Most of all: No counselor has the right to say someone is unsalvageable and is not worth any effort or money to help that person achieve his or her maximum potential. [The prepared statement of Catherine E. Marshall follows:] October 24, 1988 Regional Congressional Hearing Many people assume or believe that handicapped people are content to live their lives at the expense of the government; happy to have few responsibilities; lucky not to have to work for a living. This is a fallacy ... most of us are NOT content; NOT happy; and definitely NOT lucky. Most of us want and need something constructive to do, the satisfaction of financial independence, to live as normally as possible. Unfortunately, it is not our bodies that prevent us from achieving our goals, but rather, the inadequacy of society and the governmental agencies that fail to make it possible for thousands of handicapped people to become taxpayers instead of taxtakers, to achieve our maximum potential. Most handicapped people who want an education or a job must deal with Vocational Rehabilitation. To start with, you have to have a physical to determine if you are eligible. If you are, your problems really start because you must be in touch with your assigned counselor. Fully 75% of the time he or she is in conference; unavailable; on another line; out sick or on vacation. When you leave a message you very rarely get your call returned. When you DO get in touch, then you have to deal with being told what you can and cannot do; what kind of work you are capable of: what kind of courses you may take in college; what kind of medical equipment is best for you (usually the cheapest and most ineffective) and how little money is available. If you try to tell your counselor what your needs are, what you can do and what you'd like to accomplish, you're told what's best for you, to be realistic and then are ignored. In July of 1982, my counselor told me that I was "unsalvageable" and that I would no longer receive the funds to finish my college education nor would I receive any help to go to work. Finally, after 18 months of arguing and a final threat of court action, I was put into a work assessment program that led to a real job. My work record was excellent, better than the non-handicaɔned workers and had it not been for an accident that re-disabled me, I would still be with the company. From "ay of 1987 until June 3, 1933 when I testified at a hearing held by Justin Dart in Concord, N.H., my counselor was again talking about my multiple medical problems as though I weren't worth the investment of time and money. All my requests for help were consistently delayed with excuses and almost all were denied. Suddenly, after the hearing, all my requests have been approved. My wheelchair was repaired, physical therapy was granted and a new wheelchair cushion was immediately annroved. I'm now in the process of trying to regain my college funding. Another benefit of my testimony was an invitation to become a member of the Consumer Advisory Committee. I accepted and have become an active member. Good for me: But what of the hundreds of clients who either cannot or will not advocate for themselves? What happens to these clients who have problems with Vocational Rehabilitation? What if, like me, they are not made aware of the Client Assistance Program or are unable to understand how it works? Anyone who is successful in dealing with Vocational Rehabilitation, Tyself included, should be canonized: What if through an accident or an illness you are unlucky enough to become re-disabled? If a person thinks he had problems while on government aid, they are nothing compared to what you are now facing! All those lovely benefits you were so careful to get to ensure your financial security now create a hell on earth! Six months after losing your job, your medical insurance is no longer covered by your company. You must now pay for it out of your own pocket and because you are now on an individual plan, your coverage is seriously inadequate. Now most likely, you will have no coverage for blood tests; x-rays; CAT scans; RI's; medication; physical therapy; emergency room care; doctor's fees; dental fees; osychiatric care; medical equipment and repairs and in-home care. This inadequate insurance will cost you in the area of $550.00 every three months. If you think you're lucky to be getting long-term disability through your company, think again! You'll only get 60% of your income with NO cost of living increases. It is hardly enough to make ends meet and when you add on the cost of the medical expenses not covered by your inadequate insurance, it could leave you with less to live on than someone on government aid. However, because your income is higher than the qualifying income for assistance, door after door will be shut in your face. This brings me to Medicaid and Food Stamps. You can apply and probably get accepted for Medicaid on a spend-down program. This means that you have to cough up the difference between your income and the income of someone on government aid every 6 months before Medicaid kicks in. In my case, I have to come up with $1,324.00 every 6 months. And Food Stamps-well, if your medical bills were incurred before your application, they don't qualify as a deduction from your income. This is also true of Medicaid. Though I may out fully half of my income on existing medical bills, y aplication for Food Stans has been denied three times. y income is considered too high and yet most months I have only $30.00 left for food. Sometimes less. Recently I've been turned down for City Welfare; Food Stamps: Social Security; Medicare; SSI and necessary medical care because I can't pay up front. I believe that there is a solution to these problems. 1st, there should be a more efficient way of dealing with Vocational Rehabilitation so that months aren't wasted trying to get approval for one thing. Counselors should be more objective and all that handicapped people generally now more about what they are capable of and what their needs and goals are. Also, counselors should verbally tell clients and/or guardians of the Client Assistance Program and any other recourse the client may have in case of problems and further, should be sure that the client and/or guardian fully understands. Too often, counselors become bureaucratized and it is the client who suffers. Most of all, NO counselor has the right to say some one is unsalvageable and isn't worth any effort or money to help that person achieve his or her maximum potential. 2nd, I believe that the government should guarantee medical care for the handicapped and disabled. You may say that this would be too expensive, but I say that in the end the government would about break even. Many thousands of handicapped neople do not work for the simple fact that they cannot afford to lose their medical coverage. Were this medical coverage guaranteed, they would go to work and no longer need to be financially subsidized and they would also be paying taxes. They would in effect be putting money DITO the government rather than taking money OUT of the government. 3rd, I believe that all money spent out on medical bills should be deductible from a person's income when he or she applies for Medicaid and for Food Stands. No matter when the bills were incurred, if one is presently paying out on them, it leaves that much less to live on. No person who needs it should be denied medical care. They should not have to worry because whatever medical insurance they may have been able to salvage is inadequate and fails to meet their needs. They should also be able to put food on their table. Three weeks ago I fractured my arm in a 10 road race. Sure, I ran the race for a personal reason I need to prove to myself and others that I am NOT an invalid. But the MAIN reason was because I needed the $100.00 aarded to the winner. FOOD ON Y TABLE! I won the $100.00 and in the process incurred a doctor and hospital bill of $300.00. I NEEDED Does this qualify me for in-home care now that I need help to shower, dress, do dishes and housework? Certainly not! I spent a full wee: on the phone trying to get help and heard over and over "You haven't met your Tedicaid spend-down." "I mow your situation is desperate but your income is too high." "We cannot help you." And finally, "Sorry, but our funds have been cut and we have no one free to help you." ly frustration has hit an all-time high! |