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Hi,
I thought I would post my story regarding SSI and being a college student at the same time. I've tried to apply for many,many,many part time jobs during college and have been flat-out denied or rejected because of my hearing loss. Mind you, I have good speaking/oral skills and a CI, but they still didn't want me because I couldn't use the phone.
The way their logic works is this-- they have a stack full of interviews-- say five-- four are hearing, don't need accommodated, one is deaf, needs accommodated-who are they going to go for? The easy one. Now, this is not to say all places do this, but many do.
Most part time jobs (that I've found) require phone skills. Even the child care I worked at was hesistant to hire me- but a teacher found out about me and told them she'd "take me on" as if I was a challenge. She was acting in pity, perhaps, but three months later I got "Employee of the Month" so it was basically a "pbbffllttt" to the staff who doubted me.
In any case, it is hard to find a part time job. Waiter? No, can't do that. Phone/secretary? No. Child care? "But what if the fire alarm goes off?" Etc etc... so my mom told me about SSI and I figured I would take advantage of it and get through college. I'm in college for a reason- to become a teacher- and don't plan to be reliant on SSI- not that I could anyway. But it saves me the hassle from applying to a thousand places and I can concentrate on my work.
I read about the sailing team thing- now THAT is pitiful- but in cases like mine or someone who needs the healthcare, I think SSI is a viable option.
As for the 60% "low functioning".. I think they are referring to reading and writing skills.. not sure on that. From what I know, from studying deaf history, literacy rates are low amongst the deaf/Deaf.
They're referring to a bit more than that; I did some research. According to this site: it can mean a number of things like miminal language skills (below 2nd grade; average is said to be 4th grade level), you're low functioning if you come from a ethinic minority like if you're from a Chinese American family that doesn't speak English, you come from a poor family, if you were born in a different country and your family never learned English, lack of access to appropriate education, if you have drug or booze problems, if you come from a poor part of the city or live in a very rural and remote area. If you have secondary disablities, you could be considered low functioning deaf.
In practice, it usually means someone who has no speech skills and below 2nd grade reading level; I've never heard the hearing refer to deaf as low functioning if they have excellent speech skill despite below second grade level reading skill. I've never heard anyone deaf referred to as low functioning if they have substance problems.
You don't strike me as low functioning. I know some deaf who have been on SSI and most of them do not fit this description; I do know some who could be considered low functioning.