Success Story

This week I want to highlight the success of one of my participants:

Laura came to Goodwill for placement services after working as an interpreter for a hospital for 18 years. She was laid off because times were changing and with the demands of new technology and the computer age. Laura found that she couldn’t keep up since she did not grow up with the knowledge and skills that many young people today do.

When Laura first came to Goodwill and started looking for a job she was taught how to navigate the internet, to increase her typing speed, the basics of working a computer, interview skills, how to apply for a job, how to handle difficult work situations and work readiness skills. Laura has always worked and dedicated her time to family and taking care of others. She quit school after the sixth grade to take care of her family and was concerned about finding another job.

“Goodwill lent me a shoulder when I needed one and was wonderful to me,” said Laura. “My spirits are up again. I was very depressed before and didn’t want to do even the smallest thing. Now I am ready for anything.”

Through Goodwill’s placement services program Laura was able to search for work and had her first job interview. With a lot of hard work and determination Laura found a job working as an interpreter and trainer at the Workforce Connection Center. She is also helping individuals with resumes and the computers in the lab, using the skills taught to her.

“Trust in Goodwill and they will be able to help you find your way. After loosing my job I thought I was going to go crazy; Goodwill is the reason I am working again. They helped me find my purpose.”

May is Disability Insurance Month

This week I am going to blog about something a little bit different and for a lot of people probably one of their least favorite topics, insurance. Now you may ask what does insurance have to do with my job as an Employment Specialist for people with disabilities, but when I was looking online this morning I discovered that May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month.

While it is true that I help people find work, I also help my participants once they are employed for the first 90 days. I have also been asked to help participants understand their employee benefits One of them that has come up a lot is disability insurance. This is not something that all employers offer their employees, but it is something important for everyone to think about and be aware of. Earning a living is many people’s motivation for working.

If that paycheck was taken away due to an unexpected illness or injury that prevented someone from working, it could cause a lot of hardship. That is where disability insurance comes in; think of it as ensuring your paycheck. It ensures that if you are unable to work, you will continue to receive an adjusted income.

Attaining disability insurance is not always a high priority for many workers, or even something that they think about when accepting a job. Many people assume that they are either covered through Social Security, state-mandated Workers’ Compensation or employer-provided group plans, or that nothing will ever happen so why worry about it.

This is not to say that everyone needs to plan for the worse. Be aware that life does happen and know what your benefits are and what is available to you.

Statistically, approximately 45% of people who apply for disability via Social Security are denied. For the people who are approved, they get an average benefit of $1,063 a month, which does not replace many employees’ income. Also keep in mind that worker’s compensation covers only work-related disabilities. According to the National Safety Council, 73 % of disabling events or illnesses are not work related.

So, what does all of this mean? Explore your options when you start to consider insurance and make sure that disability is included. If your employer offers disability cover, make sure to learn what that entails. Take this month as the opportunity to do your research and make sure you are aware of your benefits and what is available.

Learning Disabilities

For this week’s post I wanted to share this image from the National Center for Learning Disabilities. I found it while pursuing information for people with disabilities on pinterest, a great site for information, and I thought it had a lot of good information on it.

For more information on people with learning disabilities check out http://www.ncld.org.

Social Security Disability

After reading Senator Rob Portman’s statement last week regarding the Social Security Disability Fund, I decided that my topic for the blog would be SSDI and what it means for people with disabilities.

Senator Portman stated that, “The Social Security disability fund is going belly up in 2016.” The article goes on to explain that due to increased spending and the number or people claiming social security disability there is not enough money currently in the fund to last after the year 2016.

The article also continues to reassure people that Congress and the White House are likely to act before then. The point is to make people aware of what is happening.

For some people with disabilities working is not an option which is why having another means of supporting themselves, such as SSDI or SSI is beneficial. For others, these government benefits works as supplemental income, allowing people with disabilities to hold a part time job or look for work that is suitable to them. SSDI is not a long term answer for everyone who has a disability and should not be viewed as such.

As a person who works with people with disabilities I am often asked: what is the difference between SSI and SSDI?
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are “insured,” meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.

Supplemental Security Income(SSI) pays benefits based on financial need.
When you apply for either program, the Social Security Administration will collect medical and other information from you and make a decision about whether or not you meet their definition of having a qualifying disability.

To read the rest of the article regarding the future of Social Security Disability please visit http://www.politifact.com/ohio/statements/2013/apr/15/rob-portman/sen-rob-portman-says-social-security-disability-fu/

About a Disability: ADHD

This week I wanted to talk a little about Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). When I talk to Goodwill’s program participants- that have ADHD- I feel that this is a disability that is often misunderstood, especially in children but in adults as well. When people think of ADHD people often think of a very hyper person that simply doesn’t want to or know how to behave or calm down. I have known many people with ADHD and this is a common stereotype.

The reality is that ADHD causes significant difficulties of inattention or hyperactivity and impulsiveness or a combination of the two and makes it very difficult to concentrate or focus. It is estimated that between two and five percent of adults live with ADHD. It is difficult to diagnose ADHD because the symptoms can be difficult to differentiate from other disorders, increasing the likelihood that the diagnosis of ADHD will be missed.

Myth: ADHD is simply a label for behavior problems; children with ADHD just refuse to sit still and are unwilling to listen to teachers or parents.

Fact: Many with ADHD have few behavior problems; chronic inattention symptoms cause more severe and longer-lasting problems for learning and relationships for those with ADHD.

Myth: ADHD is a simple problem of being hyperactive or not listening when someone is talking to you.

Fact: ADHD is a complex disorder that involves impairments in focus, organization, motivation, emotional modulation, memory, and other functions of the brain’s management system.

Myth: Someone can’t have ADHD and also have depression, anxiety, or other psychiatric problems.

Fact: A person with ADHD is six times more likely to have another psychiatric or learning disorder than most other people. ADHD usually overlaps with other disorders.

Myth: Unless you have been diagnosed with ADHD as a child, you can’t have it as an adult.

Fact: Many adults have struggled all their lives with unrecognized ADHD impairments. They haven’t received help because they assumed that their chronic difficulties, like depression or anxiety, were caused by other impairments.

Myth: Medications for ADHD are likely to cause longer-term problems with substance abuse or other health concerns.

Fact: The risks when using appropriate medications to treat ADHD are minimal, whereas the risks when not using medication to treat ADHD are significant. The medications used for ADHD are among the best researched for any disorder.

Myth: ADHD doesn’t really cause much damage to a person’s life.

Fact: Untreated or inadequately treated ADHD syndrome often severely impairs leaning, family life, education, work life, social interactions, and driving safely. Most of those with ADHD who receive adequate treatment, however, function quite well.

Now that you know a little more about ADHD, a disability that is more common than most people realize, I’ll give you something else to think about. Have you ever wondered just how many people around you might have a disability; people you never even thought about? If anything, this realization should make people recognize that having a disability doesn’t change a person; it just gives them a little something extra that they have in their lives to live with.

Famous people with ADHD include:
1. Michael Phelps-Most decorated Olympian
2. Eliza Coupe-Actress
3. Ryan Gosling-Actor
4. Trudie Styler-Actress and filmmaker
5. Jim Carrey-Actor
6. Justin Timberlake-Singer
7. Will Smith-Actor
8. Ty Pennington-Television host
9. Solange Knowles-Singer
10. Michelle Rodriguez-Actress
11. Howie Mandel-Television host
12. Terry Bradshaw-Former NFL Quarterback
13. Pete Rose-Major league Baseball player
14. Robin Williams-Actor

About a Disability: Down syndrome

Thursday March 21st was World Down Syndrome Day, and after reading an article sent to me by one of my co-workers I started thinking a lot about Down syndrome and asked myself, for one of the most common genetic disorders, how much do people really know about it?

What is Down syndrome?

Typically, people are born with 23 pairs of chromosomes. Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21.

This additional chromosome alters development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome. A few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm – although each person with Down syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degrees, or not at all.

With 691 babies born in the the United States each year, Down syndrome is the most common genetic condition that affects individuals. Approximately 400,000 Americans have Down syndrome.

Facts about Down syndrome

• Quality educational programs, a stimulating home environment, good health care, and positive support from family, friends and the community enable people with Down syndrome to develop their full potential and lead fulfilling lives.
• Down syndrome occurs in people of all races and economic levels.
• The incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother. But due to higher fertility rates in younger women, 80% of children with Down syndrome are born to women under 35 years of age.
• People with Down syndrome have an increased risk for certain medical conditions such as congenital heart defects, respiratory and hearing problems, Alzheimer’s disease, childhood leukemia, and thyroid conditions. Many of these conditions are now treatable, so most people with Down syndrome lead healthy lives.
• Life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has increased dramatically in recent decades – from 25 in 1983 to 60 today.
• People with Down syndrome attend school, work, participate in decisions that affect them, and contribute to society in many different ways.
• All people with Down syndrome experience cognitive delays, but the effect is usually mild to moderate and is not indicative of the many strengths and talents that each individual possesses.

Myths and Truths about Down syndrome

MYTH: Parents will not find community support in bringing up their child with Down syndrome.
TRUTH: In almost every community of the United States there are parent support groups and other community organizations directly involved in providing services to families of individuals with Down syndrome.
MYTH: Children with Down syndrome must be placed in segregated special education programs.
TRUTH: Children with Down syndrome have been included in regular academic classrooms in schools across the country. In some instances they are integrated into specific courses, while in other situations students are fully included in the regular classroom for all subjects. The current trend in education is for full inclusion in the social and educational life of the community. Increasingly, individuals with Down syndrome graduate from high school with regular diplomas, participate in post-secondary academic and college experiences and, in some cases, receive college degrees.
MYTH: Adults with Down syndrome are unemployable.
TRUTH: Businesses are seeking adults with Down syndrome for a variety of positions. They are being employed in small- and medium-sized offices: by banks, corporations, nursing homes, hotels and restaurants. They work in the music and entertainment industry, in clerical positions, childcare, the sports field and in the computer industry to name a few.
MYTH: Adults with Down syndrome are unable to form close interpersonal relationships leading to marriage.
TRUTH: People with Down syndrome have meaningful friendships, date, socialize, form ongoing relationships and marry.
MYTH: Down syndrome can never be cured.
TRUTH: Research on Down syndrome is making great strides in identifying the genes on chromosome 21 that cause the characteristics of Down syndrome. Scientists now feel strongly that it will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the problems associated with Down syndrome in the future.

For the article that inspired me to blog about Down syndrome this week please visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/19/opinion/ethan-saylors-death-and-a-cry-for-down-syndrome-understanding.html?_r=1&

About a Disability: Dyslexia

Pictogram found from blogspot.com

In the past I have discussed certain disabilities such as schizophrenia and plan to do so with other disabilities in the future. This week I want to talk a little about dyslexia. While I personally do not have dyslexia it has impacted people very close to me throughout my life and I have had a great deal of experience seeing them cope with it.

Unlike other disabilities when people think about dyslexia they may not think of a life threatening or debilitating disorder, and it is not, but it can certainly be life changing so it is important for people to be aware of what is means and how to handle dyslexia, whether you have it or others around you.

Dyslexia is a lifelong challenge that people are born with; it is a language processing disorder that hinders reading, writing, spelling, and sometimes even speaking. It is important to note that dyslexia is not a sign of poor intelligence or laziness and it is not the result of impaired vision. Children and adults with dyslexia simply have a neurological disorder that causes their brains to process and interpret information differently.

Dyslexia occurs among people of all economic and ethnic backgrounds. Often more than one member of a family has dyslexia. According to the National Institute of Child and Human Development, as many as 15 percent of Americans have major troubles with reading.

Although there is no cure for dyslexia, with help and support individuals can learn to overcome this learning disability and learn to read and write with a variety of educational tools that are available. There are also techniques and technical aids that can manage and sometimes conceal the symptoms of dyslexia. Oftentimes removing stress and anxiety can greatly improve written comprehension in a person with the disorder.

Symptoms of Dyslexia
• Difficulty reading, writing or spelling, often confuses right from left
• Does not test well, despite intelligence, with severe anxiety about testing
• Daydreams or zones out in a classroom or at meetings and lectures
• Prefers “hands-on” learning to verbal or written instruction
• Sees moving letters when reading or writing and flips letters around
• Can read and reread passages without comprehension
• Has difficulty spelling words correctly and putting thoughts into words
• Cannot write or copy words down easily and tends to hold pen tightly or different
• Illegible handwriting and has difficulty with time management
• Might procrastinate, be disorderly and tends to be good at math but has difficulty with word problems

The important thing to remember is that anyone with a disability is not alone. Maybe it’s just me but I always find it encouraging, even inspiring to know that there are other people out there that can relate to what I am going through, no matter the situation, especially when they are achieving great things.
For instance, if having a disability such as dyslexia hasn’t stopped a person from being a successful celebrity or CEO why should it stop anyone else from accomplishing their goals?

Famous people with dyslexia include:
1. Orlando Bloom-Actor
2. Sylvester Stallone-Actor
3. Brad Pitt-Actor
4. Danny Glover-Actor
5. Anderson Cooper-Journalist
6. Henry Winkler-Actor
7. Charles Schwab-CEO
8. Cher-Singer
9. Tommy Hilfiger-Fashion Designer
10. Steven Spielberg-Film Director
11. Tom Cruise-Actor
12. Keira Knightley-Actress
13. Whoopi Goldberg-Actress
14. Patrick Dempsey-Actor
15. Jay Leno-Comedian

For more information on dyslexia and how it is treated visit: http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/dyslexia/what-is-dyslexia