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| The Working Disabled Paradox |
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Do you know anybody that is disabled and receiving disability income of some form? For many, the answer will be yes. The disabled are found in every community. And many cannot get out of their homes and have very few visitors throughout the year. But that is another blog for another day. This blog will be discussing the "Working Disabled Paradox" that some are faced with.
In certain cases of disability, the person could still work in some capacity to help support their family and lessen the burden on the source of their disability income. Just not in the capacity they used to work in and not at the level of income they used to bring home. A disabled architect that used to design skyscrapers might only be able to design kitchen cabinet layouts on their home computer a few hours a day when their health permitted. That "work" gives the disabled person a sense of still being needed by society as well as pulling their share of the load in the nation's workforce; no matter how small that may now be. Same concept as "every penny counts" in the church's fundraisers. The paradox is for many of the disabled, their desire to work, is that their reward is complete loss of disability income. And usually, the amount of income from the disability income will be far greater than what they'll make doing that seemingly menial task as it might appear. And almost always, both incomes will be far less than "the bacon" they used to bring home before they became disabled.
As most of you know, I am slowly losing "my physical self" to a degenerative neuromuscular disorder. But as you can see, I can still type a blog. Perhaps I could be a freelance writer. It only takes me 4 to 6 hours to put together a blog like this one. As an engineer, I've made $36/hour in a consulting position and as high as $72/hour in an overseas field engineering assignment. I was also laid off at one time and accepted a part-time job making $6/hour. God took care of me and my family but it was clear that the "bread-winner" of the house had to make more than minimum wage to keep the family afloat.
I mention all of this to make my point. I could probably work some number hours a week making an income but any employer would need to put up with my mistakes, memory lapses, no driver's license, poor health and overall inability to be a reliable employee. That stinks from the employer's viewpoint...
I came across a news item this morning from the United Kingdom (UK) found here. Quoting the entire release:
"Disabled people represent one fifth of the working age population, but are far more likely to be out of work and to lack skills than the population as a whole. In a new publication - ‘Disability, Skills and Work: Raising our Sights’ - the Social Market Foundation sets out the benefits from doing better and proposes:
- A new national commitment to closing the skills gap of disabled people. - Improved support for employers, but a clear commitment to government action if progress falls short and - A new culture of expectation and aspiration of and for disabled people. The publication will be launched at a conference in London on Monday, when the keynote speaker will be John Hutton, MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. The Social Market Foundation is an independent think tank exploring ideas that link the state and the market to create a more just, free and prosperous society."
Hmmmm... The UK appears to be moving in the right direction to better understand the needs of the disabled that used to be part of the workforce. The US is also moving in the right direction. Both have a ways to go...
Don't get me wrong on this but many disabled folks feel useless, left out and forgotten. They can no longer "perform" like they used to but still want to do something for anybody that will put up with their situations that impact the quality and quantity of their work. After all, there is still life to aid lives in whatever capacity.
An American magazine called New Mobility discussed a similar scenario here. The three hour routine to get yourself ready in the morning and then being worn out before you even get out the front door is a real "drag" in the literal kind of way. That stinks from the employee's viewpoint. Arriving late at work, requiring different needs throughout the day, unreliable as to being able to work scheduled hours, and on and on... That stinks from an employer's viewpoint.
I'm not sure what the answer is to this complex equation. I do know, however, there are a lot of folks that would love to be a "working disabled" but cannot find the right employer where they "fit in" and all the while maintaining the same level of income they need to survive. Somehow employers and the source of disability income need to work together in order to keep the whole equation balanced.
This is not an easy task to accomplish but it should improve the economy by increasing the available workforce, decreasing the burden on disability income sources and more than likely improving the overall health of the disabled because somebody took time to see their ability. For me, I have gone by the following slogan for several years now:
My DISABILITY is a Do It Sitting ABILITY !
Thanks for reading through this. Please keep all of the disabled in your prayers. Not only for the healing that they need but also for their need to not feel pushed aside and forgotten. You'll find many of the disabled on the Internet because that is their contact to the outside world. Inside their homes, however, they really want to do something to be part of the overall workforce equation. That includes paid and unpaid volunteers. That is what makes the world go 'round.
So take a second and look around you. Perhaps you are an employer that could use somebody that is disabled. Perhaps you can match an employer and a disabled person. No matter what type of job, paid or unpaid, you will be reaching out to many that are disabled who feel "forgotten" in a very, very busy world.
God bless you for your prayers and action!
Dave |
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| To add a comment to "The Working Disabled Paradox" |
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| June 08, 2007 |
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| Well-written post Dave! It is quite an ironic paradox... especially from my viewpoint, where you are such an integral part of our operations.
I think and hope that this age of globalization will allow people to work from their homes at their convenience. Thats what we're doing at least!
To me it seems that almost every skill set in this "new media" world can purely be developed and utilized over a high-speed internet connection. |
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| June 12, 2007 |
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| A related article about the UK's initiative can be found here. |
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| June 12, 2007 |
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| Another related article can be found here. |
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| June 22, 2007 |
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I am a fairly new member of C3 too (an mychurch), so I was looking at your blogs to read your Normal 1st Time Vistors Receive Welcome Packets blog. But, God had other plans. He wanted me to read My Excuse to Miss Church Last Sunday and this one.
You see, I just signed my disability retirement papers yesterday :( I have a two hour ready time myself, but for different reasons. I am like the Linda in the New Mobilty article. I have either early MS or an MS-like disease. I have all the symptoms, but no lasting lesions on the MRIs. They finally found one active one about 1 1/2 yr ago, but it did not leave scarring. I have been in an on-going "flare" since the end of June 06 which has not responded to treatment. I have been off of work since Aug 06.
My symptoms began about 14 years ago. They really kicked in Jan 01. But, I fought back: learned to walk again, lots of PT and OT, found effective meds for nerve pain, muscle spacticity, and chronic systemic inflammation symptoms. I found and eliminated one possible trigger in June 01--Celiac Disease (autoimmune reaction to wheat, oat, barley and rye).
I worked my way back to almost full-time work at 35 hours per week within the year with a few accomodations. I worked at home on Wed to give my body a mid-week rest. I also had flexible work hours if I needed them due to chronic fatigue (or a bad morning had me running late). I had awesome supportive bosses. This worked for 5 years wonderfully. By then, I had even increased to fully 40 hrs per week with the same accomodations.
THEN IT FELL APART, my boss got a promotion and the new boss did not understand MS. She thought I should be in the office everyday. So, she sent me to a "fitness for duty evaluation"--essentially to get me qualified as unable to fulfill the essential tasks of the job so I would lose my accomodation. After about 6 months of the stress with that, 5 years of stable dis-health vanished. I finally took another position in the agency (a local health and human servcies agency). This would require me to be in the office 5 days a week, but the last two days of my work week would be a start time of 12 noon. I would be working weekends, so I would not have to deal with rush hour 4 out of the 5 days (a little more room for am ready time). It also allowed for flexible hours. The supervisors knew of my illness and said that if I got sick again they would be able to switch the position to part-time for me. About 6 months into the new position, I had a flare of Optic Neuritis (swelling of optic nerve), I missed some partial days for medical appts, went on high dose steroids and jumped right back into things full-force. I was educating all the Medicare recipients and their caregivers about the new Medicare Rx Program and it was the first ever enrollment period, so I could not stop to rest. About 6 months after that "flare", my current stubborn "flare" kicked in. Three rounds of steroids, in and out of the office for a few weeks, until my Dr. said no more work until you are out of this "flare".
Well, this "flare" has yet to end almost a year later. So, I am still out of work. Now I am formally Disabled Retired. I was lucky enough to have been in a good government, union postion that I do have long-term disablity insurance that kicks in--however, the payments at 30% of my previous income are even less than Social Security Disablity would be--if and when I can finally jump through those hoops correctly. Then when I do, the insurance payment decreases $ for $ of the SS income. Essentially, it will disappear then. But the wonderful thing I will be very lucky to have is MEDICAL INSURANCE. I have to pay a much higher portion of the premiums now, but even at $300+ a month for individual coverage, I am praising God that I am able to keep it! This is what will keep me from returning to work. Even if the ideal, high-paying, part-time work at home in one hour periods that I feel up to it came along in a few years, I would not even try it. Yes, I may be putting my health at further risk if I did try to work again anyway, but it is that my medical coverage being at risk that would stop me from trying to push myself and my body to try again later. Without decent healthcare, all chances of a reasonable quality of life disappears.
Tonight, I was on mychurch to try to distract myself from the reality of disabiltiy retirement before age 40 as it was really depressing me. Instead, I am being forced to face it and shout it out (via blog comment) and really embrace it as fact. But, by bringing me to your Blog, God also brought me some new resources that you linked to in your text. I have bookmarked those sites and I an sure they will be used many times to come!
I cannot end my comments without commenting on the work DISABLED itself. I HATE that they changed to this word from HANDICAPPED in all the politcal correctness of recent decades. DISABLED says I am broken, not able. HANDICAPPED says I need a boost to get to a level-ground with some individuals. Maybe, the word itself now says to the world that we are not able to work, not able to . . .
HopeFaith (Linda) |
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| June 23, 2007 |
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Linda,
I am soooo glad that God brought you to my blog. He always amazes me at the different ways He directs somebody my way. On the flip side, He also amazes me at how I end up at other people's blogs, sites and even homes. Thanks Mike & Laura (again)! God really is in control! Thank you Jesus!
My C3 friends continue to multiply. What a true blessing it has been to come to know all of you!
I don't know what I'd ever do if somebody turns off the Internet. It has opened so many doors, it has provided me with a wealth of information and most important to me in the emotional sense, the Internet has provided me with FRIENDS that care, understand and are willing to take a moment out of their busy lives to give an encouraging word to me and others when any of us most need it.
Looking forward to meeting you in person one day, Linda.
Dave |
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