I am Deaf and legally blind. To many people, I'm a blind person even though I am not totally blind. Well, I am not on SSI or SSDI. Surprised, huh?
I work full time at the Industries of the Blind (IOB) for almost two years plus one year working part time at the IOB.
I grew up as a foster child therefore the government paid all of my living costs and medical expenses. If I was legally adopted, I would be no longer on SSI and Medicaid. Don't get on my case thinking I can't work because of my deafness and blindness. I was only a child who was taken away from my biological parents by the Department of Social Services.
I was on SSI while I was a Gallaudet University student because of my income. I did not have a job in Washington, DC. The Division Services for the Blind paid all of my college tuition, textbooks, meals, and boarding. I was qualified for the benefits due to my status as a foster child.
I worked various part-time jobs while I was in high school even though I was on SSI and Medicaid to support all of my living costs and medical expenses. I worked part time jobs because I need money of my own and need to develop job experience. I did NOT pocket anything from the SSI money because all of it was to support my foster family with the living costs of taking care of me. My foster parents stopped giving me monthly allowance because they told me to get a job by the time I turned 16 years old.
I have not been on SSI for a very long time. I was never on SSDI because they said I am not qualified for this type of benefit. I'm still paying for the SSI overpayment because of screwing up with my records. It's a long story and it's NOT even my fault. I owed them over $5,700 and I am way ahead on schedule paying off the debt. I now owe them at least $3,400 and am targeting to pay it off by January or February. I paid the SSA over $2,000 since March and that's why I am way ahead on schedule. I have a good paying job therefore I am able to straighten the mess with my SSA records.
What do I think of d-Deaf people who go on SSI or SSDI? I think they are lazy, unsecure, and uneducated. I have seen many d-Deaf people who are perfectly capable of working but yet they go on SSI and SSDI. They would come up with all sorts of excuses, such as "They won't hire me because I'm deaf," "I want to stay at home," "I can't find a job that I like," "I have a bad back," and many more.
Excuses such as medical problems are sometimes phony. Why? Because some d-Deaf people can pretend they have bad back injury or can't work because of communication problems. That kind of excuse really stinks. I think SSDI should be funded to those who ACTUALLY have serious medical conditions, such as heart problems, severe asthma, emphysema (sp?), cancer, etc. But back injury, knee injury, etc? Come on, you've got to be kidding. There are still jobs that don't require the use of limbs! I am talking about those who do NOT have serious health issues that they should be allowed to have SSDI.
As for SSI, they are excellent for foster children, college students (depending on the family income and general situation), and for those who live in towns that are in recession, have bad economy, or highest unemployment rate. Nothing else, not even for deafness reasons. Period.
I live alone for almost 2 years and pay all the household bills and monthly rent without the help of roommates. I have asked several Deafies to be my roommates because I know they are having financial problems or can't afford to live on their own. Guess what they said? They said "No thanks, I prefer to live rent-free with my parents (or family)." Well, how did I feel? I felt as if I was being slapped on the face. I work very hard for 3 years to make decent money because I'm on piece rate. When I work hard and fast, I make a lot of money than I can get for regular hourly wage pay. My employer also provides me with excellent benefits. There is no need for Medicaid or SSI, anyway.
I plan on returning to college to finish what I left off 8 years ago because it's wise for me to have a college degree if something happens to my current employment. It's not easy for Deaf-Blind people to find jobs or to be hired by people who are accepting of their deafness and blindness as in two in one. I am thinking about continuing to work full time at the IOB and attending college part-time in the future. I prefer to wait until I get my fiance to settle down as he moves here to live with me after we get married next year. Then when I finish paying off the SSI debt, finish getting my husband-to-be settled down, and have him find a job, I'm going to apply for University of North Carolina at Greensboro right away. UNC-G is only right on the street where I live, within a walking distance from where I live.
Whenever I meet a Deafie, he/she or I would ask one another if one of us has a job. I would say I have a job and am not on SSI. Then I could sense embarrassment from a Deafie because this person is unemployed and is on SSI. I'm Deaf-legally blind and have a full time job. No SSDI or SSI. This definitely explains the humiliaton.
Why...I feel soooo GOOD with plenty of $$ in my pocket. My pocket rarely burns by the time I get my next paycheck.
Best of all, being Deaf-legaly blind gives me a biggest advantage. I don't own a car. Owning a car only makes a person poorer.
I'm smart...I actually want to maybe be a women's studies professor someday but, as of right now I need assistance!
