Regrettably,
Americans with disabilities are facing disproportionate higher rates of
unemployment when compare to Americans without disabilities. Considering our
modern day emphasis on nondiscrimination, equality and equal rights, anyone
with a disability should have, to the maximum extent possible; the same
opportunities as everyone else. Everyone should have the opportunity to live
independently, participate in an active community life, and especially be able
to engage in productive employment.
According
to the U.S. Department of Labor, only 20 percent of people with disabilities
are employed or seeking employment compared to 69 percent of the population
without disabilities. Of the disabled individual’s that are seeking employment,
15 percent have not been able to find work.
We
don’t have the “luxury” of knowing exactly why anyone with a disability may not
be employable. Yet, as a matter of fact, my personal experiences have proven to
be the opposite. That is, in many situations, someone with a disability may
well be a more desirable employee than someone who is not impaired in anyway.
Based on my employee benefit background specializing in disability and long term care coverages, I’m confident that someone with a disability would be most appreciative of a job opportunity. And that is why when we were looking for someone to do some telemarketing and customer service work; we actively sought out people who were disabled.
We
hired someone who had previously been diagnosed with Parkinson’s several years
before. Now that they had become familiar with their new found limitations, they
were eager to become productive again. The bottom line, we were grateful and
appreciative to have our newest employee representing our organization. Their
own appreciation for a new found opportunity made them a most valuable
asset.
ACTIVELY WORKING
The
DOL (Department of Labor) and CEA (White House Council of Economic Advisors)
identified the employment levels of people with and without a disability. Based
on 2010-2012 Census Bureau’s survey, only one-third (32%) of working age people
with disabilities were employed vs. over two-thirds (72.7%) of people without
disabilities. The DOL and CEA joint initiative referred to identified a growth
opportunity for someone with a disability seeking employment in 2015 and beyond.
It
was determined that “most job growth is in occupations where computer use is
important”. In addition, they confirmed that “technology and corporate policies
are also creating more possibilities for home-based and other flexible work
arrangements that can especially benefit people with disabilities who deal with
transportation difficulties and medical concerns.”
SEEKING
EMPLOYMENT?
If
you want to work but are not, I’m here today to offer some “food for thought”.
If you’re presently utilizing a wheelchair, have you decided that working isn’t
for you; either it would be too physically demanding or you already have enough
income to live on? If you’re per chance collecting Social Security disability
benefits, are you fearful of losing your Social Security benefits? If this is
true, then it’s important to become familiar with the Social Security ‘Ticket
to Work’ program.
The
Social Security ‘Ticket to Work’ program is free and was designed to prevent
the immediate loss of disability benefits and medical insurance. It has been
described as a “safety net’ allowing you the opportunity to transition back to
the work world again.
Please
make sure that when seeking a job placement service that they are a Certified Social Security Administration
(SSA) Employment Network
participating in the Ticket-To-Work program.
The
“good news” is that when researching return to work opportunities, I discovered
myemploymentoptions.com; best described as women helping women. I came across a
wonderful article authored by Lori Adler titled ‘My Story: Working at Home Can Change Your
Life’. Lori has
given us reprint permission of her story which follows:
I hated the inevitable question, “What do you do
for a living?” I didn’t want to say that I was on Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI). I didn’t want to tell
anyone that I did not have a job. But that was the truth. I had a disability,
and it interfered with my ability to work locally.
This was a very hard time for me. I was always a good
student, hard worker and a ‘go-getter’.
I had always worked since I was a teen. Now, I had too much time on my
hands. I missed having a set routine. Moreover, I missed that feeling of being
productive and the social interaction.
A few years went by and then I learned the Social
Security Administration had created a free return-to-work program for people
with disabilities, like me, receiving Social Security Disability Insurance
(SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Even though I had
not worked in a very long time, I still believed that I had abilities and
skills to offer the working world. I
just had no idea how to go about getting a job or whether I could handle the
“working world” again. Moreover, I was afraid. As much as I needed more money,
I simply could not afford to lose my monthly cash or health benefits right
away. I needed a chance to ‘try’ working.
However, this Social Security Administration
return-to-work program, officially called the Ticket to Work program, was free,
which made my ears perk up. They also told me I wouldn’t lose my cash benefits
or medical care at once. It is a gradual program with a large safety net to
allow me to ‘try’ to test the waters of working again and see how I would do.
If I wanted to try it out, all I had to do was
contact an employment network (EN) that was certified to handle program
participants. I called Employment Options because I liked the name. After I
finished all my screenings, they told me I would be a good candidate for working
from home.
At first, I didn’t think I was cut out for working
from home because of my own fears, but then I began to realize what a great
deal it was for people with disabilities and their employers. American companies save on all the overhead,
while the employee avoids all the cost and time of commuting. Plus, and perhaps
most important, the work-space and work environment is already set up with
accommodations for a person’s particular disability.
My disability is a hidden disability and working
from home was my only option. Working from home through the Ticket to Work
program has been life changing. I feel I got a second chance at a career
because I had the professional help I needed to get a good job that fits my
needs.
When I first became a client of Employment
Options, I was scared and so many thoughts ran through my head. Could I do
this? Should I do this? What about my benefits check? What about my
Medicare? The staff helped me fully
understand the program so I felt comfortable.
My self-confidence gradually improved and I love my first Work at Home
position because I felt like I had ‘back-up’ and support to help me in the job.
I am still a client of the Ticket to Work program
and Employment Options today. However, now, I also work for Employment Options
and help advocate for the program and the Work At Home services that changed my
life. I have been in the program several
years and I have grown in my confidence and am gradually working toward
self-sufficiency.
Many of the staff like myself receive disability
benefits and are in the Ticket to work program.
We share our own stories to help our clients succeed! For those who want to try to work again and
receive SSDI/SSI, there is free help for you!
Ticket To Work gave me that cushion to transition
back to work, which means now I can answer the question, “What do you for a
living?” with a big smile!
Lori Adler is
the Senior Marketing Liaison for Employment Options and also manages all their
online events. She loves helping others
by talking about the Ticket to Work program and is happy to share her own story
and answer questions about the program or provide free resources. Email:
ladler@myemploymentoptions.com or
800-441-3114 ext. 763
Resource: National Disability Institute
Allan Checkoway, RHU most recently authored “I’m Disabled . . . Now What?” , created for people whose lives have been impacted by changes in their overall health. Fortunately, our decades of experiences in working with people who have become disabled, sometimes ending up in long term care situations has given us a unique perspective that can benefit our readers. We’ve taken what we believe to be all the best up to date accessABLE resources from a multitude of resources, putting them all together in one place in “I’m Disabled . . . Now What?” and on our new website DisabilityandSeniorResources.com. We are dedicated to helping restore active lifestyles. Allan is presently the Principal of Disability Services Group, an Employee Benefit Advisory firm. Allan’s email: allan@disabilityservices.com.
Resource: National Disability Institute
Allan Checkoway, RHU most recently authored “I’m Disabled . . . Now What?” , created for people whose lives have been impacted by changes in their overall health. Fortunately, our decades of experiences in working with people who have become disabled, sometimes ending up in long term care situations has given us a unique perspective that can benefit our readers. We’ve taken what we believe to be all the best up to date accessABLE resources from a multitude of resources, putting them all together in one place in “I’m Disabled . . . Now What?” and on our new website DisabilityandSeniorResources.com. We are dedicated to helping restore active lifestyles. Allan is presently the Principal of Disability Services Group, an Employee Benefit Advisory firm. Allan’s email: allan@disabilityservices.com.
Working while on inability may appear to be illogical since the reason for handicap advantages is to give salary to individuals who can't work. Be that as it may, in specific circumstances, working is not against Social Security's guidelines by help of thesis writing service.
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