October 24, 2012
Working at Home Can Change Your Life
Categories: Employment, My Story
By Guest Blogger Lori Adler, Ticket to Work Participant & Public Relations Specialist for Employment Options, Inc.
I hated the inevitable question, “What do you do for a living?” I
didn’t want to say I was on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
I didn’t want to tell anyone that I did not have a job. But that was
the truth. I had a disability, and it interfered with my ability to work
locally.
This was a hard time for me. I had too much time on my hands. I
missed having a set routine. Moreover, I missed that feeling of being
productive and the intrinsic sense of pride that comes from having a
job. I also missed the paycheck!
A few years went by and then, I learned the
Social Security Administration had created a return-to-work program for people with disabilities, like me, receiving
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or
Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) benefits. Even though I had not worked in a long time, I still
believed that I had abilities and skills to offer the working world. I
just had no idea how to go about getting a job or whether I could handle
the “work world” again. Moreover, I was afraid. As much as I needed
more money, I simply could not afford to lose my monthly cash or health
benefits.
However, this Social Security Administration return-to-work program, officially called the
Ticket to Work
program, was free, which made my ears perk up. They also told me I
wouldn’t lose my cash benefits or medical care all at once. It is a
gradual program with a large safety net.
If I wanted to try it out, all I had to do was contact an
employment network (EN) that was certified to handle program participants. I called
Employment Options, because I liked the name. After I finished all my screenings, they told me I would be a good candidate for working from home.
At first, I didn’t think I was cut out for
working from home,
but then I began to realize what a great deal it was for people with
disabilities and their employers. American companies save on all the
overhead, while the employee avoids all the cost and time of commuting.
Plus, and perhaps most important, the workspace and work environment is
already set up with accommodations for a person’s particular disability.
Working from home through the Ticket to Work program has been life
changing for me. I feel I got a second chance at a career because I had
the help I needed to get a good job that fits my needs. Ticket To Work
gave me that cushion to transition back to work, which means now I can
answer the question, “What do you for a living?” with a big smile.
For More Information:
Lori Adler is a Public Relations Specialist for Employment
Options, Inc., a nationally-recognized Certified Social Security
Administration (SSA) Employment Network for the Ticket to Work program. The company has been in business for over 20 years and handles both work-at-home and on-site job placement.
*
Please note: the links above are provided for informational
purposes only. Disability.gov does not endorse any particular EN or
other service providing part time or full time employment opportunities.
Source: http://usodep.blogs.govdelivery.com/2012/10/24/working-at-home-can-change-your-life/
