People make me MAD

[NerdaliciouS]

I guess I'm not even qualified to pump gas!
Everyone's always like "I had a job when I was 14!" "You're lazy! Get a job!"
...I've been TRYING since I was probably 14. And I'm STILL looking. I had an interview a while ago, as did a few other people, and now the same ad is posted again, asking for people to work.

First off, I know the economy is absolute sh*t right now. I'm fully aware of that. Secondly, I'm tired of being taken like I'm not capable of anything! I'm NOT stupid! I'm SORRY I can't stand 6+ hours at a time! There are people YOUNGER than me working at places like this... Why can't I? Oh, right, I forgot. I'm "handicapped"!? ...Lovely.

It's not even the fact I can't get hired. Okay, well, it slightly is. But the fact of the matter is I'm sick of how people treat not only me, but everyone else if they're different AT ALL!

Everything went FINE until I said "I can't stand long, I can arrange something to take care of that." But NOOOOOOO! Then comes the dirty looks and the panic stricken look of "oh... okay..." Then there was another one I COULD'VE had, because it was for people my age. The guy said I could easily do it. Then I brought that up and then the hesitation! Ohhh, the hesitation! "Oh...Well... You need to stand for 6 or more hours... It's a fast environment and there's no way you could lean against anything or anything like that..." Etc. ...It was a concession stand type deal... Where on earth can you run to?

So much for that. I understand there's people out there far more qualified than me for stuff, but this is just... FRUSTRATING!!! It makes me wanna kick people in the head and shove a sock down their throat!:mad:

Ugh! So freakin' annoying... So much for equality! ...But I knew that already. :arrgh:

*insert slew of cuss words here*

[sean]

I hated going for interviews for work. To tell or not to tell that was the question.
Get the job and wait til it's found out, or tell and wait for the rejection.
I generally didn't tell, and just dissapeared as soon as someone shared my incontinence.
Looking back I think it's better to be up front, tell all to employers. If your not suitable it's better to know from the get go and move on.
People telling you, get a job, your lazy, (peer presure) I bet these are people you protect from your health issues and have no clue of the labourious daily emotional physical labour you deal with every (24/7) day. Give yourself a break.
I appoint you as A Personal attendant and Advocate, a Care worker and part time Teacher for an international web site, SBC.

[NerdaliciouS]

I'm getting to the point I just don't want to tell them... And deal with it till I fall or something. Because, life may not be fair, but it's definately not fair! lol, people who shouldn't be working are, and everyone else gets left out in the cold. =/ I especially dislike places like Timmies (Canadians will know!), because most of the owners are east indian... And I'm not racist at all, and people around me know this, but they ONLY hire people who're of their race... And I'm sure it happens in other races too, it's just something I've observed. I could go on and on about racism and all that, won't, but that's something else that just drives me crazy. Nobody's given a chance. =/

I don't know why someone would do that to you, though. It's kind of just... Why? You're capable. MORE than capable, who cares if there's certain problems? I dunno, it's stupid to me.

Some of the people who tell me things like that know about it, but don't really understand the extent, I guess. I've told many people, stand up, bend your knees, and walk. It's not as easy as it sounds.

Oh well! You know the saying! "Bend but don't break."

Hahahaha, sorry, that actually made me smile. You are too! Wooo! We are awesome. I think we all are here. :)
:happy065:

[sean]

Nerdalcious, may I share a little Runic wisdom that gives me strength, take it or leave it.

"You must nourish yourself before you can nourish others"
you can not contribute, work, education, relationships, creatively until you are so full of yourself that you have excess to offer. Then it will happen naturally without pain and frustration. Meet your needs first!!!! stuff the rest.

"The reward of patience is patience"
If you can accept patience, work it, use it, be patient with it. It's a gift that will get you through anything in life. Breathe!

"I will, to will thy will"
Trust your will, your intuition. Believe in the great strength you know you have.

I think your fabulous. sean.

[NerdaliciouS]

I like reading that kind of stuff. :)

Thanks for that. It's all very true, and if you wrote it, you are more than fully aware of that. But it's good to know. So cool, thank you! :)

I think you're pretty nifty yourself.:dance2:

[rachiebaby]

I know EXACTLY how you feel I'm 21 and I've only had one job because of it

[LisaJoy]

Nerdalicious, this is why you've really GOT to go to college! The more qualifications you have, the greater the likelihood that someone will hire you regardless of your disability. Now, I'm not saying there won't still be some discrimination -- I just mean you'll be harder to ignore if you are highly qualified.

You should think in terms of a career that makes your disability irrelevant. I seem to recall you saying that you love books & libraries. How about librarian? Reference librarians have to stand a lot (in some positions), but catalogers need nothing but their graduate degree in library science, a computer, and their brains. The shelving/heavy lifting is done by underlings. Actually, that's a good illustration of the advantages of an education. In libraries (especially larger public and university libraries), the work done by people with degrees is for the most part "brain" work, where physical disabilities are irrelevant. Tasks that are done by people without degrees -- like shelving books -- are the ones that require standing, squatting, lifting.

Before I switched to full-time teaching, I was an archivist (sort of a librarian for historical documents & photographs). This involved dealing with 25-50 lb boxes of stuff, much of it on shelves over my head. But since I was the boss, it didn't matter. I had grad assistants and student workers whose jobs included moving heavy stuff for me.

In fact -- when you get your GED, consider putting in an application for a support staff job at a public library. Something like a cataloging assistant, or an acquisitions clerk.

I just want you to be aware that there are jobs that you can do that are not service industry jobs, where you are likely to encounter a lot of bias because, frankly, applicants are a dime a dozen. Shoot for the stars!

Sorry for the soapbox -- I'm an educator and I can't help it.

[NerdaliciouS]

I understand that I need an education, but in order for me to do anything, I DO need money. I'm not so keen on being in debt for the rest of my life with loans -- It's not happening.

I plan on becoming a psychologist, somehow. It doesn't involve much of that. I would've become something like a doctor or veterinarian, but, well, not happening. The library thing is interesting, though. I don't live too far from one now, there might be things available now, regardless of the disability. Even if I'm able to kneel a little bit while doing things, I'm usually fine. (I used to want to be an anthropologist... shhhh! History = love. Therefore, books = love, lol)

I think that would've been cool... Being an archivist. Just because, you KNOW what information there is and where it is and whatnot. That's one of the best things ever! No joke.

But people, regardless of anything should still be able to get jobs. There's people who're doing the work half-assed and they get no complaints, but people who're willing to work can't. It's just frustrating. I'm one of the few that would like to work... BEFORE I get to college or anything like that. I usually feel quite useless, and I know it sounds silly, especially the whole "working before you need to" thing, but it's just annoying. Did you do the library thing before or after you got some sort of education (college), though? I'm wondering if I have a chance at that now... lol Sorry to ask, I'm just curious on how other people have dealt with these situations and what's possible. I probably misread something and you already told me, lol.

And it's okay! :p I was told I could be a teacher of sorts. I'm sure I'm good at that too. xD

(...I just previewed this post and noticed I spelt "too" wrong... And it drove me crazy; think it's normal? :| )

[nolda]

Reading these posts over here I felt this is the problem even my daughter under goes. She is doing her English Literature. Gets bugged of studying all the while. Wants to do something but doesn't understand what to do. I feel my suggestions do not work as we are opposite in qualities. Finding job for a differently abled person is not that easy over here. Can anyone tell me what I can suggest her to do? To keep her busy otherwise and protect her from getting depressed.:sign0009:

[angel]

I understand that I need an education, but in order for me to do anything, I DO need money. I'm not so keen on being in debt for the rest of my life with loans -- It's not happening.


Spoken just like me when i was your age. Let me just be straight with you. There are grants out there. There is vocational rehabilitation that helps, look up an office in your area they will help if you are concidered disabled. They helped me go to school.
The truth of the matter is you DO need money HOWEVER you will never make much of it without an education! Debt is a part of life for the majority of people and it isn't such a bad thing when it is an investment in a career that will actually make you a good living and not just enough money to barely exhist on. A good job will come with a good education.

I feel like I am speaking to my own kids. My son has SBO and eventhough you can't tell by looking at him, hard manual labor isn't gonna work for him either. I have told him straight out he WILL get an education. I will help him out as long as he is in school and actually working tword soemthing. He quits I quit and he is on his own!

I would encourage you to rethink your position on this.

Angel

[NerdaliciouS]

I actually just found out about stuff like that before you replied, angel, lol. But you make a good point.

Sorry! And how you are with your son... Kind of reminds me of how my mom is with us, lol. It's actually kind of cool. :)

Butttttt again! Thank you for the replies... It's good to know that someone knows what to do and what's possible, etc. I was just uber irritated. It'd be nice to have a little bit of money to have. I'm saving for something, and it's not going so well. :( But yeah, I was irritated. Anddddd ranted. ...Again.:(

[angel]

We have all been where you are, we have all felt the frustration, and we have all ranted and raved. I think job hunting is the worst thing I have had to deal with ever. No one thought i could do the job and when i was given a job I would have to work circles around the others to be concidered equally productive. It is BS and that is all you can say about it! It is unfair, it makes no sense, and people have blinders on and refuse to take them off to see that the disabled community has much to offer.

When I got a "professional" position it was not even an issue. I was not counted differently, and was well paid. I am at a point now where I have to decide do I want to continue on this path (as of right now i would rather burn the corporate ladder than climb it) so I am doing some serious soul searching as of late.

Hard to decide what you want to be when you grow up :)

Angel

[Summer25]

I have only had one job that I started at 21. I am still there, but only because the owner knows that if he fires me, he will lose a lot of business...lol. I work for a wheelchair company. I have known the owner since I was 5 years old, so that is the other reason I have the job. I have my A.A. Degree through a community college thanks to vocational rehab paying for it. They have now dropped off paying a little, because I dropped out of the teaching program. I am now doing pre req classes for a health management A.S. program. If I can only get human anatomy 2 done this semester I would be good. Doesn't look like that will happen though. I made the stupid mistake of taking it online. Tried it with 1 too and failed it the first time. Should have learned my lesson...lol. Eventually you'll figure it out. It takes time.

[LisaJoy]

Nerdalicious,

My first job was delivering circulars (sticking advertisements on people's doors). Then I delivered newspapers from about 8th through 12th grades. In high school, I also had two other jobs -- one was scooping ice cream at Baskin Robbins. The other I got through a program at my high school called "Vocational Office Education." It was being a clerk/typist/gofer at a small college library. My parents made me take typing and an office skills class in high school because they said I could use those skills to help earn my way through college and I would always have something to fall back on. My dad said that if I could type, I'd never be unemployed. Now understand -- this was around 1980, before personal computers. I learned to type on an IBM Selectric! I know, you don't know what that is.

My parents were absolutely right. My first semester in college, I had a few temporary jobs before I landed the one that put me through school -- bank teller. (I lived with my parents in college, but otherwise paid my own way through school, from Bachelors to PhD). If you include graduate assistantships, I have been continuously employed since I was 12 years old, and I am now 45.

A lot of this was sheer dumb luck, plus the right person at the right time putting in a good word for me (for the high school & college jobs). For example, I landed the bank teller job because a guy I went to church with worked there and put in a good word for me with the boss.

Next time someone gives you a hard time about being unemployed, ask them to put in a good word for you where THEY work! Seriously -- don't hesitate to ask people you know if they know about openings and if they'll smooth the way for you. I think this is especially important for people with disabilities.

So, speaking as someone who paid her own way through school, I totally understand the need to earn money NOW. I wish you all the best!

[NerdaliciouS]

My first was a paper route, hahaha.

Anyway, thank you! Was having a bad day -_- I'm just gonna keep trying. :)
You guys rock, lol
:sign0008:

[LisaJoy]

Reading these posts over here I felt this is the problem even my daughter under goes. She is doing her English Literature. Gets bugged of studying all the while. Wants to do something but doesn't understand what to do. I feel my suggestions do not work as we are opposite in qualities. Finding job for a differently abled person is not that easy over here. Can anyone tell me what I can suggest her to do? To keep her busy otherwise and protect her from getting depressed.:sign0009:

Librarian? Technical writer? (career-wise)

In terms of right now -- how about volunteering? It is always possible to find people who are worse off than you. There's nothing like making a difference in someone's life to lift the spirits!

[Lifeisgood]

Editing and publishing.

[Gymp]

Hey Shiianne,what about doing something with your artwork/photography,there's good money to be made out there doing artwork.

My first job was pulling weeds out of a driveway,I was paid a puppy,named her princess,she was a fine dog (Black Labrador Retriever).I've done all kinds of work in my life,When I was a teenager I was a pool cleaner/dish washer at a motel,did some demolition work for a bit,worked on farms as a fruit picker/tractor driver.As an adult I was a bill collector for a while then did some sales,I even worked at a carpet steam cleaning place.I ended up going to night school to get my high school diploma and then did an apprenticeship to become a printer.I was a printer for many many years and really enjoyed it.I worked my way up that ladder and ended up managing the place but was forced into early retirement when the harrington rod in my back broke.

Throughout my life I've always done artwork and have been selling it since I was a teen.When I need extra cash to supplement my income I still draw and sell artwork and restore old photographs.Art is still a very important part of my life,I find it a great way to vent the frustrations of life.When I'm upset,angry or happy I pick up a pen and draw like the mad man I am.

Good Luck Shiianne

Gymp

[sean]

Thanks Gymp, I didn't want to be the first to mention alternatives to education and professionalism. I always made as much money as my professional partner, often more.
Just me!!! (I'm not anti education/professional) I just think precious youth can be waisted on chasing that piece of paper.
That was my experience of being amougst young stressed out, straight out of primary education straight into university and college, young folk.
When "I" chose to go to University at the age of 30ish, ready able and wanting.
My fellow young students, from my veiw were not there to learn, it was all about passable grades and pleasing the graders. It was all administration, you scratch my back I'll scratch yours, deadlines, aggregates, stroking the ego's of teachers and lecturers. Having any understanding of the subject, being the least important part.
I don't trust academic professionalism and my life experience with 'professionals' suggests I'm right not to. Knowlege is no longer exclusive to a few.

excuse me, to be continued

[sean]

I'm sorry but I don't, no offence, gee should't have said that, how can some of you 'not ' take that personally, I don't know you individually and am thinking generally.
It's just that I think it's abusive to institutionalise youth, precious time reading about life when you could be living it. Academic education is available at any age these days.
Youthfull health, energy, exploration and wonderment is only available in your youth.
In my ideal world there would be a few years primary education, another few years secondary then tertiary education would begin from age 25.
In between you'd be learning all about yourself, the people and world around you.

Nerdalicious, to me you sound so aware, vibrant and creative now! I see so many options and opportunities for you, indeed education is an option. There are many paths for you to take, photographer, writer, artist, self enterprise/ your own business.
Knowing what you want, feeling passion for something, truely only happens with maturity and knowing yourself fully. You can live vicariously through the expectations of those around you, until the day you wake up to your 'self'
I think youth is no time for anything serious, but hey! that's me.
I may be the only person to see being a couch potatoe as a positive exercise.

[NerdaliciouS]

Ooooooh, labs are my favourite. :) That sounds like a good payment, lol. You sure did alot, though. I read that and my eyes almost popped out of my head.

It's hard to get alot of those jobs now. I remember picking (BLUE!!) potatoes one year in AB; twas good money. Can't really find that anymore, it's all machines doing it. Technology is taking over everything, soon they won't need people to work at all! :2aa:

Also, Gymp, you're a pretty amazing artist from what I've seen. And everyone's always told me that being called an "artist" is the biggest accomplishment you could ever make. Sure, there are painters and musicians, but true artists are hard to come across!

How does one go about selling artwork, anyhow? :sign0007:


And, sean, it's rather disgusting if you step back and look at it. My generation is dubbed "the dumb generation". I haven't learnt anything new in school since probably 5th grade. I mean, math gets more complex (I also suck at math), but everything else basically stays the same. In 11th grade, we had to draw, label, AND COLOUR a map of Canada. ...We've been doing that since... 2nd grade? Give or take. Now they're shoving things down the younger kids throats, they don't want them to be like us. My sister is getting work I can't even help her with - I was never taught it. I mean, I'm sure I could figure it out, but half the time I don't even know what I'm looking at. :|

In 7th grade I got a teacher who absolutely despised me. If there was work where you had to copy from the board or something, so everyone's answers were the same; mine would get marked lower. Why? I don't know. Alot of people really don't want to learn, they just want a job and will be willing to do anything they need to in order to get it - I believe I'd be included in that. However, I do like to learn, I just don't know if school's really going to do that. (It would help alot of things, though.) And teachers (from what I've had), really don't like when you correct them. I didn't try to do it purposely, but if something's far from what it's supposed to be... Yeah, I will say something.

Anyway, I kind of just branched off into my own thing right there. But the majority of people don't care about the ones who're there to "learn". They just want a paycheck, like everybody else. ...And without that piece of paper, we're nothing in most peoples eyes. It doesn't matter if I can spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious or not, without that stupid piece of paper, I am worthless... In that area anyway.

[NerdaliciouS]

Oy, numero dos!

They say HS is supposed to be the best four years of your life, you gain friends and blah blah blah. But I think it actually kills people inside.

We all were forced to figure out what we wanted to do, if we couldn't we were failures (okay, that's how I took it). I had to make something up in order to pass a stupid class. But it can kill somebody inside. It gives you the mindset that there's only one option in life and you either do it or you lose it.

I think people should learn basic things. But everyone - including myself, has always said that learning by experiencing is better than any book you could ever read. I mean, don't get me wrong, I actually enjoy history and reading and all that jazz. But you go from that to the real world... And it's not the same at all. Well, some aspects, but it doesn't really prepare you for anything. Or it didn't for me anyway.

School will brainwash you. And I'm not trying to be offensive, but it will. You have to do this, this and this or you'll never succeed. Even if something's wrong and they say it's right... They're right, you're wrong. It KILLS! -_-

EDIT: And you can't live your life for somebody else. It doesn't work, because I've tried. I know what I've always wanted to do, and I do have a dream, although it's a little crazy, and probably won't happen. Haha, sean's an inspiration! Very intriguing guy, you are. :p

[LisaJoy]

Academic education is available at any age these days.
Youthfull health, energy, exploration and wonderment is only available in your youth. In my ideal world there would be a few years primary education, another few years secondary then tertiary education would begin from age 25. In between you'd be learning all about yourself, the people and world around you.



Sean, I've been saying this for years. The vast majority of my "traditional" students (18-22) would be better off doing something else first and then going to college. My best students have usually been people over 25 and veterans (ie, people who've served in the military and are now going to school on veterans benefits, called the GI Bill in the US). One of the things I like about teaching at a large public university is the diversity of students and the fact that I have a lot of non-traditional students. I've also taught a class here and there for the elite private university up the road. They have all traditional-age students who are extremely bright (most come from privileged backgrounds), but I really have more fun at my school and feel like I make more of a difference. The kids up the road have everything going for them and will likely succeed no matter who's teaching them. Many of the students at my school have and are having to overcome major obstacles to get an education.

[LisaJoy]

Nerdalicious, I'd have to agree with you about high school. I hated it. It was boring and I didn't have any friends (partly my fault). But when I got to college, I loved it, especially after I got the basics out of the way. The higher the level of the class, the better I liked it -- in large part because I got to choose what I wanted to study. Through my last two years in college and the 7 years I went to graduate school (not all at once), I never took a class that I didn't truly enjoy. Now, granted, I was very impractical -- my undergraduate degree is in English literature and my graduate degrees are in Library Science and History. No way will I ever get rich doing that. And (Sean) I'm quite sure that the guy who cuts my grass (and owns a lawn maintenance business) makes more money than I do, although he's not going to get rich either. But guess what? We both really like what we do and make enough money to meet our needs. That's pretty much all that counts. And it doesn't have to be the same thing your whole life -- nothing wrong with changing directions every once and a while. I changed from an administrative position with teaching responsibilities to full-time teaching a year ago. Took a 20% pay cut to do it. But it has been wonderful! The lawn guy actually has a computer science degree -- ditched programming computers to cut grass, and is just as happy as he can be.

[Gymp]

How does one go about selling artwork, anyhow?

You hustle,hustle,hustle,and you gotta believe in yourself too!
I joined a bunch of art associations and when they had art shows I submitted my stuff.If a certain art show didn't accept /want my stuff,who cares,there's plenty more art shows,I kept plugging away at it.Get the stuff out there to as many places as you can so that PEOPLE can see it.Basically it's word of mouth and before you know it people come to you and ask how much would you charge for...?????All the while you're practicing,practicing,practicing,honing your skill.It isn't easy either sometimes you'll get a commission to do something and then you draw a blank and the deadline looms.Then at the last minute the idea's there and you go for it working all night ,getting it done just in time.
Phew....I'm glad it's not like that anymore,I now pick and choose what I want to do and do it for my satisfaction.It's when I want the extra dosh then I do what they want ie:business cards,letterheads,logos,
photo restorations.We ain't rich but we have a comfortable life financially(the wife and I).We can pick up and go whenever and where ever we want but I'm content to stay at home and get my hands dirty in the back yard in my garden.

I too hated high school the only class I ever showed up for was art class. I dropped out a few times and my last attempt at high school they actually let me take grades 10,11 and 12 art all at the same time,no math no english no science just art.(although I had to sign a contract saying if I missed a class I'd be gone for good) I worked hard and I ended up getting the highest marks for art in the school.They then offered me a scholarship to attend an art college but as fate would have it I ended up dropping out the last week of school and never looked back.In hindsight though I really wished I would have had a go at that art college,who knows?

I did get my grade 12 a few years later though as I mentioned earlier and the only reason for that was printing took my interest and in order to be a printer I had to have that grade 12 diploma for the apprentiseship.

Alright I've babbled on long enough.......

Shiianne,you've mentioned you know what you've always wanted to do and that dream.....well do it!!! You're young now and before you know it you will be old and it'll have been crazier if didn't follow that dream.
GO FOR IT !!!!!!!! The world waits for no one!

Gymp

[sean]

Wow, me too, I think about 3rd/4th grade I corrected a teacher a couple of times.
I'll never forget it, 1. Ireland is part of Great Brittan/england. I can see myself, "no it isn't" ( I was still in my "miracle chid" phase, I must have been so obnoxious)
2. You'll never see a double k in any word. " what about Quakka" ( a small marsupial that lives on an island of the coast) This teacher didn't like me at all, there was a bit of drama about me, don't know if I was disciplined, can't remember, but for the rest of my time there, I very much took a back seat, mouth closed.
Still don't know if it's arrogance or was I smarter than any of my teachers, as I felt.
As I've mentioned before, don't know how I got through the first ten years of schooling, obviously making the grades and passing. My high school cert' healthy averages, better in english and art. I can't remember the school work, vaguely, I was there I can remember reading some stuff and writting some stuff, doing some tests.
I can look back and see (particularly high school) I somehow knew, but unaware at the time that school for me was a big bogus baby sitting institution. The fact that I passed everything suggests bogus to me. I did nothing, no home work, read my first novel in my 20's, I wagged a rediculous amount time from highschool, I was never there. Or obviously just enough. Primary and high school were insanely boring painfully stressfull times for me.
Dalicious, as lisa says, university/college totally different, fantastic by comparison.
There's still a lot of crap, but in Uni' you don't have to put up with crap. You will be heard, your opinion counts, every bit of work and effort you put in is recognised and accounted for. (oprahism) Validation! you get that at university, it's awsome!!!!
Lecturers and teachers really appreciate genuine (passion) for learning so I think you would blitz any further education. Believe me the worst is over.

[LisaJoy]

Lecturers and teachers really appreciate genuine (passion) for learning so I think you would blitz any further education. Believe me the worst is over.

That is so true!

[Gymp]

Dalicious, as lisa says, university/college totally different, fantastic by comparison.
There's still a lot of crap, but in Uni' you don't have to put up with crap. You will be heard, your opinion counts, every bit of work and effort you put in is recognised and accounted for. (oprahism) Validation! you get that at university, it's awsome!!!!
Lecturers and teachers really appreciate genuine (passion) for learning so I think you would blitz any further education. Believe me the worst is over.

I have to really agree with this too.To get my H.S. diploma at night school,it took place in a community college.The teachers there were really different it seemed as though they had a genuine interest in teaching you,the atmosphere was totally different and I really enjoyed going.

Gymp

[alyssandrews]

firstly, i completely understand your frustrations with job hunting. after years of people saying ignorant things, i have grown to be very anxious even thinking about the job search. but at the end of the day, you have to sell yourself. in interviews, focus less on what you're unable to do, and focus more on what makes you more reliable for the job than most. i think you should tell them, upfront about the things that you'll need accommodations for, but reinforce your determination about having the job by giving them more reasons to want to hire you. show them what makes you better than the rest, don't let yourself sound like any lesser of a candidate than anyone else. sure you have a disability, but explain to them your work ethic and desire to not allow it to affect your job.

and secondly, if you are interested in college (which you should really consider) money will always be an issue, but vocational services will recognize your disability as being one that enforces your need for education to provide for yourself in the future, and will help immensely to help with the costs of tuition, transportation, and/or living expenses.

[Midnightsangel27]

for entry level data or file clerk jobs? Or even a entry level reception position?

I had the same issue until I got the ONE interview where someone would give me a chance with no experience. And those jobs only require you to stand long enough to file a few papers.

I am now a CPA...and I can tell you the best thing that happened to me was that first entry level, crap reception job.

Keep your head up luv. Just keep trying. You may also want to think about taking a "interpersonal" or "proofreading" one day seminar...just to get a certificate to get you that extra boost.

:happy065::happy065::happy065:

[angel]

I gotta agree i got my first job (after years of looking and no one taking me seriously) at the animal shelter i had volunteered at. I had been there so long i knew the ropes and everything about every job in the place. I got hired as just the girl to answer the phones but left that place the office manager. I never had an issue with not being able to do any job i had issues with people who THOUGHT i couldn't do the job. Everytime i showed them they were wrong :) Keep trying!

Angel

[NerdaliciouS]

Thanks for the suggestions! :) I did really try for pretty much everything, though. Literally. Anything and everything, even things I wasn't experienced to do I applied for - no dice. I know a lot of it is economy unfortunately. The city I'm in has a 10 (possibly more)% unemployment rate, so I know it's just not me being cut out.

After being on this site for a while, though. I finally had enough, dare I say, courage? to be able to get into a vocational program. I started babysitting otherwise, 11-12 hours a day; recently quit that for bad reasons on their part, though (their loss! My services do not come free! lol). But the vocational thing is really helping. And I won't know till April, but if things go through, I'll be doing a home-care type thing which would actually be really good, lol. I'm also saving up to go through a piercing program (something I'm very passionate about) to see about getting hired. It definitely wouldn't be much money, but hey, something is better than nothing.

But so far, vocational, pwd for backup so I get my insurance in check (for this March anyway! Kind of sad I had to go on it, but I need health care.) and I'm ALLLLLLLLMOST done school! Then I'm moving on to university so I'll have better chances with the job search, lol. I've changed my life quite a bit since I posted this thread. :)

I still really enjoy hearing your guys' success stories, though!:11a::happy065:

[vnmaria]

How about jobs that you must keep sitting down?

I understand what you mean. People who are disabled must work harder and perform better to look as valueable to an employer. Not fair but true.

When my daughter was a teen, her first part time job was typing school material worksheets for teachers in the back room. In the 1990s when they used typewriters, they needed very fast and near perfect typing. She got the job because she typed the fastest and most accurate among the job seekers. If she was just so so and about the same good as the others, I am sure she would not get the job because I know employers already give her minus points for lack of walking gracefully. It makes sense because sometimes when they need carrying or sending those typed papers to classrooms in a hurry, they cannot depend on her.

After that, she worked doing bookkeeping.

[Liznjohn]

All of this reminds me of an experience I had in Podiatric Medical School. We sat in an auditorium along with osteopathic medical students in a class of about 300 students. We were all in our 2nd year. We had a clinical professor discussing "spina bifida" where the lecture led to all the problems that arise as a result of this problem and the hopelessness the condition causes.

The professor lectured about the severe mental and physical disabilities the child will have and the strain it has on families. Among the points of the lecture was the fact that the child will never be "able" to do much of anything and have hardly no "quality of life". In the end, the lecturer emphasized the usefulness of pregnancy termination as one of the only options that the mother really has as a "treatment" for this problem.

At the end of the lecture, the class began to file out of the room and a young second year medical student slowly moved toward the lecturer. He moved slowly as the heavy books in his book bag slowed him down as he needed to walk with support canes. The student smiled at the lecturer cordially and said "boy am I glad you weren't my mother's obstetrician" and left the room.

I can't remember his name. All I can recall is that he has spina bifida and was a top ten graduate. It is my understanding he is a psychiatrist in the midwest. Everyone respected him and I recall he was physically and mentally tough. The lecture meant nothing to him and he told me that he was going to do whatever he wanted to do and refused to let anyone "define" him.

Just thought I share.

John

[Kent T]

Indeed, my mom got that all the time. Good thing she told them to shut up. I have done everything the doctors told her I couldn't do. And much more including being very degreed and being in broadcast engineering. And I still laugh at them even now. And glad my mom was a firm advocate. :) I am who I am, no biped's preconceived notions get in my way, or my wife and adopted sons with SB's way. Either you're 100% with us or not.

[susieatmg]

I just want to encourage whomever is reading this that you really can do almost anything you set your mind to......my daughters neuro surgeon has SB. She is an awesome kind lady (not to mention really really smart lol). She is the first woman to chair a department of that kind (Pediatric Neurosurgery) and has an undergrad from Yale and Medical degree from Columbia. Despite her stellar background and awesome recommendations another main reason I chose her is because my daughter will see with her own two little eyes that she can be anything she sets her mind to......and if you read this and think this doctor has SB but no physical challenges you would be dead wrong. So I guess what I want to say is go for your dream and don't be held back, if you want to be a doctor, be a doctor, if you want to be a vet, be a vet, if you want to go to law school try to go, if you want to be an author be an author. But life is too short to do something you don't love- go for it. I realize this is easier said than done, but I have seen my daughters strength and her determination and I know she is strong and I know you all are to......reach for the stars.

[Dodger67]

I know about Karin Muraszko by reputation only and I must say she is one seriously impressive lady!
I actually started an article about her on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karin_Muraszko
If you have any useful information about her that I can use in the article please point it out to me - material such as news reports etc are good sources for writing Wikipedia articles.

[susieatmg]

I really don't......:( She is such a fantastic caring person, hard to believe she is such a talented neuro surgeon......