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To our recently "disabled" Please, please don't think that just because you've run into being considered "disabled" in one field, that you'd necessarily be considered that in another (provided you want to attempt entering another field). I was declared fully disabled, and was on SSD (Social Security Disability) and found that wasn't enough to even meet my mortgage payment, much less any other expenses. Yet, because of the PD, I KNEW I'd never make it in a typical "9 to 5" working place. With a "desperation if the mother of invention" attitude, I "invented" several jobs, included doing Small Claims Court filings for individuals too busy or too ignorant to do so themselves. That grew into court file preparation for many of these same people, and eventually I was hired by many to "hold their hand" (sometimes literally!) while they made a Small Claims Court appearance. As a non-lawyer I was permitted by the court to speak for some of these persons as well. ALL of which earned me additional income, and of course, all are perfectly legal for me to do. I also offered at one time a "business-type" letter writing service for those who used English as a second language, and that brought in income, plus I felt I was really of service to the people who came to me for assistance. This job also enabled me to utilize my paralegal training to some extent, ergo, additional income. Then I got into computers.... and, as they say, the rest is history. NONE of this happened overnite. And none of it was easy. But it all eventually led up to my current job with Microsoft, which has enabled me to be entirely self-supporting once again. AND in ALL these various jobs, I have been able to work out of my home, often at the time of day when I felt at my peak level of performance (tho "peak level" is relative with PD) Take time to grieve for that part of you which you've lost, m'friends, but don't think you've lost it ALL... 'cause you haven't. Like me, if you search within, you'll most likely discover new and untapped parts of yourself which will enable you to compensate for that which was lost. Just don't limit yourself to thinking you MUST do the same old thing because that's what you've ALWAYS done. Step outside the boundaries placed by "habit" and you'll see more than you've ever imagined. Barb Mallut "Lil_Honey" on the PD Chat [log in to unmask] ---------- From: PARKINSN: Parkinson's Disease - Information Exchange Network on behalf of Kenora Fluerette Leonard Sent: Thursday, January 09, 1997 8:34 AM To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN Subject: Re: JUST CALL ME "DISABLED" At 08:41 AM 1/9/97 -0500, you wrote: >To all list members: > >After reading Tuesday's massive digest (80+ pages), I was inspired to bring >all of you up to date on a significant turn of events in my life. > >Yesterday, I became a statistic. > >I now proudly (what other way is there) wear the badge proclaiming me >DISABLED. Next Tuesday I begin receiving weekly disability checks from my >employer. I'm 53, so that means a very large, very profitable company will >fork over NEARLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS in disability income and medical >insurance premiums until I reach age 65. > >How's that for a statistic to throw at President Clinton in my Udall Bill >letter? > >Funny, I don't feel disabled. Sure, sometimes I walk funny. Other times, it >takes ten or 12 jabs to disengage that pesky CAPS LOCK key on my computer. > Or my legs practice field goal kicking while I'm stretched out in my >recliner engrossed in another episode of "Wheel of Fortune." And today, as I >attempted to butter my roll at lunch, I flung soft margarine across the >cafeteria when my arm decided to wave the knife over my head. > >Yes, I am disabled. I can still dress myself, run up and down the spiral >staircase in our home, type about 80 wpm when the Sinemet is working, drive >(most of the time), make love, pay our bills, take care of my dog Garp, and >perform hundreds of other day-to-day tasks we all take for granted. > >But I can't work. > >Why? I hear you ask. > >Because Parkinson's apparently has robbed me of the ability to comprehend, >organize and coordinate complex projects. Unfortunately, I was blind to this >metamorphosis. But my boss wasn't. I found out yesterday during my annual >performance review how critical the situation had become. Luckily, my boss >left the decision about my future up to me. > >I chose "long-term disability." > >>From the tone of this letter, you probably believe it was an easy decision. >Believe me, it wasn't. Last night I had to face the gut-wrenching, >hair-ripping, wailing, fist-through-the-walls truth. After 30 years of >working, I was no longer considered productive. I couldn't cut it, mentally >or physically. Luckily, I'm married to a woman who understands emotional >crises and knows how to deal with them. We slept only about two hours last >night. But today --- with both of us facing the grief --- she drove me 60 >miles to my office, where I informed my boss of my decision. Then, my wife >and I celebrated the start of my new life with lunch at one of Houston's >finest cafeterias (see "flinging butter" incident earlier in letter). > >Now, I'm a PDP - Permanently Disabled Person. Or, as I perfer to consider >myself, a PPTSHDN: Person Paid To Stay Home and Do Nothing. > >Actually, I plan to do a lot. Parkinson's activism. Household duties (my wife >works). And write fiction. Novels. Short stories. Anything to exercise my >mind and hands. Anything to keep my creative brain cells from croaking. >Anything to prevent me from falling into that dark pit of depression. > >Here I go. Off into the world of the "paid to stay home." > >Wish me luck. > >Thanks for listening. > >Stan Houston (53/5) >Cat Spring, Texas 78933 > >[log in to unmask] Hello Stan I share your explanation of your disability as I am about to enter that world. The way you describe your feelings at home and at work is very similar to my situation - very ambivalent most of the time. I too have plans to do crafts, write, and read. I too feel like crying on the spot and wonder why... You don't mention medication - have you started? My School Board has been thoughtful as well as the Insurance Co. Till next time Fell