Now, I'm not pointing any fingers since personally, I don't know too many of you...and I promise - my response has nothing to do with the replies that have already been posted to this thread. These are just thoughts that I've pulled out of the top of my head...
...but I think some of it might be a self-esteem issue. Granted, it would be harder for a deaf or disabled individual to find a good job than it would be for a hearing person to. More often than not, the person doing the hiring might not want to explore what the disabled employee-to-be CAN do. They only see what we can't...for example, the phone, being a receptionist, etc? And so they smile politely and say "We'll let you know." By now, it's pretty safe to assume that that, in translation, means "Go look somewhere else." 
So...ya know, I believe that some folks (and no, I don't mean any of you - cause, really, unless you come out and admit it yourselves, I have no reason to accuse you of doing so) may say to themselves, "Well, jeez...if I can't find a good job, then I mght as well do what I can and fully reap the benefits of the SSI I receive." And so, it becomes a habit. The disabled/deaf individual eventually gives up on trying to make more of themselves, and they go from one check to the next, and in turn, don't advance too much further. However, because they've also convinced themselves in the meantime, that they won't succeed in doing much else, then this becomes an acceptable way of life for them.
This is just a theory, of course. I can very well be completely off base with this, but please feel free to respond. 
I have respect for all of you, whether you choose to work, choose to live off your SSI checks, or do a little bit of both. We're all human, and that's the bottom line.
