Kathy Jo,

I work full time as a database programmer, and while I don't make a lot of
money, it's enough for my bills, essentials and a few extras.  I also get
group health and dental coverage through my company, which helps a lot.  I
live alone in a two-bedroom flat, all one story, and manage by myself,
although I have someone come in at least once a month to do the heavy
cleaning.  I can bathe myself, do my own laundry (I have my own washer and
dryer in my flat), and cook for myself.  The only two chores I can't do
myself are vacuuming, and big-scale grocery shopping.  I usually have a
friend help me with the heavy shopping and I make do myself with interim
shopping trips.

Last weekend, I found I could  mop my kitchen and bathroom floors, using the
new Swifter mops, which have  "wet pads," which are pre-moistened, that made
it so much easier for me to clean up spills, etc., without worrying about a
mop and a bucket, and having to wring out the mop.  Now if only I can find
an easier way to vacuum...

Kat


----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathy Pink" <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.c-palsy
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 1:58 PM
Subject: Re: butt load of pocket change


> Kat,
>
> How can you get by?  I have to ask for public
> assistance for my personal cares.
>
> Kathy Jo
>
>
>
>
>
> --- Kathy Salkin <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > Oh, I agree with you 100 per cent, Jenn.  I am
> > proud of what I've done in my
> > life and the fact that I've never had to ask
> > for public assistance.  That is
> > not to say I've never received help from Voc.
> > Rehab or from other agencies,
> > but that after I started working a full time
> > job with benefits, I had no need
> > of help from VR.  I don't see it as boasting so
> > much as letting others know it
> > can be done. And others such as Bobby, Kyle,
> > Deri, Ken, and you show it
> > perfectly.
> >
> > Other disabled people especially those in the
> > Third World, are far less
> > fortunate than we, and my heart goes out to
> > them.
> >
> > Kat
> >
> > On Fri, 2 Aug 2002 12:31:51 -0700 "J. McCarthy"
> > <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > > I wasn't going to add to the fray, but....
> > >
> > > A few months after getting my Bachelor's, my
> > > SSI
> > > stopped when my odd jobs put me above the
> > > income max.
> > > I was able to keep medicaid for a few more
> > > years,
> > > which was great because it allowed me time to
> > > find a
> > > full-time position with health insurance
> > > benefits.  So
> > > since about 1997, I have been employed
> > > full-time (40+
> > > hours/week).  In 2001, I gave up a $15/hr job
> > > to be
> > > happy. (long story)  I now work at a state
> > > university
> > > making about $10/hr and loving my job. I grew
> > > up in a
> > > lousy 2 bedroom duplex in a slummy part of
> > town
> > > with
> > > my brother and single mom for about 15 years
> > > (most
> > > funds came from my SSI and other public
> > > assistance).
> > > When I married, my husband and I moved into a
> > > not-so-great 1 bedroom appartment.  Then when
> > > my
> > > husband found a job in town, we rented a nice
> > > 2bd/2ba
> > > apartment.  Now we own a nice 3bd/2ba house
> > > with pool
> > > in a nice neighborhood.
> > >
> > > I'm not gloating or looking for praise.  I am
> > > but
> > > showing others that "You can do it!" and
> > become
> > > a
> > > productive member of society - despite having
> > a
> > > disability.  I've known a few severely
> > disabled
> > > folks
> > > who work at home doing Internet stuff.  Some
> > > may not
> > > make enough to come off SSI, but that's not
> > the
> > > point.
> > >  The point is to become a "giver" (or at
> > least
> > > "contributor") instead of a "taker" in this
> > > world.
> > >
> > > Getting off soapbox now,
> > > Jennifer  (who works with a stroke victim
> > who's
> > > similarly disabled)
> > >
> > > P.S.  You may be offended by the meaning of
> > > what I say
> > > (or not agree with it), but please don't be
> > so
> > > sensitive as to take offense to the exact
> > words
> > > I use.
> > > There's too much in this world to get upset
> > > about to
> > > let simple symantics and word choices bother
> > > you. IMHO
> > >
> > >
> > > --- "Cleveland, Kyle E."
> > > wrote:
> > > > Lot's of head-scratching going on right now
> > > from the
> > > > powers-that-be.  This
> > > > gives me a little time to come out from my
> > > "bumker",
> > > > dial-in and respond to
> > > > some emails:
> > > >
> > > > I've done a lttle research on the topic,
> > > though my
> > > > "sources" are not handy
> > > > right now.  Anyway, the vast majority of
> > > CPers are
> > > > either hemis or
> > > > diplegics, with "mild" CP.  This also
> > > translates to
> > > > most CPers working
> > > > full-time in either mainstream jobs, or
> > jobs
> > > > associated with disabiliies
> > > > (for example:  all of the office workers at
> > > my
> > > > physiatrist's university
> > > > clinic are disabled with some sort of motor
> > > > disorder, or they are amputees.
> > > >
> > >
> > > =====
> > > TTYL,
> > > Jennifer
> > >
> > >
> >
> __________________________________________________
> > > Do You Yahoo!?
> > > Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better
> > > http://health.yahoo.com
> > >
>
>
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