What many individuals may not realize is that there are tax incentives for companies that hire individuals with disabilities. The individual may be highly skilled, but the company may not pay an equitable rate of pay for the individual because of the disability.
The dilemma then becomes does the individual who has say a mental disability, which may not be a visible illness, inform the potential employer or keep it a secret so he/she can reap the benefits of insurance, 401k, paid time off etc.
Whether or not one wants to admit it, stigma surrounds many illnesses including mental illness. Sadly, the potential of individuals may be lost because of the difficulties in trying to assimilate into society.
I am aware of individuals who were caught in the mental health hospitals so long that their emotional progression halted and their education stopped before attaining a high school diploma. Additional educational difficulties may include special needs, affecting speech, reading and eye hand coordination or other abilities.
Housing in the form of HUD or section 8 for low income individuals is available, but at what cost to tax-payers. If these same individuals were permitted to discover the talents within, what would the contribution to society be?
Group homes are often poorly managed and individuals are subjected to unspeakable abuse.
Education is currently available for individuals through age 26, but often there are many barriers to completing that education including transportation. Young people just learning they have a lifelong mental illness find accepting the fact they will need medication for the rest of their life often choose to rebel, which interferes with their ability to acquire the high school diploma let alone a college degree.
Bottom line parents or loved ones of those with disabilities are the lifeline to assuring the best advocacy for those affected.
The summer before entering my senior year of high school, I was working for Neurosurgeons and contemplating a career in the medical field. By the end of the summer, I had my first breakdown. About six months later, I began the road to recovery. I had fulfilled all of the requisites to graduate except for a religion class (Catholic) and government. A relative who stood by my side through thick and thin made sure I graduated from high school by transporting me every day for six weeks to Immaculata High School in Detroit where I successfully completed my coursework.
This same relative urged me to go onto college. I earned a B.S. in English, language and literature from EMU and an Associate in Business Administration from Oakland Community College. I attended other colleges as well lacking direction, but thankfully I was encouraged to continue. I have had the privilege to work in both the regular classroom and with special needs. Additionally, I have success as an independent contractor working for various newspapers.
My dream is to encourage others by example to never give up no matter how difficult the challenge and to be a mentor to those who need a listening ear.
The dilemma then becomes does the individual who has say a mental disability, which may not be a visible illness, inform the potential employer or keep it a secret so he/she can reap the benefits of insurance, 401k, paid time off etc.
Whether or not one wants to admit it, stigma surrounds many illnesses including mental illness. Sadly, the potential of individuals may be lost because of the difficulties in trying to assimilate into society.
I am aware of individuals who were caught in the mental health hospitals so long that their emotional progression halted and their education stopped before attaining a high school diploma. Additional educational difficulties may include special needs, affecting speech, reading and eye hand coordination or other abilities.
Housing in the form of HUD or section 8 for low income individuals is available, but at what cost to tax-payers. If these same individuals were permitted to discover the talents within, what would the contribution to society be?
Group homes are often poorly managed and individuals are subjected to unspeakable abuse.
Education is currently available for individuals through age 26, but often there are many barriers to completing that education including transportation. Young people just learning they have a lifelong mental illness find accepting the fact they will need medication for the rest of their life often choose to rebel, which interferes with their ability to acquire the high school diploma let alone a college degree.
Bottom line parents or loved ones of those with disabilities are the lifeline to assuring the best advocacy for those affected.
The summer before entering my senior year of high school, I was working for Neurosurgeons and contemplating a career in the medical field. By the end of the summer, I had my first breakdown. About six months later, I began the road to recovery. I had fulfilled all of the requisites to graduate except for a religion class (Catholic) and government. A relative who stood by my side through thick and thin made sure I graduated from high school by transporting me every day for six weeks to Immaculata High School in Detroit where I successfully completed my coursework.
This same relative urged me to go onto college. I earned a B.S. in English, language and literature from EMU and an Associate in Business Administration from Oakland Community College. I attended other colleges as well lacking direction, but thankfully I was encouraged to continue. I have had the privilege to work in both the regular classroom and with special needs. Additionally, I have success as an independent contractor working for various newspapers.
My dream is to encourage others by example to never give up no matter how difficult the challenge and to be a mentor to those who need a listening ear.
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