When you became independent, how did you feel?

[Saavik]

Yeah its the catch 22 to pay the dough one doesnt even have to prove it however for the goodwill lady or next time u dont understand them talking have them write it all down word for word what to do next. For me I like it because I do have memory problems sometimes n forget driections.

Yeah, with directions, I sometimes get confused and confusion leads to anxiety. I signed up for ACA because out here I apparently get 100% subsidy, but I haven't heard back from those people yet, so we'll see.

 

[Bebonang]

Feeling independent helped me to learn how to work at the University of Minnesota and do the responsible things for myself on taking care of myself as a single woman when I got my first job in 1967. Being independent meant growing up and not be depended on my parents except I had to live with my parents after graduation. That was in 1966. Then when I got my job, I moved out and lived in an apartment with a roommate. I got myself into trouble (no jail) with parties and got drunk very much. But then I realized when I had blackout, I got scared of that. I don't like what I had become so I quit drinking but still continued to smoke ciqarettes. I really do like being independent and also wanted to voiced my rights as Deaf Native American human being. I had feelings like you but they looked down on me which I hated that.

I still like to be independent now that I am a Elder. I don't want someone to tell me in order to control my life. No way. I am going to be stubborn, no matter what.

 

[Reba]

Doesn't social services involve working with lots of people? If so, not a fitting job for someone with severe anxiety issues.

Perhaps not. However, even though you have many clients, you work with them one-on-one.

I couldn't finish it since I can't do math for crap and no matter how hard I tried, I always end up failing the class and have to withdraw before it hurts my GPA (My GPA I think was a 2.8 or 2.9)

Did you ever take a remedial or refresher math class? TCS did that, free of cost, thru the college VA department. It was an on-line math course, like a tutorial, that prepared him for college math. It was self-paced and didn't count against the GPA.

Also, I wasn't able to pass the music class they required me to take, I ended up withdrawing from that to protect my GPA from an F. I had a science requirement and managed to pass Geology with a C.

Maybe you need a better college. Most will allow another humanities course in place of music, such as art appreciation or philosophy survey. I was able to CLEP my humanities by taking the Humanities test and not even take a course. It transferred three times for degrees. I've interpreted at college for many deaf students and none of them had to take a music course.

So, I have no degree.

Not yet; there's still time.

I noticed lots of differences both good and bad between Nevada and Virginia. Nevada has rights for transgender people in the workplace, Virginia doesn't. It's far easier in Virginia to get your gender marker on your license changed than it is in Nevada.

Virginia vocational rehab took their sweet time doing anything, but they did pay for everything, even gave me a fuel card to get to their office and paid for any testing and anything required to assist the person (My case, they paid for my hearing test and then paid for my hearing aids). Nevada seems to want you to pay for the testing they require and don't want to accept documents you already have to prove you have an issue.

There are 48 other states. Do some research about what each one offers.

The lady who was working my case here, kept turning her chair around to face her computer and kept talking, so I couldn't understand what she was saying and I kept letting her know that, but she kept doing it.

Are you taking full advantage of your accessability rights under the ADA?

I'll look into it, but I doubt they will help, nobody seems to want to help me succeed on any level.

Somebody does; you just haven't found that person yet.

Not sure I have everything I need, not sure what I need, I just know what documents I have and the Army screwed me because whenever I got injured, they refused to do paperwork, they just sent me to sick call in th morning and that's it. No LOD or anything, even when I specifically requested they do one to cover me down the road.

Keep trying until you get the right support.

Ordinarily, I would suggest going to your Congressman (they help vets) but since you're not currently a resident of the state that would be difficult since you are a transient.

I'm focusing mainly on transitioning right now (Getting on hormones and my name changed after that) it's the only thing keeping my sanity in check. If I focus on anything other than transitioning, I get even more depressed and start to welcome death again, so I do what I can to avoid those thoughts.

Hang in there. You're still young, so there's still hope.

 

[Saavik]

Perhaps not. However, even though you have many clients, you work with them one-on-one.

I think the only job I'd have been suitable for would have been Star Trek the Experience, but that is long since closed. I'm not really good at anything other than computers, but nobody is hiring IT jobs without a degree and I tried to get a degree in it, but the requirements were absurd. They made me take an accounting class for that and I had no idea what was going on in that class and I studied hard, just didn't understand it at all and the professor didn't explain it better when I asked questions. Another dropped class on my record.

Did you ever take a remedial or refresher math class? TCS did that, free of cost, thru the college VA department. It was an on-line math course, like a tutorial, that prepared him for college math. It was self-paced and didn't count against the GPA.

Yes, I was in the lowest level math class at the college and was failing bad.

Maybe you need a better college. Most will allow another humanities course in place of music, such as art appreciation or philosophy survey. I was able to CLEP my humanities by taking the Humanities test and not even take a course. It transferred three times for degrees. I've interpreted at college for many deaf students and none of them had to take a music course.

I asked my previous college about CLEP and the VA coordinator said she had no idea how that worked. I already took philosophy and I was awful at art appreciation (All the middle ages paintings looked the same.. Christianity this, Christianity that, I was lost and again, dropped the class). They wouldn't let me substitute anything for the music class and I could have used a foreign language class for part of my degree requirment, but ASL class wasn't accepted as a foreign language and I made an A in that class since I was the only one in it taking it because they might need it eventually if my hearing keeps going.

Not yet; there's still time.

Time seems meaningless and a blur when there isn't a real purpose to your life.

There are 48 other states. Do some research about what each one offers.

Other states, yes and I've tried Alaska too, ended up homeless and hungry in the dead of the Alaskan winter in Fairbanks. I have the same nothingness waiting for me no matter what state I move to. I have nowhere to go in any other state and lack a financial means to get there.

Are you taking full advantage of your accessability rights under the ADA?

I don't know ADA rights to be honest.

Somebody does; you just haven't found that person yet.

I'm beginning to doubt I ever will.

Keep trying until you get the right support.

Running out of places to try and get support at least places that come to mind.

Ordinarily, I would suggest going to your Congressman (they help vets) but since you're not currently a resident of the state that would be difficult since you are a transient.

Yeah, not an option.

Hang in there. You're still young, so there's still hope.

Every day I feel more and more like George Carlin had it right when he said "F**k hope."

 

[Frisky Feline]

Can't put Military Police skills to any use and wouldn't want to anyway, I hated that job. Even if I wanted to find a job in a similar field, doubt police are looking to hire a hard of hearing trans woman with bilateral knee issues as well as numerous mental diagnoses.

I tried community college in Virginia and was working toward a degree in general studies because I have no idea what to major in (Changed majors so many times, until I decided general studies was best).

I tried vocational rehab, but it's not going to work for me out here, Nevada's wants me to go pay for a doctor out of pocket to prove my knee issues, even though I kept what little paperwork I had on it from the Army. They also want me to see another therapist at cost again to me, despite already seeing a counselor for most of 2013. They also want me to give them another hearing test, despite handing them the signed copy my audiologist back in Virginia gave me to give to them and that test is only a few months old and they want me to go get another eye exam out of pocket.

Safe to say, I don't have any money in pocket for any of that, so Nevada Vocational Rehab sucks.

SSDI or SSI, I have no idea what either are or how to apply. I tried food stamps, haven't heard back from them and I applied last month.

My friends keep telling me to reapply at the VA, but last time I did, they wouldn't tell me what I needed to do (The process) or where I needed to go. They just handed me an application and told me to mail it in. I mailed it in and never heard back from them. When I contacted them to find out about my application, I was told they had no idea and to fill out another one.

I have anxiety disorder among other things, so I find trying all this intimidating and scary, especially since I have no idea what I'm doing most of the time I try doing these things to possibly build my new life foundation on rock bottom.

Saavik Try to contact SSA in LV about your heairng losses and your antixuety disorder and more. It never hurt to check with SSA. SSA may be SLOW to process the cases but never know.

 

[Saavik]

Saavik Try to contact SSA in LV about your heairng losses and your antixuety disorder and more. It never hurt to check with SSA. SSA may be SLOW to process the cases but never know.

I'll try, but I'm not sure what exactly to ask them when I walk in the door and I kind of have the feeling I'm going to get the same treatment as I did from Nevada rehabilitative services wanting me to pay out of pocket for medical stuff I can't afford.

 

[Foxrac]

TS does not automatically exclude people from the job market. There are plenty of employed people with TS, including one that I know personally.

Only for severe case - Mark has severe TS.

He's eligible for SSI or SSDI due to severe case of TS.

 

[Reba]

I'll try, but I'm not sure what exactly to ask them when I walk in the door and I kind of have the feeling I'm going to get the same treatment as I did from Nevada rehabilitative services wanting me to pay out of pocket for medical stuff I can't afford.

Tell them you want to apply for either SSI or SSDI. Tell them you don't know which one you are eligible for. When you make the appointment, inform them that you are hard of hearing, and tell them what kind of communication assistance you prefer.

Bring all your documentation with you. You never know what might be useful.

There IS help out there for you but you will have to fight for it. It won't be handed to you on a silver platter. I'm not saying that you haven't tried but you have to be persistent and do your research and not give up.

 

[Frisky Feline]

I'll try, but I'm not sure what exactly to ask them when I walk in the door and I kind of have the feeling I'm going to get the same treatment as I did from Nevada rehabilitative services wanting me to pay out of pocket for medical stuff I can't afford.

First of all, SOme SSA represetatives can be "anal" some SSA rep can be NICE. I would think, if you plan to walk in, with SSA office. I knew they will tell you to make an appointment for applying disability which means you will have to come back again. I would say, try with 1800 772 1213 (for hearing) and TRY Contact Social Security

Good Luck.

 

[Reba]

Only for severe case - Mark has severe TS.

He's eligible for SSI or SSDI due to severe case of TS.

I'm not sure what "severe" TS presents as and what the job limitations are but I'm certain he could do something, at least part time.

 

[Jane B.]

I'm not sure what "severe" TS presents as and what the job limitations are but I'm certain he could do something, at least part time.

It is not just what he can do but how accepting an employer is of the TS and how it makes him act at times. And I would think the hardest thing is finding that employer.

 

[ChicagoBlue2]

It is not just what he can do but how accepting an employer is of the TS and how it makes him act at times. And I would think the hardest thing is finding that employer.

Great Lakes Naval Base (Goodwill Great Lakes) would be one of them. They didn't care that I had it, as long I was able to do my job well enough, and they were pretty open minded about it.

 

[caz12]

i dont really understand but i do know how rejections feel and reading your post dont give up hold in...the maths i was crap at it then got teacher who spoke in away i understood plus he told me learn guitar it would help,god knows why but it did.....confidence but not as easy to get but i know you can....i read your posts and you sound confident eridiate person

 

[Frisky Feline]

I'm not sure what "severe" TS presents as and what the job limitations are but I'm certain he could do something, at least part time.

My childhood friend who has TS and work as an janitor at the hospital. It pays well way better than SSI. He likes earning $$$. He likes to use his physcial a lot. He must have worked more than 20 yrs.

 

[Jiro]

I'll try, but I'm not sure what exactly to ask them when I walk in the door and I kind of have the feeling I'm going to get the same treatment as I did from Nevada rehabilitative services wanting me to pay out of pocket for medical stuff I can't afford.

the treatment you received from there is the same as everywhere else because they're very tight with money but they WILL give you money if you are very persistent.

they're SUPPOSED to make it very difficult for anyone to obtain it. it's not unheard of that many people get rejected on the first try and then get approved on the second try via appeal. it's common.

 

[Jiro]

My childhood friend who has TS and work as an janitor at the hospital. It pays well way better than SSI. He likes earning $$$. He likes to use his physcial a lot. He must have worked more than 20 yrs.

yep. janitor with union membership actually makes a pretty good pay. my friend is considering it. he has tried for years to find any jobs - clothing store, photography, office job, anything.... and nobody's hiring him. I don't know why. he's extremely frustrated. his mother is a janitor and she's retiring soon.

 

[Saavik]

Applying online for SSI right now, but I'm super confused and extremely frustrated..

 

[Foxrac]

I'm not sure what "severe" TS presents as and what the job limitations are but I'm certain he could do something, at least part time.

Severe TS - more tics and flare up, also in some cases, none of medicines work or little help.

It is better to let Mark to make discretion about feel safe to get job or not - we aren't in Mark's body and we don't know about how bad is his medical condition.

In case, if Mark gets part time but it may not gain his independence from government welfare.

 

[Frisky Feline]

Applying online for SSI right now, but I'm super confused and extremely frustrated..

Oh yes it is .. I encourage you to visit SSA office but get an appointment first. If your application goes through ok. STILL need to ask for an appointment and ask so many questions. Remember that SSA will send the information to dr office called " determine disability service". I heard that dds people are not friendly but just show up and be who you are about your hearing loss percents and other disability. Let DDS to decide that you are disable or not then send it back to SSA.

 

[Saavik]

Oh yes it is .. I encourage you to visit SSA office but get an appointment first. If your application goes through ok. STILL need to ask for an appointment and ask so many questions. Remember that SSA will send the information to dr office called " determine disability service". I heard that dds people are not friendly but just show up and be who you are about your hearing loss percents and other disability. Let DDS to decide that you are disable or not then send it back to SSA.

I did finally get it submitted, so I'll wait for a response now.