Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Vixen From: Vixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Vixen) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Re: HELP WITH THE GOV'T Message-ID: <12526@bunker.UUCP> Date: 27 Jun 90 20:30:54 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP Reply-To: Vixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org Distribution: misc Organization: FidoNet node 1:203/11 - S.I.R.E.N. NET-MAIL, Sacramento CA Lines: 99 Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP Index Number: 8941 Hi, I had to laugh when I read that paragraph describing your job situation and your superiors wanting to "let you go" because you were hearing impaired and they therefore wanted you away from "hazardous noise levels." Now, I don't know all that much about your type of hearing loss, but I do know that when we lose our hearing to disease or infections et cetera, that "generally" we who have a significant hearing loss are far less likely to have problems with "hazard noise levels" than hearing people! I know that my ear surgeons have told me to go ahead and enjoy whatever I can hear. I have asked them outright, if my hearing aids are always up high as well as my ALDS, would that increase in sound do further damage, the answer was a resounding no! I also asked if going to loud rock concerts and sitting near the band and speakers could make me worse, answer no. In fact, the doctors say, if nothing else, my hearing loss has already given me a "natural" set of earplugs heheheh! My friends tell me that my aids and telephone amps are so loud, that it feels like screaming in "their" ears, but it doesn't bother me at all and sometimes I still don't quite hear words here and there. I would guess that your situation is much like mine in this regard. (You have natural ear plugs I mean!) Although, I am hearing impaired due to complicated Otosclerosis, I share the same problem as you concerning "Fluid" in my ears and a healthy dose of Tinnitus (as I mentioned to you in an an earlier post). Fortunately, I was able to get Medi-Cal when I was approved for SSI (Minor amount, my primary income is a Military pension) If you, as I do, have multiple health problems, it would seem like you should be able to get some kind of assistance. Although, it for sure, can be a pain in the backside getting it all started! I had to be persistant as all hell and I am legally blind and going deaf! (Not to even mention some other goodies heheh!) You must definitely definitely be the "Squeaking wheel!" I have learned the hard way, that the "Help" systems are designed to discourage clientele! When I cam home from the military, we began our little family ( I was married ) and though I generally do not share much about my life in service or my married life either here or anywhere else, I will tell you that I had problems getting "settled" , even after I had two children (relatively close to each other) and was just having a bad bad time trying to be a good stable parent and person. end result, I too understand what it is to lose those you love and I even lost custody of my two sweet children to my ex!! Without going into any detail, I can just share that I know what it is to be the person in a broken marriage who everyone thinbks is the stinker and abandons. I found when I came home from the military, I had no friends and when I couldn't adjust to being "suzy Homemaker" and the rest of my world fell apart, I had no friends again. I understand you, it is very hard. But, you do it day by day and you start rebuilding. At least, that is what I have done. I think that the only answer to all of these problems is wrapped up in a cliche', that is actually the truth! You only survive and get better by "hanging tough!" Anyway, enough of this. I just thought I would share a little bit since you seem to be feeling the "crunch" right now! The point is, you are not alone! My first piece of practical advice would be to compute what "your" actual income is and then call the Medi-Cal or Medic-Aid office in your area and see if your eligible for any assistance at all. The next thing to do, is probably to begin building your support systems (such as you have done by joining us all!). I have found that more aganecies I become involved, the more I keep finding out about services that I didn't even know existed for visually and hearing impaired people. Self help groups can be really great as well! The other thing I personally do is, socialize, socialize socialize! Finds things I like to do and do them, especially with other people! And keep staying here with us all! While there may be a jerk or two in these echos, for the most part, there are some pretty amazing and great people here and the friendship bond here can be amazingly strong between some of us!!!!! I am glad you found us Gary! So, keep hangin' tough and staying with us, when you hit the bottom there is only two things left to do, stay there or start the long climb up! Sometimes, people even throw ya' a ladder now and then! Keepin' the faith! . Vixen -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Vixen Internet: Vixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org