'm not) - appointed my abuser as said payee, then set it up to where getting it changed through their office would invoke ANOTHER IMAGINARY "standard policy" where I'd have to contest the entire decision and risk even the disability determination.  It ended up taking years - and proving my ability to handle my finances - to become my own payee because of that series of "imaginary standard policies".  Twisted part?  The disability that got him appointed my payee was that I have a mental illness - PTSD, in part from his abuse.  Really twisted part?  They can find "unpunishable misuse of funds", I can establish where he set up bills in my name and didn't pay them - but as far as anyone can tell me, I'm stuck cleaning up HIS mess.  Thanks a lot, Social Security.

Dear Danetta,

People on Social Security Disability can get reviewed at any random time. That's what happens to all of us. I've been reviewed twice since I've gotten on it.   Based on what my doctors told SSA the last time though, I'm still on disability.  It's a good idea to find doctors who take your condition seriously and seem to care about you, and see those doctors whenever they want to see you, so they will have knowledge about your condition and can help you when you get reviewed.

I know they can "randomly" review us at any time.  Thing is, these people I know were almost without exception actually TOLD by the SSA that they were being reviewed not "randomly" but specifically because they'd done what we're supposed to do and alerted the SSA of work-related income even though it was in almost every case a pittance well below the SGA amount.  Seriously, at least one of the reviewed cases maxed at under $400/mo.  In every one of these instances, despite documentation of their disabilities and that they were working despite doctors' preferences that they didn't but ONLY because economic circumstances (often being trapped between ineligibility for Medicaid or QMB and NEEDING to use their Medicare) forced them to work to get some creditor off their back or because they needed something really basic (like food or keeping the heat on during the winter).  Which left the SSA wanting to know "if you can work a little tiny bit, why can't you work a real job or at least the SGA amount" - which is decidedly NOT how it's supposed to work.  All in all a great example of why reform of the SSA is needed.  Rules and policies aren't there for "inspiration".  NATIONAL rules and policies aren't there so each office and region can do their own damned thing.  Going back to my case when it was awarded, when I finally got things straightened out as far as it was going to be, I found out that the original office had broken at least 3 rules and created at least 4 of their own.  Not that anyone who could fix it gives a rat's rear. Of course that no one gives a rat's rear is the biggest problem with the SSA...to fix it REQUIRES giving a rat's rear.

Milan, you sound just like a disabled veteran on VA benefits, non service connected. There hundreds of thousands being treated by the VA the same way.

Milan,

Fortunately for you, there is the TICKET TO WORK program. It allows you to attempt work without losing any of your benefits.

This was one of the reat benefits afforded us by the Republican House in the mid-1990s.

Might as well get your facts straight, Bobby.  Ticket to Work was one of the last acts of the Clinton Administration in 1999. http://www.wid.org/publications/the-ticket-to-work-question-and-answer-sheet/

Yes, but Clinton was pressured by the Republican majority.

Clinton had been throwing the disabled off of Social Security at an alarming rate. During his administration, the process of re-evaluation became a 17 page interrogation - delving into every aspect of your lifestyle. The law limits how often this process can be repeated - it's either every 3 or 4 years. When I got a second evaluation in the same year, and questioned it - I soon had Men In Black at my door to arrest me. And that's when I became ery suspect of the goals of that administration.

Jennifer, the Social Security Administration always denies everyone's disability claim at first, and they will try to keep denying it, until you get to the hearing level.  That's where I finally got granted Social Security Disability payments.  Take it to the hearing level, where the judge is legally bound to believe what you are saying about how your disability affects your life, because you are under oath while you are talking with the judge.  Best wishes to you.

I know the one person who made it the first time.

But you are right a claim is most likely to be denied at first. Half of the people just go away. And do not be one of those because a lawyer who survives upon the misfortune of others say more then 1/2 who go to a hearing  or have  a reconsideration, - Win. 

It would be great if all were accepted the first time around.

Lois, SSA doesn't always deny claims.  I was granted SSD on my first attempt, due to the seriusness of my condition.  If it hadn't been for SSD and Medicare, I would have died, as I was given 6 months to live.  Maybe they thought I would die before collecting any benefits, but thankfully I have been able to hang on.  Jennifer, please don't give up.  Sending good, healing energy your way.

Dear Milan,

I'm glad they didn't deny your claim the first time. They do for most people though, and persisting until they get to the hearing process will work and they will get on at that point. Best wishes to you.

@ Ms. Lightfootlane:

Just a quick comment here - I don't see a need to denigrate attorneys on this issue. I have a law firm helping me with my appeal to SSA and I'm glad they're helping me. I'll be happy to let them have their federally-regulated share when (IhopeIhopeIhope) I win at my hearing (whenever that will be). Mind you that they're working on contingency - so if all of my appeals were to fail (knock on wood) they'd be out a lot of time and money too.

 I would like to see the system improve to where everyone gets their benefits, without a fight.  No defamation itended I mis-spoke I meant they do not utilize lawyers, when they should. I meant that people in need just quietly go away. And do not hire lawyers.   And the government counts on that.

 I would like to see the day everyone gets their benefits, without a fight. And without a long wait.

Yes I too look forward to the day when the need for social security lawyer are no longer needed because the system works right. After re-reading my post I see where I mis typed and could have been seen as putting lawyers down. I look forward to the day when there is no misfortune from which to make a living.

Hope that Helps clarify. In reality I am on your side.

A lawyer friend of mine told me it's a scam... you only get SSDI if a Lawyer gets a cut these days.

If they hired the Disabled to man the Social Security offices, and make the determinations... kinda being judged by a jury of peers, instead of the belligerent ex-cons that man their offices now, we'd A.) create a huge pool of jobs for the Disabled, and B.) end up with a much more fair, compassionate and efficient process.

also - something I haven't seen brought up in here yet - I've run into a number or recent immigrants from Russia, who never worked here, and never paid into the system... but are receiving $2,000/month from Social Security.

I worked from Twelve until twenty-one, and I only get about $650 - no food stamps, and no medicaid.

I tried that. They still wouldn't take me.

In fact... this is a great story...

The day after I survived a fall between the cars of a moving NYC subway train, I was pretty messed up, mentally - so I called the NYC 'Suicide Prevention Hotline'...

THEY PUT ME ON HOLD ! ! ! No joke. And it was probably the most therapeutic  move, because as the absurdity of my experience hit home, I went into uproarious laughter - and then smashed my TV.

Significant deflation? I haven't seen it. Gas is still ~$3/gallon here. Food is still damned expensive, as is shelter. (I don't know about clothing - haven't bought anything new in quite awhile.) And housing isn't cheaper everywhere. Yeah, some housing markets crashed, but some haven't.

And lowering the minimum wage sounds like a really bad idea. The disparity between the wealthy and the not-so-wealthy is big enough as it stands now.

Lower minimum?  So those who make it - often groups like the disabled - can sink further into poverty because employers won't have any reason to pay a reasonable wage other than the "goodness of their hearts"? 

What does "urban planning" have to do with this thread?  Nothing I can see until you mentioned it.  Though since you mentioned, GOOD urban planning could help the disabled a lot by providing more affordable housing with more of it being fully ADA compliant and with SOMEONE actually acting to ensure it's in compliance with stuff like Fair Housing laws. This would prevent people being excluded on the basis of their disabilities or on the basis of accommodations for their disabilities (like use of a service animal).

I'm with Scott though, WHAT deflation?  Only prices I've seen go down were the overly inflated prices of housing for sale - and those only modestly and generally only where someone has a building full of empty condos to "fire sale" at auction.  Rental housing stayed up and in some cases has GONE UP MORE.  Food has GONE UP.  Gas has GONE UP.  Clothing is about what it has been if you count sales (I only know because I HAD to buy some and the local thrift stores have been pricing to where new was the same price - so I bought new).  Interest rates for borrowing are up and credit is tight.  Savings rates are same to down.    So I have no clue what deflation you could possibly be talking about and definitely DO NOT see "significant deflation". 

Please take the right wing economic talking points elsewhere. I don't brainwash.

Alan, other commenters beat me to it.  Take your talking points elsewhere; the MW is far too low, and housing is barely affordable for millions of Americans.

I'm sorry Alan, my 1BR apartment is up to $950/mo, my SSDI is $784/mo.  If it wasn't for Section 8 I would be in a residential program waiting for life to pass me by, dictated to by people paid to keep a watch and make sure I complied with unreasonable rules given my age and level of functioning or I'd be living in a room or on the streets.  I bought new clothes a few years ago and again last year... Prices have not drifted down.  I'm sorry because I'm sure by the time you get to this post you'll be fed up with the criticism.

now THAT's thinking outside the box. The fact that you got shot down so quickly just shows how closed minded the public can get.

I say it's crazy enough to actually work.

Of course, we'd first need to look at the naysayers comments and address those issues, but I see a light at the end of that tunnel.

It takes aggressive creativity for us to make it.

Housing, for instance. Even in NYC, the 'maintenance fee' on a Studio Condo is anywhere from $350 to $700. With the rate of forclosures - instead of handing a few trillion dollars to banks - why not buy up a bunch of these, and GIVE them to the Disabled. A couple of years ago, for giggles I checked a foreclosure site, and found a coop on W 12 ST  - a very luxurious neighborhood - going for $12,000.00.

This would do more for the country's problems than handing money over to billionaires - wouldn't it ?

My father would've kicked my ass if I said CAN'T as much as some of you. "TRY".

When I was 20 I knew a psychiatrist that reportedly had bi-polar, he was running the unit I was on and by the time I left the place two other units as well.  Obviously he was considered quite capable by the administration.  I didn't talk to him much when I saw him around, but when I did I found his personality abrasive at times and facinating at other times.  His behavior did reflect the possibility of bi-polar, though he never admitted it.  It wasn't really a problem for me, just some of his patients.

I didn't know about Elyn Saks, but there are plenty of people with mental illness who function quite well.  Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison (I think I finally spelled her name correctly, it may be Jameson) is one of the leading experts on bipolar - and has bipolar.  The movie "A Beautiful Mind" really was about the life of John Nash a brilliant mathematician who had schizophrenia.  Carrie Fischer (Princess Leia) has bipolar and recently did a tour of plays about her life with it (she may still be on tour).  I know people who teach, several in the arts, and a LOT of people who do or who did what I used to do - which is something in the computer field (not sure why it works that way).  Most of the people I know on disability from mental illness weren't disabled so much from the illness as the medications - or like I was, it was a problem with accessing care when we needed it (especially COMPETENT care). 

One thing worth a side mention in this blog is that at least the mentally ill (I don't know specifics about other categories of disability) are very likely to be victims of violence and abuse.  This really highlights the need for timely access to competent care, a WORKING system of Adult Protective Services and for domestic violence (since in many cases with abuse of the disabled, these issues overlap), professionals to pay attention for signs of abuse, etc.  Because if someone is being abused, it can be part of why they're not working and/or keep them from returning to work.

Thanks so much! I noticed. I get emails from people JUST like me everyday, and have been on this grassroots disability awareness movement of mine, I call America's Forgotten, for 5 or 6yrs now. Thanks so much for all your participation and help!

 I am sorry to say, but as a Christian, I cannot lie, us disabled unable to work Americans are treated worse than any other population. I kid you not. I am embarrassed at how America's Forgotten, as I call us are treated! Like Dirt, Like Many think I should just curl up and die. I would be HOMELESS or DEAD if it not for my wonderful Mom and Dad who love me.

Thank you David! I am on FB, too. There my name is Rachel Nesmith Russell!

You are so right Pam. It is a horrible way to live. I need health care very badly, I need food, the basics. I cannot work and my husband left me, and I have been forced to reapply for SSI/Medicaid while I am with nothing, eventhough I won disability in 2006 when I had Narcolepsy with Cataplexy (severe) alone. Now I also have Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Lyme's Disease, and Diabetes Type 2. I cannot even get a blood Glucose meter to manage my diabetes due to lack of medical care access, money and health insurance.

I agree Jan, we should be the ones to speak up and get recognition for our rights and the definition of disability. I want to start my Non Profit Formally for JUST US, America's Forgotten. A life passion of mine.

I do not know this entire story. But I have disabled friends and it is sad to see how our government takes care of them. If you think you are above this issue don't forget a phrase I was taught by my mother. When I looked down on someone she would say,"There But for the Grace of God go You." This phrase is so true not advocating religion just the idea behind the phrase. You can be on top one day and at the bottom the next. My disable friend tries to live on about 950 a month. He does receive some medical benefits if he can find a doctor that will accept him. And he can afford to pay the up front cost which he can not. He gets no dental care and suffers from tooth aches and cannot afford to go to a dentist. He gets no help with vision care and tries to see out of his many times self repaired glasses. It is sad to see how our government treats its poor and needy. While on the other hand takes our money and props up to big to fail business so the can pay their over paid CEOs millions. It is such a sad state of affairs we must work together to change the greed that rules our country today

CFJ

I know how your friend feels, I get 385.00 SSDI and a 15.00 SSI check. I had to sell my car while waiting on the SSA to approve my social security. I don't walk well enough to use public transportation, can't afford taxi service or even to pay for gas to ask friends and family to haul me around. Initially they said i was approved for more, but they cut my SSI check several times. When i would call to ask questions as to why they were cutting it, every time i got a letter cutting it more. I finally learnt to stop calling.

I get someone from my family to take me to the store, or go for me, about twice a month. Other than that I don't leave. I could still drive if I could afford it. The poverty has forced me into becoming a recluse.

braxpeace.blogspot.com

Well said, Cherokee Fred Jesus.  The line between healthy and disabled or between disabled but able to work and disabled but unable to work can be an awfully fine line, hard to see (and shifting) line in the sand - one that can trip up anyone at any moment.  Personally, despite my what turned out to be a rather long list of health troubles most of which rate as at least potential disabilities, I did fine as far as working  - as long as I could SOMEHOW maintain access to health care when I needed it and managed not to get "too sick".  When "too sick" finally happened at a time when I had NO access to health care, well, I found - and tripped over - my line in the sand and moved from able to work (and not even knowing anything I had was a disability) to finding out I had a laundry list of conditions several of which were at least potential disabilities.  Boy was that a wake up call - more like waking up to a nightmare considering what this nation does to the disabled and poor by way of "help".  Especially since as you mention many basic things are denied to the disabled if they don't have kids and aren't able or willing to have them just to get the help - and yes, I HAVE had social workers suggest I have kids to get the help.

Your post reminded me of something I got either via email or Twitter too about health reform.  It pointed out that some of the politicians most against health reform for personal equality have no problem with insurance equality - if it's for PROPERTY.  Doesn't that give a good idea what we're up against fighting for economic justice, human rights, proper health reform, etc.?  Any way, the article is here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-cay-johnston/gop-favors-public-option_b_296703.html

I'd bet you were one of the few in our society that knew we didn't ratify the disability treaty that the UN did while Bush was President (Bush said the ADA "was enough" or something along those lines - obviously he didn't ask any of us with disabilities what we thought).  Obama ratified it.  Obama signed the Declaration of Human Rights but it's languishing in the Senate for full ratification.  This record puts us behind some rather nasty Third World nations.  We really should be ashamed.

We don't need to submit to international treaties - we just need to respect.

Treaties are just 'talk' - just ask any Indigenous American Tribesman about Treaties...

That's a good point about needing to see the long term benefits of making the accommodations to hire us or to give us benefits when we can't work.  Also, it needs to be recognized, that these things don't just benefit the disabled person/people, they ultimately benefit SOCIETY through increased production, increased buying power, not so many of us at such dire levels of disbility with desperate dependency on torn safety nets, etc.

Instead, we have people who get peeved because we can't work - often as much because people won't hire us and/or won't grant the accommodations we need as because of any disabilities involved - but who ignore the can't and change "can't" to "won't".  For purpose of example only, how is that no one will hire me or will hire me ONLY if I can work ON THEIR TERMS which are impossible an issue of *I* will not work?  That's clearly an issue of *I* would work, if an employer would work with me - but none would.  That's CAN'T *not* WON'T.

Secondly, while I can see the fiscal benefits of "weeding out the fraudulent", there has to be a way to do this that DOES NOT penalize or discrminate against entire categories of legitimate users and that fights fraud without making getting benefits even harder (or the benefits still more pointless - welfare to work anyone?) - for those that really DO need them.  Some of the biggest problems with "fraud" aren't fraudulent recipients but incompetent welfare workers who don't know the rules and how to PROPERLY apply them and with BUSINESSES who commit fraud (NOT recipients).  Want to fight fraud and waste - go after these problems for a while.  Meanwhile, the discrminatory rules - like those that openly discrminate against childlress and often disabled - adults really MUST be changed.

That's exactly what I was trying to talk about above.  They find the rare "welfare cheat" or "welfare queen" and make "an example".  Never mind that statistics prove them to be rare even if some examples (like the recent case up here in WA where a woman had fraudulently collected SSI for most of her child's life and wasn't busted until he was and adult and caught working - or something like that was the story) are really super horribly egregious.  However, they seem to totally ignore that there's case after case after case of stores abusing food stamps, doctors committing fraud with Medicaid and Medicare and rather rampant fraud among medical suppliers to Medicaid and Medicare.  There have been cases of billing for stuff not sold, patients who don't exist and all sorts of openly fraudulent crap. Now looking at this how is the problem we, the individuals in poverty, who need the help?  Clearly, the problem lies with the system and the BUSINESSES who are supposed to be helping to help us by participing in the "assistance programs". 

So very sad, this is why I started my dream of creating a non Profit for us, America's Forgotten. This is why I created my petition. Life is so hard going without, and i hope one day, I can get SSI/Medicaid. It takes forever. So cruel, our nation is to us disableds.

Hey, Rachel.  I pray that one day your dream will come true.  May you should start a petition for President Obama asking him to fix this problem and then send it to him.  It's worth a try.  Your voice and the voice of disableds all across America need to be heard.

It's not that hard to believe when you consider things like that the official teaching of many "ADA Compliance Seminars" was (at least when I've taken them) to "point blank deny any and all requests for accommodation, particularly those going beyond flex time".  What was the justification being given?  That it would be burdensome upon the business due to expense to start granting all those accommodations, "first it'd be an ergonomic workstation, then a visually friendly monitor, then someone else would need a fatigue mat to stand upon or a better seat or stool... or for their area to be exempted from certain types of lighting due to neurological conditions or...and eventually the business would be nickel and dimed out of business".  Then too, there's a lot of disabled like me whose ability to work is directly reliant upon our access to medical care and without guaranteed timely access to appropriate medical care for our condition(s), there's no way we're going to be able to work and especially not able to STAY working.  This is a great example of why TRUE health reform is a necessity not an optional thing.  But fall into this category and often the ONLY way to get medical assistance is to be labeled disabled in the "unable to work at all" sense - or you have to gamble that you can get a job and work until insurance covers your condition(s) and that you stay well until then (something that forcibly dumps many of us back in that first category when we lose the bet).

Businesses can't make all their employees happy, but if they have people who want to work for them, they should be willing to accomodate them.  It doesn't mean they need medical assistance doesn't mean they're bad employees.  They just need help.  Refusing to accomodate any employees who need help just because it would be inconvenient for the company is wrong period.

Those are great stats.

I'd have to say that those other 50% of 'normal people' are pretty 'lame'.

I love ribbing the able-bodied crusties who 'beg from a cripple'. There's a serious lack of pride in that.

I don't have a car: one of my disabilities is Narcolepsy with cataplexy, and lost my DL years ago, because of it.

You can be disabled to the point you flat out can't work and the disability determination people will in many cases - esp. for certain types of disability - do their darnedest to make the disability determination process into a game of you (the applicant) have to prove you can't work rather than it's a case of you don't want to work and part of how they do that is by seeing if you can stay out of work long enough for THEM to run out of patience (since they can make the process to get SSI or SSDI take 2 or more years in quite a lot of cases once you add in things like appeals).  Then there's the delusionary poverty level used to figure what SSI should be that results in SSI being so far below a subsistence amount that in an awful lot of areas - as you mentioned - SSI alone won't even pay an entry level rent (never mind leave any money for food, utilities, etc.).  Then there's the absurdity in Medicaid guidelines that made Medically Needy Medicaid an OPTIONAL program and many states never opted into it and with budgets like they are states are starting to opt out of it.  Which means that even those who've been forced into total disability SPECIFICALLY for the access to medical care are increasingly finding themselves cut off from ANY access to medical care - unless they also have Medicare (but many are like me and have Medicare but have to beg for charity care to help with copays or coinsurance or whatever Medicare calls what it doesn't pay since we tend to fall in the gap between what help is available and TRULY being able to pay for such ourselves).

Worst part?  You're absolutely right.  A lot of us WOULD like to work - and real work, not the "easy, low stress, entry level" CRAP jobs we're typically forced into by a lot of rehab people.  Many of us have skills, educations and/or abilities far beyond assembling ornaments from trash or asking questions like "do you want fries with that?"  We just need proper accommodations at work, an employer who'll actually hire us and access to medical care - which apparently are all too much to ask in today's economy or even in the better economy that preceded the current economy.  The economy is an excuse for disablism, IMHO when it comes to our employment problems.

Being disabled with many debilitating conditions, with any one of them legitmately reasonalbe to make it impossible for one to work, I cannot drive anymore, and it is so hard. I wish SS would just reform already. I already won my case in 2006, why they make me suffer again? Now my husband left me with nothing: no money, medical care/no insurance, nothing? the opposite of humane, but Oh, TX medicaid would help me if I were expecting baby.... Stupid!

The absurdities and cruelties of trying to get approval from the SSA when one has a legitimate disability could warrant a long winded rant.  Especially if you throw in what sometimes gets approved easily that's NOT a real disability even by the SSA's own guidelines and how some of the hold ups, disapprovals and problems are created by the SSA itself not following its own guidelines or flat out CREATING imaginary policies.

That out of the way, I'm with you.  That we, as a NATION, do not REQUIRE Medicaid to help the childless just as we help those with children (or who are pregnant) down to what the help is and what the eligibility requirements are is both discriminatory and inhumane towards the childless who most often are disabled and/or elderly.  Those WITH children aren't required to be totally unable to work to get medical assistance, why are we?  They're not held to such strict income and asset limits either nor are they given such awful coverage - they often get coverage for things we don't get or they get better coverage for things.  And many times the differences are necessities and what are denied to the adults are stuff that are as necessary or more so for adults than for children.  How they work it is absurd, cruel, unjust and inhumane.  Not that those who can fix it seem to care.

There was a time when the application to approval process took only two to three months. The stories I hear, CONSTANTLY... are disgusting, and inexcusable.

Of course, when I applied, the Gov't wasn't required to take care of so many of the new responsibilities that it's been burdened with.

Why should they pay healthcare for people who'd rather spend that money on a 52" TV, or some other luxury, than save for a rainy day? The gov't spends too much on the irresponsible - to OUR expense.

I don't know about pointing fingers only at the left about the entertainment industry, there's plenty of conservatives involved in it too (even if they're not as open about it or they're more "behind the scenes" types).

However, you've raised some good points about stigma.  I absolutely loathe how a certain major mental illness advocacy group runs their "anti-stigma" campaigns.  Ok, sure, ALL stigma and discrimination IS bad.  But why are we getting our proverbial knickers in impossible to unwind twists about things like bad comedies like "Crumbs" or tasteless toys and album art (like the JC Chasez album cover featuring someone in a straightjacket or the teddybear in a straightjacked named the "crazy for you bear") when we totally ignore stuff like shows that have as their entire premise the very small portion of the mentally ill who are violent, newspapers (and other media) who think nothing of using even diagnostic terms about mental illness as derogatory slurs, and incredibly unrealistic portrayals of mental illness like the episode of House where Dr. House was in a mental hospital or the Fox Network series about the "unusually practicing" psychiatrist in a mental hospital?  I'm a lot more worried about stuff like how my local news outlets make SURE to mention - and right off the bat - that a suspect was even SUSPECTED of mental illness if there's been a violent crime or how we're portrayed as violent than about album art and bad comedies. 

I'm also concerned about access issues - like that the latest revision of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) - this is the law regarding accommodations on air travel, similar to the ADA - SPECIFICALLY discriminates against anyone with a psychiatric disability who uses a service dog for their condition by lumping psychiatric service dogs in with Emotional Support Animals (which can be used by people who may or may not necessarily be psychiatrically disabled and which are NOT required to have public access or work or task training to mitigate the handler's disability/ies) and requiring ALL in both tasks to submit documentation including verification of diagnoses, verification of their doctor (including his or her license AND that the doctor is SPECIFICALLY a mental health provider), along with that the dog is required for mental health reasons - AND this documentation must be submitted 48 hours in advance.  This documentation is required of NO OTHER SERVICE DOG USERS - not even a generic "I am so and so's doctor and I have prescribed him or her to use a service dog at all times" letter is required to be shown unless the dog isn't marked in any way and the user isn't "verbally credible" (and this is only required upon boarding).  Can you say discriminatory against a specific category of the disabled?  That's exactly what it is.

Pedophilia is NOT recognized as a disability under Federal Law.

For the love of Pete, PLEASE quit using mental illness and related terms like "psycho" as derogatory terms.  People with mental illnesses face more than enough stigma and there's too much division within the ranks of the disabled without people like you pulling games like this to further divide us.  A disability is a disability - no matter which part of the body it chooses as its residence between the disabled person's (sorry, under the law, it's "person with a disability") top of their head and the soles of their feet.  The only difference between a "mental illness" and epilepsy is that epilepsy is recognized as neurological while we're just beginning to see via things like PET and SPECT scans how mental illnesses influence the functioning of the brain - BOTH are BRAIN BASED.

The ADA has absolutely NOTHING do do with the use of medicinal marijuana and neither does Social Security.  Social Security, in fact, is NOT an insurance company in the sense in which you're trying to define it so a suit for "breach of contract" would not work.  I believe what you're thinking about is MEDICARE and specifically Part D, but with Medicinal Marijuana only being legal under state law and not Federal, whether Part D plans could even cover it where legal is a gray enough area it could make for quite the interesting court case.

Finally, if you want to talk about abuse of the ADA, it's time to start looking at BUSINESSES and other "places of public accommodation".  Look at stuff like the many "HR Seminars about ADA compliance" that gave advice like "deny all ADA accommodation demands that go beyond flex time, because they'll cost too much and eventually everybody will want something and you'll be put out of business" - advice often followed even though it's technically not correct, each case is supposed to be determined on ITS OWN merit.  Whether or not "everybody might eventually want something" is spurious.  This went on a lot more than people trying to widen the categories of disability.

I think you've missed my point.

Is the ADA not intended to end ALL roadblocks to the Disabled entering society ? IF not, I stand corrected.

But if I'm correct, then the current Marijuana Laws prohibit me from taking the sole medication that would enable me to re-enter society - and THAT is a violation of the ADA.

Secondly, Social Security is an insurance policy what do you think the "I" In FICA stands for ? You pay in to FICA, so that, should you become Disabled, you have coverage.

And if I had a dime for every time one of my ideas was shot down - like my hair-brained idea that White people could be drawn to New York's 'Alphabet City' if I could only find a place for my new band to play in this neighborhood; which you know now as the EAST VILLAGE - I'd be rich.

Nothing ventured...

The federal government does not recognize "anything and everything" as a disability. There are many things people would like to call a "disability" that aren't recognized as such - nor should they be.  Pedophilia for example.  Another example is that they narrowly define when alcoholism or other substance abuse counts - if the abuse is ACTIVE (meaning you're using) you're not disabled but if you're not using you're disabled.

And just because something is an insurance policy, doesn't mean it's the APPLICABLE insurance policy.  What you're proclaiming about Social Security, the ADA and marijuana is similar to trying to get a prescription covered by your homeowner's or renter's insurance.  Ain't gonna happen - as some of my relatives would say. Social Security is retirement or disability insurance.  It has absolutely NOTHING to do with covering - or not covering - medications.  Medications with Social Security are covered on MEDICARE - and considering the controlled substance laws, I'm not sure the ADA would even apply (though I agree with you that Marijuana has some very useful medical purposes).  Your issue lies with Medicare and most likely specifically with Part D plans.  You can get help if you bark up the right tree but cause all sorts of trouble for yourself and others if you bark up the wrong one.

I'd strongly suggest you consult with an attorney before you go spouting random ideas.  It's easy to get yourself or others into lots of trouble playing games like alphabet soup.  Remember the "sovereign citizen" tax scam (actually that might still be going around under that or another name).  It's all based on some harebrained theory about capitalization changes in an edition of the Constitution.

Danetta, I'm afraid that you're of the naysayer ilk - the kind that told me not to expect to be any more than a 'gimp' for life.

I'm sorry if, after withstanding decades of abuse, I still maintain a positive attitude, and that it bothers you, but if I'd listened to your 'logic' as recently as 1986, when I started arguing the Medical Marijuana issue while being told "it'll never happen" - where would things be today in regard to Medical Marijuana?

When defeatists like you tell me it's impossible - it just gives me more incentive to prove them wrong - and I always have.

I've even had attorneys from noted law firms come to me for help in strategizing 'impossible' cases.

I was told it was 'impossible' for me to sue WAL-MART for using my image on tote bags..."no one beats Walmart"... and then $60,000 later...

I was told it was 'impossible' to create a music scene in the most dangerous part of New York City - and we now have the East Village.

Hell - I even had a top Neurosurgeon tell me that I'd never walk... and proved him wrong.

C A N T  is a 4-letter word.

Danetta,

I wrote to the management of this site several months ago... they don't care.

Here is video of Rob't Reich stating the aforementioned.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT7Y0TOBuG4&feature=player_embedded

I'm sure you can search for the WASHINGTON POST article where Emanuel is quoted.

And yes - you are correct, this does ring of the LEFTWING National Socialist beliefs of Adolph Hitler, and it is a FACT that members of Obama's cabinet have strong, positive feelings toward other dictatorial mass murderers, such as Anita Dunn - Obama's Chief Of Communications, who praises none other than Mao - who slaughtered more people than Hitler and Stalin combined.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi1zg2NOCn8&feature=player_embedded

and you may be further interested in seeing her boast of how her office has manipulated you through the media

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlGNhAnwp_Y&feature=related

and as further evidence as to how much the Obama dictatorship controls the press - check out this attempt by MSNBC to say otherwise, and fall flat on their faces as the WhiteHouse interrupts the program with an email...

You're also correct in comparing this to White Supremacist beliefs. But what I believe you fail to recognize is exactly WHO the White Supremacists are. We know that the KKK is the leading White Supremacist organization in the U.S. Do a search of RECONSTRUCTION, and you will learn that the KKK was formed, by Democrats, as a terrorist group aimed at killing and terrorizing the Black REPUBLICANS who rose to political power during this period.

For over 150 years, the Democrats have engaged in a war to return us to the Plantation/feudal system that they loved.

The purpose of SCHIP is to render you DEPENDENT on the Democrats - so they can continue to enslave you.

And I'm sorry if the word "cripple" offends you, but since Disabilities are not pretty, I refuse to use whitewashed, PC terminology - and, believe it or not, it is my Right, though I understand Obama feels the constitution bears to many ‘Inconveneient Rigths'.

Why am I here ? again, because I have every Rigth to express my opinions, and relate my experiences - in the same way those who may agree with Obama can. I'm tired of Leftists telling me that I have no rights, or that, if I'm a Conservative, I don't deserve the Disability payments that I receive. Yes "disagree, and die" is the underlying message I get from so many of your ilk.

Of course, you're also coming close to saying, "if you can't walk in lockstep with the rest of us - get lost.

Sorry. I left out that MSNBC link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZkDMrPrZHo

I guess you could say it's a bit of both. They discriminate, because we are disabled. They know they can get away with it, because we are poor and can't afford the kind of lawyers they break out - to silence you - and keep your opinions silent.

I have had my voice silenced many times by the Left. We must look at history, and how the Left has always treated us. I'm not excusing the Right, but the worst attrocities come where the left has power.

For example - the music industry is about as Left-wing as it gets. They rant about everyone's rights -and society's unfairness, true ?

I'm a fairly well-known musician. One of my former bands, THE MISFITS is regarded as one of he most influential bands in RocknRoll. Every former member of that band has been given a break by a major label... except the cripple.

In 1989, I finally decided to give up on selling myself to the industry, sold some of my old MISFITS 45s, and raised 7 grand, and released my own record, ACT YOUR RAGE. As of its release date, I had sold and shipped about 6,000 copies. This was 1989 - when CDs were the big thing and vinyl was 'dead', yet I was releasing this on vinyl only. Within 8 months I'd sold 10,000 copies, and topped over 400 college radio charts, and even held a #3 position in a 200,000 Watt Iowa Commercial station. This is credited as launching the Indie Revolution of the 1990 that brought us Nirvana and Green Day.

I saw that the head of A&R at Elektra - an old aquaintance - had said that he'd signed Motley Crew after seeing that they could sell 5,000 copies on their own. So I wrote to him, an demphasized his fact - offering positive proof. Though I'd done twice as well as the Crue - it "isn't what we're looking for". Since when doesn't a record label WANT an artist who can do so much, singlehandedly ?

Another major independent put it more succinctly - "Bobby, we've (a group of label reps) have discussed you. We all agree - you ARE a phenomenon. We've also all agreed that you will NEVER be signed".

And that's just one of many experiences I've had with the Leftist principle.

Remember -  it was the Leftist, Hitler, who "euthanized" the disabled long before giong after the Jewish population - and he did it under the guise of "caring". I heard the same terminology used during the Clinton years - and that's when I first tried to raise the alarm

Virginia - you need to swallow your pride, an dallow your doctor to sign that statement. Shedding a few tears today to ensure a slightly better tomorrow is worth the price.

Part of winning a war is knowing when you've lost a battle. Believe it or not, in life - you can lose every battle and still win the war. I know that sounds illogical, but one small example:

As far back as grade school, I was tormented for being different. I was literally beat up almost every day up through sixth grade. People spit my name out, like Leftists spit out "Bush". Somehow, I managed to stay philosophical, and never thuoght there was anything wrong with me, but that these people had a serious problem.

After school, if I was careful - I could find myself ambushed, surrounded by a mob while one steps up to beat me up.

I lost every one of those battles, but what I recently learned was at a recent high school reunion. One of those guys who'd mercilessly beat me up some 45 years ago approached me. He pulled out a picture and showed it to me. It was of a beautiful girl. I remarked how beautiful she was. He said, "it's my daughter - she was 16 in this picture, she's 17 now. She was with me when you walked into the lobby, and she said 'wow, who's that!'". Then he continued..."So I told her: remember when I was tellling you about peer pressure ? When I was young, because my friends put me up to it, and I didn't have the guts to say no - I beat him up." "Daddy... he's got a cane!. You beat up a cripple?" Then he told me "That night, I went home and cried... and I've cried many nights, and lost sleep, and I've just wanted to say I'm sorry".

I kinda chuckled, and told him that he didn't need to apologize, and if anything, I should be thanking him, because it was due to people like him that I grew up to be so damn tough and capable of brushing off anything that anyone wants to throw at me - includng a severe beating by several NYC nightclub bouncers (including one that has since been convicted of murder), who told me they were going to kill me... after I'd gone public on some mob-influenced promoters.

So, that's how I lost every battle - and still won the war.