Topic : A WAY FOR THE DISABLED, AND DISADVANTAGED.

Some of you know me as djmatt or Nova.  I have been struggling with disabilities for a number of years, yet maintained a job until it was convenient for my employer, a multi-billion dollar corporation to cut the ties and hire someone with almost no experience in my place, verses my 17 years of experience in this business, and almost 20 years in management.

 

I have been posting on the Depression Message Board for some time, and then created the A Child's Voice Connection message board based on my convictions to fight child abuse.

 

This has all become complicate because I am in a dire financial situation at the moment because I have not been able to obtain employment for months because of my disabilities.  Although I worked in one type of business for years, I was at least comfortable to the point that I had the knowledge and ability to do this job, with much difficulty, but very successfully.

 

I know there are governmental resources available, and ways to make it through these situations, but as of right now we are hanging by a thread.  And I thought it would be a good idea to share my views, and hopefully others will share their views as well.

 

I will get into the specifics of where I have been, and try to find out if others have any ideas on where to go from here.  With failure to start my own business, I am scraping the bottom of the barrel. 

 

The real issue is that I have Been dealing with severe depression, and because of my illnesses, I cannot get my thoughts together to the point of getting my life back on track.  Depression is a major cause of concentration problems, along with motivation, energy, decision making, etc.

 

There is a way, and I intend to find a way before we lose everything.

 

I hope there are those who have some views and ideas that might be useful. 

 

More than this, I hope that through this, I can once again focus on my Child Abuse campaign, as well as help others with disabilities to find a way.

 

God bless

 

djmatt

 

Things are quiet tonight!  All over the message boards???

 

What did I miss?

 

Just wanted to say, I just don't understand that no matter how hard I try, I keep slipping  back into the depths of despair.

 

Let's try to make a positive of a negative.  Honestly, I had about 4 hours of energy and feeling better today.  Some days are better, some are worse. 

 

I don't understand this.  We eat a relatively healthy diet.  I take the meds.  I start doing things, getting things done around the house.  Then plan to do something productive in the shop, or whatever.  Then the energy level just drops.

 

It takes me several hours to get moving in the mornings.  Then this.  How can I expand the life of my energy and feeling good?  How can I plan or do anything with a life like this?

 

I don't have the energy or motivation to get out and do things.  The few hours I have, I try to do what I can around the house. 

 

Tomorrow's another day.  Maybe a better day lies ahead.  But I have got to get moving some how, or we will be moving out.

 

 

My situation has called for drastic measures, and although we are not out of the woods, yet, I am making slow and steady progress.

 

I will be posting some links to government sites and organizations that can help those who are disabled and disadvantaged.  Through my experiences, and my successes, although I have been a very low point in my life, I would like to see this board active.

 

We need to form a committee, or group with individuals with expertise in these matters, and ways to make it through difficult situations.  And If I can ever convince DR Phil to help those in desperate need, who have no hope for successes in their lives, I will put together a plan to help people who are disadvantaged to make a way.

 

I will be incorporating this into my web site, or building a new web site for assistance.  For now, I will continue to post here and on the Child Abuse message boards on ways to fight, to find the light at the end of the tunnel, and to be successful in life.

 

djmatt

http://woodworksga.tripod.com/achildsvoiceconnection.org/

Hello.  There are countless people in the world who suffer some type of disability or other.   Seems to be that there are more organizations available and more moral support for those who have "physical" disabilities.  Yes, there are programs for almost everything.  However, the programs are not available "across the board" and it is almost difficult for people who are on an invisible borderline to access these programs and benefit from them.

   For instance, I am legally and for all intents and purposes, deaf.  I can not hear a thing.  Hearing aids only amply noise for me, like a knock on a door, car horn, etc.  I have to concentrate extremely hard to lip-read and it is draining.  People just have no idea how mentally/physically draining it is to have to concentrate so hard to have a conversation.  And then they wonder why I am so tired all the time?  Someone like me, who lives in the middle of nowhere practically, is more isolated than a completely deaf person.  There are so many countless things for deaf people to do, etc.  Thing is, deaf people at an early age qualify for programs that integrate them into their life.  People who are severly hearing impaired, like me, are out of place with completely deaf people.  There is a cultural difference.  Hard to beleive isnt it?  We are stuck between the deaf people and the hearing people.   No real place to be and trying to/struggling to make it out there is hard.  Very hard.  Then, because some of us talk pretty well, most hearing people think we are lying when we tell them we are almost deaf and treat us as if we are trying to pull something.  It is hurtful.  Deaf people have a great network of other deaf people to talk to.  Hearing impaired people do not.  And yes, I know that deaf people feel that well, because hearing impaired people speak and move around in the hearing world our life is easier: it is not. It is fraught with misunderstandings and frustrations.  Because we have to deal with not only the issues in life, but also others misconceptions that cause the hearing impairment to be more of a disability than it should be.  People think because I am smart and always smiling that my life is so upbeat.  I try to have a positive outlook for life.  But, I keep running up against roadblocks (people) that are slowing sanding away my positive outlook and cheerfullness.   I am now at a point where I would like to just give up.  All my life, I have worked and tried to live a productive life.  But all this is wearing me down terribly.  Yes, the Lord has blessed me by not having to hear all the bickering going on all over the world, my husband's loud music (;-), but I know it is happening and it still affects us.  The body language, changes in the room, the putting up the hands to cover conversations that a whole group in your room can hear, people talking about you while you are in the room knowing you cant hear them (rude...you are still there)....the list goes on and on.   We have trouble getting jobs we qualify for or have the apptitude for.  We have trouble getting/giving correct information to doctors, administrators, etc. that closes or slows things down.  

   So,  I feel for everyone who has some type of disability. Just please, realize that being hearing impaired is disabling too.  You cant see it, but it is there.  It is one of the silent killers of hope and dreams, almost like cancer or lukemia.   It makes you want to retreat from life, become reclusive.  The internet is basically the only thing keeping me connected.  Thank the good Lord I like to read !

 

WELCOME TO MY BOARD, AND THANKS FOR VISITING.

 

This is what my campaign is all about!  I'm shocked and didn't realize the discrepancies in our system with deaf people.  I know this must be horrible to live with.  People take things for granted until they no longer have them.

 

With me, my depression and physical pains are also "silent disabilities" and I have struggled hard to survive with these issues.

 

It's sad that so many people can be so reckless, and I am guilty of that, but to not appreciate what others are going through.  You mentioned your husband's loud music; I played in bands for several years and started experiencing some hearing loss.  This was so stupid to allow myself to be exposed to such loud music and not appreciate the gift of hearing God gave to me.

 

My hearing is relatively good still, but there are many times I can understand where you are coming from.  Conversations that are at a distance, that most people would hear, or in the car sometimes, I cannot hear conversations and don't realize at times when people are speaking to me.  I'm not comparing myself to your situation by any means. 

 

Is your state of deafness recognized by any part of the medical community, or otherwise?  Does it have a name?

 

How long have you been at this stage of deafness??  And when did it start, if you don't mind my asking?

 

I am not a very good reader, so some posts that I read, I do not comprehend all the points sometimes.  Forgive me if I have overlooked anything.  I normally will come back later, when I am feeling better and read them again.

 

What do you think our society and medical community needs to do to help people in your situation?

 

God bless.

Hello.

 

What I have is called sensenoral nerve damage.    I have had it for about 32 years now.  It was noticed when I was in about the fifth grade in school. 

 

I think society, each community needs to be flooded with an awareness alert similar to all those cancer/wheelchair/lukemia tv commercials/ads they put on tv all the time.  Something to address the issues to everyone that each person is an individual issue, not to treat anyone deaf as if they are 'dumb' and if we can speak that it is a blessing, not a crime; that we are isolated, in terms of making human contacts and learning experiences and more prone to depressions; that there are similarities in needed services for the severly hearing impaired and the deaf and there are also different needs that need to be addressed.    There are at least 5 different levels:  born deaf, deaf later in life, severly hearing impaired at birth/later in life and then just hearing impaired.  There are different needs for all these and different capabilities.  Did you know that people born deaf qualify for all kinds of wonderful services but severly hearing impaired people don't?  That to get almost any kind of services, we usually have to become legal age and then practically blunder around looking for different things that we can access?  Especially when you do not live in a cosmopolitan area?  Training for rescue/medical/law enforcement is bad.  When the state requires training, they train a couple of top people who are to go back and train the rest of their people.  Well, lets say they do this...(or not, there is no follow-up to guarantee they do this), the turn-over rate of people in those professions practically guarantees that there is always still not going to be anyone really trained to work with hearing impaired/deaf people.  I have come across this repeatedly.  And also, how about this.....the department of vocational rehabilitation, who is in charge of working with hadicapped poeple of all handicaps, when a deaf person calls, a lot of times the person answering the phone has no patience to talk with hearing impaired people and keep hanging the phone up ! (unless it is the caseworker working with deaf people).  Aggravating.  And then, all these people and businesses you try to call and talk with???  They keep hanging up before you can two words in edgewise.  If you apply for a job (without listing you are deaf) and they like your application/skills and would like to hire you until they find out you are deaf?  People seriously need to be made more aware.  I was denied so many times in my life, things I should have been able to get/qualify for, that could have enriched my life more to the fullest...but society has let me down.  I am just so tired of pushing against the machine.

 

Let me stop now before I get totally carried away.  Thank you for your response.  I hope that in all my prattling, I answered the questions you ask !

 

Bless you !

 

Sorry I am just checking back.  Things have been very hectic.  I will take the time to read and digest your email.  I agree that we need to raise awareness on these invisible disabilites.  My life is shattered because of mine.  But I have faith, and believe there are anwers.

 

You can email me if you want at childsvoice@bellsouth.net

 

God bless,

 

djmatt

 

I have a disability that is hidden,a birth defect involving my feet and hearing loss due to child abuse from my mother.I've lived with these for 48 years.I agree that society in general is short sighted and outright cruel to disabled people,they are excempt from the new minimum wage increases,some labor standards that protect ablbodied people.However,I do not believe in focusing on "can't do's" but rather what I can do,if no oppertunity exists I will create one some way somehow,I am involved as an advocate for the disabled and mentally ill and I know full well what the road ahead has in store.Do not be discouraged,get involved,it won't be easy or fun but we will make a differance sooner or later.My best wishes to you .

Excellent.  We need to talk.

 

djmatt

 

RESCUE ME!

 

When two campers were in the wilderness, very strong and avid hikers and outdoors-men, came across a man, down the steep slopes of a drop-off, about 45 feet down, they went into a mode of rescue.

 

They could not tell if the man was dead or alive.  He had obviously slipped and fell, tumbling down the hill with jagged rocks and landed on a flat area with some brush and foliage.

 

The two campers gave up all of their plans, and without any communication to the outside world, and an hours walk back to the safety of their vehicles, which were parked at the Park Manager''s Office, they made a decision.

 

Man's natural instincts kick in when they see a fellow human being in trouble.  To try to make the trip back to get help may cost time and possibly this man's life, if he is still alive.  These two courageous men, knowing the ins and outs of mountain climbing, hiking, and skills of first aid; one is a paramedic, they knew it would take the two of them to reach this man without risking their own lives.  If one left to get help, and the other tried to reach the man, he would most likely die.

 

So they put their plan of action in motion, without hesitation, and geared up to make the forty foot descention, and rigged a lifting device by using their tent, ropes and other equipment.  The proceed to descend, using extreme caution, but with the adrenaline pumping through their bodies, they were able to execute the descention very swiftly.  The paramedic immediately assessed the condition of the victim, who was fortunately still alive, but unconscious. 

 

After a careful assessment, and trying to get the man to respond, they could tell he was in a semi-conscience state.  The two campers executed their rescue as planned, removed the victim from the trap of death, and to safe ground. 

 

The Paramedic worked with the victim while the other camper, wasting no time, headed out for help.  He made his way back to the parks manager's office, and reported the incident.  When rescue units arrived, they use  ATVs with a specially designed cart for such incidents.  The camper was able to ride with the rescue unit to direct them to the victim.

 

Adrenalin still pumping, they reached the victim, barely alive, but heard the commotion and sounds and opened his eyes long enough to see he was being rescued, and gave a brief smile through his face of excruciating pain.

 

The victim recovered, thanks to the heroic acts of these two individuals; who stated that they did not consider their selves heroes.  But they just did what any normal individual would do under the circumstances!

 

What a remarkable effort by these men, I perceive as heroes.

 

BUT WHAT ABOUT ME?  I HAVE FALLEN FROM THE EDGE OF THE CLIFF, AND LIE HELPLESSLY AT THE BOTTOM, WITH NO WAY OUT!

 

WHAT ABOUT ME?  I HAVE SEEN MANY ABLE BODIED INDIVIDUALS PASS ME BY, JUST TO LOOK AT ME AND SAY, "OH, HE WILL BE OK.  HE CAN TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF.  WE HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO."

 

WHAT ABOUT ME?  BEGGING FOR MONTHS ON END FOR A LITTLE ASSISTANCE FROM AT LEAST ONE HINDERED ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS, WHO ALL LOOK AT ME AND SAY, SORRY, THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO.

 

WHERE IS MY HERO?  WHERE ARE MY GOOD SAMARITANS?

 

WHY IS IT THAT WHEN SOMEONE IS IN TROUBLE IN THEIR OWN HOMES, NO ONE GIVES A DAMN?