Becoming Independent

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The Department of Job and Family Services recently notified me that I qualify for a Medicaid Program for people that have a disability but still work. When I was talking to the case worker she mentioned that there aren’t many people in the program because most disabled people don’t work. That got me thinking, what are we teaching our kids? Are we focusing on what they can’t do rather than what they can do? Are we assuming that just because someone has a disability they can’t work and be an independent, productive member of society? Becoming independent wasn’t easy for me. I had a lot of things to overcome mentally, emotionally and physically. There is one organization that played a big part in helping me achieve physical independence. That is Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR). Parents, if your child’s doctor or school guidance counselor hasn’t referred you to them contact them yourself. The first huge step to me becoming independent was learning to catheterize myself . BVR had a nurse come to my house to teach me to self cath. It wasn’t easy but I learned and was able to get out of the house and get a job, which they paid for the training for me to get the skills so I could get a job. They would have helped me find employment, but, I went through job placement with the Wayne County Schools Career Center’s Adult Education Program. I regret not learning to self cath earlier in life. It was a BIG key to my independence!

And eventually I was able to get my own house and be on my own. I wasn’t sure I could live on my own or not but really felt it was a step the Lord wanted me to take. I bought a condo in Wooster, Ohio which is 10-15 minutes away from the rest of my family. One thing I had to figure out was how to get my mail. As I talked about in a previous post walking on snow and ice is nearly impossible without help. My doctor wrote a letter stating I have a hardship and needed my mail delivered to my door. All I had to do was take the letter to the postmaster and put a mailbox up right outside my front door and the mailman drops it off there instead of the mailbox across the street.

Another thing that can be difficult to do on your own is cleaning the bathtub. What I do is I put a step stool in the tub to sit on while I’m cleaning it. In order to get in the tub and onto the stool that’s inside I put another

stool on the outside, then I get on that stool, then get up on the edge of the tub and transfer to the stool inside. (See picture at right). Yes it’s a lot of work, but no one ever said life was easy.

Parents, just because your child has a disability teaching them the basics like cooking and cleaning is still very necessary. If you’re not sure how to teach them to be independent find a mentor for them that can. Sometimes it’s easier for someone who’s been through it then for someone who hasn’t. For tips on teaching/becoming independent click here. If you would like a mentor or need more tips feel free to contact me via the contact page.