Getting Back To Work...Pt 3

Hey everybody! This is the 3rd and last installment to the Getting Back To Work series and in this one I'm just going to share my thoughts on what happened with the entire process.

So, the Ticket to Work Program referred me to the local Vocational Rehabilitation services to speak

with benefits, counselor to answer my questions. The wait was about 48 hours before I was contacted by someone. When I was called the woman asked me a series of questions I was pretty sure she should have already known the answers seeing that my referral stated all she needed. If that wasn't weird enough as the call continued and I answered all the questions that were asked. I was then told that before I could get any of the questions I had answered I had to sign release forms. Yes, you saw that right in order to ask questions I needed to sign release forms. I never in my life heard of that. I mean it wasn't like my questions were "top secret", or "confidential". I was in complete SHOCK!

I was then told, that the release forms would be mailed to me and upon receiving them I should sign and send them back. Upon receipt, it would take about 7 to 14 days before someone contacted me just to answer my questions. At this point, I'm thinking to myself this is ridiculous!! I only had a few days to confirm everything so that I could begin training and work the following week. A few days went by and I received a packet in the mail with the release forms and a big red book. By the time this came, I had already decided not to take the job with Amazon because I wouldn't have anything confirmed by my start date as I hoped. After, opening the packet and reading the Big Red Book (a reference guide basically explaining disability, employment, and if and how it may affect your disability benefits) I got all my questions answered.

Ok, seeing that the Big Red Book answered my questions there was no need in filling out release forms just for them to answer simple questions. In all honesty, I find the process they have us go through is pointless especially if we just want answers to simple questions about being disabled and employed. I mean isn't that the whole point of the resources so that we can live and become productive citizens of society without benefits??

It's absolutely crazy but I've said it before I'll say it again the resources that they say are to help us only hinder us because of all the hoops we have to jump through and red tape we have to cross.

Educate. Raise Awareness. LIVE.