The CHAIN REACTION PRESENTS

  More Creative Solutions

Finding a House can Really 'Get  You Where you Live'

Dear Troubleshooters,

          Housing for our twin sons is a major problem.  We finally got a voucher, but now we need someone or some agency to help us put it all together.  Does that make sense?

          Double Mother  

Dear Ma-Ma,

          Twins always represent creative solutions, and ones that everyone enjoys.  How about getting  this together with one of your community agencies which specialize in housing.  Talk to the the reps  with your son's caseworker, about organizing and monitoring a completed housing and service program.  How about a rental house in your neighborhood with live-in staff that is recruited by the agency,  good job for live-in attendants and housing for all! Make sure a skilled behaviorist is  involved in any housing  transition team to work with the twins.  Often people with DD  are left out of the most important change in their lives.  This is not the role of the parents, the caseworker nor the advocate, but should be demanded by all three.   

TS

World - Wide Advocacy

Dear Troubleshooters,

      My condo neighbor in Maui, who lives in Monte Carlo, has a 17  year old nephew in Oslo, Norway  who, even with medications has  uncontrolled epileptic seizures which keep him from playing in his traveling jazz band - the passion of his life, as well as, maintaining his formerly high grade level.   Is there anything  new the two countries could share?

    A Citizen Advocate

 Dear  Citizen Advocate,

     Not two countries but five countries moved together on  behalf of your friend's nephew.  The director  of the renowned Epilepsy Center in Seattle, WA,  Alan Wilensky,  was readying to present  at the International Epilepsy Conference in Oslo.  Married colleagues of his,  from Israel and Los Angeles, who now  practice in Gutenberg  Sweden  met with your friend  at the conference.  Later they readjusted the young man's  meds  for an almost seizure free life  Three years later  an  implant which one of  his new neurologists  invented, was inserted which allowed this young man a successful and free life.  Kind of a United Nations  working together for bodily peace.  One citizen advocate brought it all about by "passing the word".

 Troubleshooters of the Chain Reaction    

               Irritants Make Pearls

Dear Troubleshooters,

I will soon be 90.  My son who lives with me has Asperger's Syndrome (a  very mild type of autism).  And although he graduated from college with high grades, his jobs have mysteriously ended. He cares for me quite well, but has no other life and will not be eligible for Social Security or Medicare for 8 years. We live on my Social Security. but never want anything to do with welfare. What will become of him when I am gone?

    Worried Mother 

Dear Mother,

      Asperger's  is a dirty word these days.  Some federal/state benefit or service programs actually list "Aspergers" as a non-eligible disability, yet  many of us know that the brilliant people with mild autism often cannot function outside of home jobs. Your son is eligible for Disabled Adult Child benefits under  his deceased father's Social Security Insurance Program.  It is not welfare.  It is  insurance for dependents that your husband paid for just like your widow's benefits.   Too bad that  a  publicity campaign from the Social Security Administration has made people feel guilty collecting their rightful benefits. 

 Call your  local Easter Seal  Society.  Throughout the country, it has been an excellent source of advocacy for people of all disabilities.  Your family attorney is another good source of help. Ask him/her to call Social Security on your behalf to make you and your son a special "hardship case".. Perhaps your son should have had  his DAC benefits ever since your husband died.  Then he should be given a skilled vocational counselor who could develop with him a  job he could do at home.   Also, you may be eligible for attendant care that your son is providing for which he could be paid.  As of January 1, 2001, your son could earn $740. (well $739  won't trigger the SSA computer) and still keep his DAC benefits. 

( 2005 Update: A person on Social Security Disability Insurance or SSI, can  now earn up to $830. and still keep their disability benefits.  This amount is reviewed annually.)  :

 Keep the faith and know that you and your loving son are not objects of charity but part of  our American family.

The Troubleshooters