Ticket to a Wreck

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Ticket To A Wreck: My Attempt to Use the "Ticket To Work" Program
by Rus Cooper-Dowda

After having followed the news about the "Ticket To Work" program for some time, I decided it seemed the best way to pull my crip family out of our dire poverty once and for all. I did ALL my homework (and then some) to prepare.

I contacted the program for the initial paperwork and service provider list, not wanting to wait until I was contacted first. I developed an "A" plan that involved, on my own, getting a difficult-to-land place in a bioethics distance learning program that I could complete at home in only 9 courses. I even had a "B" plan to obtain a teaching certificate in less than a year and a half.

Visit the Ticket To Work website

I priced everything in involved in both plans. For less than $18,000, either plan could get me off of Social Security Disability forever.

I redid my resume, collected recommendations and got letters from all my doctors saying I was ready and capable of working.

I thought rolling in with all that already done would make me a desirable client -- capable, easy to place, and a great public relations opportunity. Add to that mix my already-received two Masters degrees and years of previous work experience.

So, then I rolled into that first appointment with my Ticket To Work vendor -- Vocational Rehabilitation -- (carefully chosen because they locally had the most money available for training). I laid out my two plans and gave the counselor copies of all my supporting documentation.

"First we have to send you to Career Evaluation and Testing to see what it is you really want to do," she said.

I should have known I was in trouble then.

The next time I knew I might be in trouble was when my transportation for the required testing arrived. It turned out that Voc Rehab had not told the testing vendor I used a wheelchair. When I called to report the problem, I was told that if I was really serious about the "Ticket To Work" program I would use their inaccessible ride anyway -- for two days in a row. With great trepidation, I did. It cost my family $118.00 to repair the subsequent damage to my wheelchair.

The inappropriate transportation choice got noted in the file as evidence of "my" problem with transportation. This would come back to haunt me.

A month and a half later I finally got the "rushed" results of all that unneeded and unwanted testing. I was informed that I was very bright, very articulate, a great writer and researcher -- and totally unemployable. Why?

I was given two major reasons. The first was because of my problems with transportation. This is where they cited their previous transportation order error as evidence of my personal problem. Now, I already knew this was going to be a challenge. But I thought transportation would be addressed by my back to work plan, not a major reason not to help me with one.

In response, I pointed out yet again that I could not use buses. That is because my disability worsens with prolonged exposure to heat and sunlight. I mentioned to them that this was often the case with people who have Lupus, MS and other auto-immune disabilities. "Well, if 'you disabled people' would start wearing watches like everyone else," said one of the counselors, "then you would all know the right time to go out to catch those buses. You all would stop going out there too early. Then 'you disabled people' wouldn't have problems riding the bus."

I am not making that up. I wish I were.

The second reason cited as to why I could not be helped was that I did not have sufficient childcare. My son is a senior in high school and works part-time as my paid personal assistant. He has not needed child care for many years. It didn't matter.

The air in the room chilled, and my heart began to ache in my chest. The people who I expected to be my "Ticket To Work" to improve the life of my son said, "We will now be watching and keeping an interest in whether you can adequately meet your son's needs with your current level of income. We also have real doubts about the adequacies of disabled parenting in general."

One phone call from anyone on their end could mean the removal of my son. Even if he were eventually returned, after their finding no evidence of abuse and neglect, he woud be put in a foster home during an investigation. He'd be moved from his current school, losing the spot in the arts magnet program he had been in for three years. After only 9 absences, his ability to graduate from there would be in jeopardy.

As a result, my gifted son is making plans to drop out of school. He is only one week into his senior year.

After putting 9 months into trying to use the "Ticket To Work" program, I have been declared totally unemployable; the child I love so much and meant to help is at risk for removal due to prejudice against parents with disabilities.

"Ticket To Work" became "Ticket To A Wreck" for me.

Rus Cooper-Dowda is a minister and freelance writer in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Posted Aug. 16, 2002

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