Meet Xavier. He’s a young man who knows what he wants and makes plans to acquire it. Take for instance his career goals; Xavier was dead set on finishing high school, getting his drivers license, and then getting a job. And so far he has been on track.
Xavier graduated from the Academy of Arts and Academics (A3) with a diploma, then he earned his driving license. He has access to his family’s manual transmission vehicle and gets around on his own.
A couple of the things that he wanted assistance with from Pearl Buck Center is to find a place to volunteer and getting certified as a forklift driver.
Because Xavier is really into machines we hooked him up with NextStep Recycling for some volunteering. After volunteering for a week he said,”I feel good, I haven’t felt this good since high school-I can’t wait to find a job and work!”
Xavier says that he has always dreamed of working with big machinery and he has a natural interest in computers, having built one on his own when he was younger.
Xavier will begin forklift training for his certification later this month and then he’ll be ready to find his first paying job.
Xavier will do well in a supportive environment that will give him instruction and hands- on training. He is interested in Warehouse work where he will be given the opportunity to drive a forklift or make deliveries and perform repetitive tasks. He is seeking part time work, working about 15-20 hours per week.
If you have a need for someone like Xavier and can use him and his skills in your place of business, please contact his Job Developer, Lorie Polk – 541.484.4666 ext.5106 or lorie.polk@pearlbuckcenter.com to set up an interview.
This young woman, who uses a communication device, and gained notoriety when a video giving insight to how she processes the world went viral in 2012. It’s since been viewed more than two million times, and brought well-deserved attention to her book “Carly’s Voice.”
Four years later, Fleischmann has launched a web series “Speechless with Carly Fleischmann,” which she hosts. In its first episode, released on Friday, she sits down with actor Channing Tatum to discuss growing up, his marriage and his greatest fears. It’s a wonderfully entertaining interview in and of itself, and we hope it will do wonders for spreading awareness for people who use alternative methods of communication as well as what people with a disability can accomplish if given encouragement and support.
Sophie came to Pearl Buck Center seeking help with figuring out what kind of job she would be good at. Linda Cox; a Job Developer and Discovery Agent, worked with Sophie to determine her skills, interests, and aptitudes. Prior to completing the Discovery process, Linda was able to find and secure a position with Selco Credit Union for Sophie.
Linda assisted Sophie with her new job where she converts microfiche documents into paper files, where they will be converted to digital. It is a very tedious process, but one that Sophie has taken to with success.
Here is a letter Sophie’s mother wrote about her daughter’s experience:
My daughter Sophie, age 34, completed high school and went on to study two years of Mandarin language classes at UO. She enjoyed her classes, but is basically very shy and has always had difficulty in socializing. She was very keen on starting a job, but was unable to find paid employment to her liking.
Linda Cox at Pearl Buck Center began the discovery process to determine Sophie’s interests and skills for a suitable job. Within a few short weeks, even before completion of the discovery process, Linda was able to find an ideal job for Sophie. Linda’s encouragement and support for Sophie is always strong and ongoing. Linda is constantly in touch with Sophie, and often accompanies her to her place of employment to train and help improve her work habits.
Sophie now is more self-confident, and I was told that Sophie has started to talk and socialize a little with her co-workers. She feels so proud to be earning a salary. Thanks to Pearl Buck Center, and to Linda for her warm and caring support, Sophie is seeing a great improvement in her life.
Here is Watch Mojo‘s countdown to their top 10 inspirational people with Autism and Aspergers Syndrome. These are the people whom they feel have broadened our world view. After watching the video let us know, in the comments section, who you would have added to this list.
SoulPancake’s Class Act video about a teacher at Lawton Middle School in San Francisco is inspiring, touching and shows how something small like a coffee cart can make a huge difference in the lives of teachers & students alike.
What’s great about this idea, which isn’t new here in some of Eugene’s High Schools, is that Ms. Guthrie has introduced it in the middle school setting. I love this becasue it shows that it’s never to early to start learning real life transferable skills.
Meet Beth, she’s a gentle, quiet, observant individual, who once given instruction is able to carry out her tasks without further input from others.
She came to Pearl Buck Center seeking part time work either stocking, cleaning tables or washing and folding laundry. Beth had a very part time job as a lobby attendant at Burger King in Cottage Grove but desired more hours.
In 2014 we were able to find her a job at the Downtown Athletic Club (DAC), where she keeps a fast pace, cleaning the female locker room and washing & folding laundry.
Congratulations, Beth for doing your best to keep up with the work needed and maintaining a clean and welcoming space for the patrons of the DAC.
These selected pages answer some of the most basic, but also some of the most important, questions for individuals who are considering filing a claim for disability benefits.
1. Developmental delays are usually caused by a variety of life-long conditions categorized as developmental disabilities (DD). Developmental disabilities include Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, and cerebral palsy, all conditions also referred to as special needs.
2. Developmental delay refers to mental and physical characteristics below the level of other individuals at the same age. These impairments affect daily functioning in a variety of ways, including learning, language, mobility and coordination. Those with developmental disabilities are often less equipped to care for and economically support themselves in adulthood.
3. In 1970 the United States Congress created a law for those with developmental disabilities who were often confined to institutions, to protect the individuals and improve conditions. The current version of law requires acceptance and inclusion of those with developmental disabilities into the community and ensures better care and treatment.
4. Developmental disabilities are classified into severe, profound, moderate, and mild. Treatment and care are based on these classifications. The goal of treatment is typically to increase independence in daily activities and to help the individual reach their full capacity in all areas of development.
5. Individuals with developmental disabilities often require some level of care for their entire lives, although this varies from person to person and is based on each individual’s unique abilities and impairments.
6. Individualized care and treatment plans may include a variety of therapy techniques. Respite services are available for families who care for individuals with developmental disabilities at home. Transportation services including free bus passes or shuttles are available in many places.
7. Advocacy for developmental disabilities continues to grow. Advocates help individuals and families navigate ‘the system’ (including schools and social welfare programs). They also work for changes in policy and legislation, often directly with those who have developmental disabilities in an attempt to increase self-advocacy and independence for those with DD.
Qualifying for disability benefits with this condition
Whether or not you qualify for disability and, as a result, are approved for disability benefits will depend entirely on the information obtained from your medical records.
This includes whatever statements and treatment notes that may have been obtained from your treating physician (a doctor who has a history of treating your condition and is, therefore, qualified to comment as to your condition and prognosis). It also includes discharge summaries from hospital stays, reports of imaging studies (such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans) and lab panels (i.e. bloodwork) as well as reports from physical therapy.
In many disability claims, it may also include the results of a report issued by an independent physician who examines you at the request of the Social Security Administration.
Qualifying for SSD or SSI benefits will also depend on the information obtained from your vocational, or work, history if you are an adult, or academic records if you are a minor-age child. In the case of adults, your work history information will allow a disability examiner (examiners make decisions at the initial claim and reconsideration appeal levels, but not at the hearing level where a judges decides the outcome of the case) to A) classify your past work, B) determine the physical and mental demands of your past work, C) decide if you can go back to a past job, and D) whether or not you have the ability to switch to some type of other work.
The important thing to keep in mind is that the social security administration does not award benefits based on simply having a condition, but, instead, will base an approval or denial on the extent to which a condition causes functional limitations. Functional limitations can be great enough to make work activity not possible (or, for a child, make it impossible to engage in age-appropriate activities).
Why are so many disability cases lost at the disability application and reconsideration appeal levels?
There are several reasons but here are just two:
1) Social Security makes no attempt to obtain a statement from a claimant’s treating physician. By contrast, at the hearing level, a claimant’s disability attorney or disability representative will generally obtain and present this type of statement to a judge.
Note: it is not enough for a doctor to simply state that their patient is disabled. To satisfy Social Security’s requirements, the physician must list in what ways and to what extent the individual is functionally limited. For this reason, many representatives and attorneys request that the physician fills out and sign a specialized medical source statement that captures the correct information. Solid Supporting statements from physicians easily make the difference between winning or losing a disability case at the hearing level.
2) Prior to the hearing level, a claimant will not have the opportunity to explain how their condition limits them, nor will their attorney or representative have the opportunity to make a presentation based on the evidence of the case. This is because, at the initial levels of the disability system, a disability examiner decides the case without meeting the claimant. The examiner may contact the claimant to gather information on activities of daily living and with regard to medical treatment or past jobs, but usually nothing more. At the hearing level, however, presenting an argument for approval based on medical evidence that has been obtained and submitted is exactly what happens.
Kyle Brown has been happily working at the Springfield Mall for ERMC Total Facility Management since 2012.
Kyle came to us seeking work where he would be able to be more independent. He had been working at Columbia Beverage, in an enclave situation and he wanted less supervision with more responsibility.
Doris found him a job as a janitor in the Springfield Mall. Kyle took to his tasks with ease. Harold the manager, was very pleased with the work that Kyle provided. He said that “he could count on Kyle to come in whenever he called.” Harold was really impressed with the fact that Kyle was ready to fill in on a moments notice.
Kyle is very respectful and courteous with the patrons of the mall, willing to assist whenever possible.
Kyle told me that he “enjoys working because it gives him freedom. I’m glad that I chose Pearl Buck Center to help me get this job and especially glad that the Marriott job fell through and that Harold called me because I really like this job.” When I asked Kyle what exactly he liked about his job he responded, “I like the hours and that I get everything done and work is over in two days.”
Kyle told me that he has “nothing but good things to say aboutPearl Buck Center Community Employment Services and I would recommend other people in my similar situation to have Pearl Buck Center assist with job search because they helped me and they don’t smother me and let me work.” He likes and gets along with his co-workers – and there’s not one person that he regrets having to work with.
This Hallmark Hall of Fame production is based on the 2005 book “Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had,” which Brad Cohen wrote with Lisa Wysocky. The book, well worth reading, gives insight into what it is like to live with Tourette’s.
The main thrust of the movie is that Cohen feels compelled to be a teacher — the encouraging, sympathetic teacher that he never had. After 24 frustrating job interviews in his new home, Atlanta, the 25th interview at a progressive elementary school lands him a job.
His young students — and his peers — grow to love Cohen despite his disorder, and he teaches his class about love and acceptance of all people, but also that “If Mr. Cohen can do it then so can I!”
Brad Cohen is the epitome of what it means to overcome the kind of obstacles that would stop many people from pursing their dreams. Cohen, who has Tourette Syndrome, a neurological brain disorder that causes the body to make strange sounds and uncontrollable violent twitches, suffered a difficult childhood due to his unusual condition that attracted lots of unwanted attention from other students, and sometimes his teachers. But an accepting high school principal turned the school’s perception of Cohen around, giving him the courage to eventually pursue a degree in education and become a teacher. Today, Cohen is an assistant principal of an elementary school in Atlanta. He also channels much of his efforts into TS-related activities, serving as a TS camp coordinator, speaker, foundation director and board member on various advisory boards.
While watching each of these videos I was reminded that many of the experiences that Brad endured while looking for work is the same that most of the people with whom we work with here at Pearl Buck Center assisting with their job search have encountered in some way.
But as you watch you can see that once you have your questions answered and look at what the person can do for you and how they can make a difference in your workplace and help boost your bottom line the disability no longer becomes an issue.
If you get a chance to watch any of these videos, I’m sure that you will be moved and inspired as I was.
Sarah Carter’s goal when she came to us was to find a job as a teacher’s assistant. She had some limited experience and a natural talent working with children. We just needed to help her prepare for work in the childcare industry.
We assisted Sarah with obtaining her food handler’s card, Infant & Adult 1st Aid/CPR certification, mandatory abuse reporting training, and getting her registered in the Central Background Registry.
With all of her credentials in hand, we started talking with various day care centers. Heather Clark, the director of PlayDates, was interested and hired Sarah.
We’ve been told that Sarah is doing very well and her co-workers have raved about her performance, stating – “Sarah is enjoyable to have around because she does what is asked of her” and “We show Sarah what to do and she just does it.” Staff have been impressed that Sarah is able to carry out her tasks once prompted and doesn’t need someone around to supervise her, she just does what is asked of her with ease.
We are proud of the job that Sarah is doing and providing at PlayDates. Keep up the great work, Sarah!
Because Xavier is really into machines we hooked him up with NextStep Recycling for some volunteering. After volunteering for a week he said,”I feel good, I haven’t felt this good since high school-I can’t wait to find a job and work!”
shows how something small like a coffee cart can make a huge difference in the lives of teachers & students alike.
to carry out her tasks without further input from others.
