Please help me! Scared and confused!

Greg, have you contacted ALDA or HLAA? I think contacting those orginzations would help you a lot.
 
I understand what Greg is feeling when it comes to "being somewhere between hearing and deaf". I have no idea what its like to be fully hearing, but at the same time I have no idea what it's like to be completely deaf either. I am profoundly deaf in left ear and HOH in my right. I can hear some sounds, enjoy music, have conversations, etc.

But at the same time I need accommodations such as texting versus talking over the phone, I can't understand words being spoken in a dark room as I cannot speech read in that sort of environment.

I was raised completely mainstream, I've just now started to learn ASL using web chat with my deaf friends which is helping. I hope to be fluent in a couple of years in addition to Spanish and French, and the little bit of German and Swedish that I know.
 
kcfan...hug your dog! He loves you unconditionally. :cool2:

Then, go to all the Services listed in this thread. Exhaust whatever resources exist in your area.

Do some research online and find Deaf meetings in yor area. Go! Mingle! Make some friends! :) Make some networking friends too.

And if you don't currently have a church, find one that fits you and get to know some people there.

It is always possible that you could make some friends now who could be excellent contacts for employment prospects.

I'll be keeping you in my thoughts. :)
 
Greg, I can see that you are in a tight bind. You have been working for many years, paying your social security. Now it is time for withdrawals in form of SSDI. That will help you keep things afloat. I hope you will find some support in your church and your minister. You might want to learn sign language - just google online for a local deaf club. It is the cheapest and best way to pick up sign language. Don't forget to network to find a job in accounting. Back in college, I knew many deaf people go into accouting. I am sure you will find a job in your field that doesn't required calling on phone. Year 2009 is a bad one for all of us. I hope Year 2010 will be much better. Hang on and don't let depression push you down. Push the depression aside. Make a list of what you need to do and do it!

Plus, You have us for company.
 
Bebonang said:
Berry, he had worked in the insurance agent in his company, so he can applied for a SSDI (Social Security Disability Income). SSI is for people who has never work in their lives or held a job before. That is the difference.

kcfan, like Shel90 said that you have a lot on your plate with finding a job, trying to support your wife and family and dealing with your hearing loss. That is stress which take a lot out of you. I am sorry that happen to you like this. Rehabilitation services in the DVR (Division Vocational Rehabilitation) will help you deal with your deafness and also help you find work or job. Maybe you can try getting some help in counseling for yourself and possibly with your wife to discuss why you are having a hard time with this. I don't care what Russian women do in Russia, but this is America and you need help. This is important to try to bring up from your low self esteem to being positive self esteem. Depression is a very serious thing, which you should not think about having suicide your thoughts. I wished that you are happy and not have to suffer this trauma. You are welcome to come here whenever you have a problem. :cool2:
Click to expand...

:gpost:

I did not realize there is a difference between SSI and SSDI. Actually I don't remember anyone every saying SSDI before.

Thank you :ty:
 
Berry said:
:gpost:

I did not realize there is a difference between SSI and SSDI. Actually I don't remember anyone every saying SSDI before.

Thank you :ty:
Click to expand...

:aw: You are very welcome. You just have to learn about what we, Deafies, and other disability people used to earn their income when they either have worked before or never worked at all. Keep on learning. It is never too old to learn. :lol:
 
Shel's first post is the best advice. Find yourself any job. Don't be too proud just because you have an advanced education, or a good previous job. What's really important is that you get back to work and start feeling like you are accomplishing something. Getting SDSI isn't going to make you feel better about yourself. You are able bodied and capable of working many jobs, even if they don't pay well.

And I agree that you're wife needs to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. She needs to get rid of her different cultural views and support you as a wife and life partner, assuming you show her the same kind of support.
 
OP made that one post, left immediately after, never yet returned. I find that confusing.
 
Knowing you wife is from Russia explain why she is losing respect for you. My dad was from Russia and people from Russia have very little respect for handicap people! This is your wife handicap and she need to get over it if she really love you! She is only adding more stress to you and that is not going to help you find work. Can you get SSI or some umemployment checks to help out so this help take some stress of you and your family? I hope you can get some help real soon.
 
Cultural thing or not, if his wife has a superiority complex over handicapped people, then she needs to get over it. It's not a 'Russian' thing it's just arrogance and finding some sort of satisfaction in being able to belittle someone. This is the United States, all people have equal rights here.

Now, if he tucks his tail and obtains SSI instead of doing what he knows he can do - get a job - then he is only telling himself he can't do it.

Believe me working in a chicken plant or at Walmart wasn't my first choices but it's what I had to do to make sure my bills were getting paid and to keep my sanity. I couldn't stand sitting at home all day every day.

For now he can try to get a job at Walmart and once he gets that, put a good year in, then he can start looking at prospects he might enjoy more. He's proving he can find and keep a job and he won't just quit out of the blue then come whining back 2 weeks later because he quit without having another job in place. I didn't quit walmart until I had secured a job at Tyson. Also in this current job market, you may have to reapply at some places more than once. Just keep going back and look determined.

If you can work a piddly job and stick with it, employers from bigger and better places are going to notice and you'll find that job your looking for. You just have to work at it. It's not overnight magic.
 
Wow! Your post reminds me of feeling "stuck" between two worlds. I can only tell you my experience: SINCE you are a Christian, I would put that "first." That "seek ye first the Kingdom" stuff has helped me PRIORITIZE things. Sure: many, many things are important--religion, marriage, family, job, self-image, changes in hearing, changes in communication, etc. Sometimes I get everything all jumbled up in my mind, and then I have to stop and just TAKE A DEEP BREATH and just think about one thing at a time. Easier said than done. MUCH easier. My Deaf Church and pastor have been very supportive. And I found a HOH Christian psychologist who signs who is helping me--oh, "find myself" (again) as a Deaf/HH person. Kind of like going through an identity crisis or something. PLEASE be patient, but I mean especially with YOURSELF. You are changing and you will have more settled feelings later on.
 
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