Hey, thanks for the interest. I'm trying to find an engineering job
and almost every time I apply for a job online I have to fill out
a "Optional" demographic questioner. They ask my sex, race, etc.
They never ask if I have a disability, which is distressing because
people with disabilities have the highest unemployment by far.

Most people with moderate to severe disabilities apply for, and get,
social security (disability) income, which is what I meant by
a "poverty stipend " . The great problem with SSDI is that you early
earn minimal outside income before they take it away and you're
screwed.

I knew a woman who had MS who could only move her face. But that was
okay because she was a writer. She wanted to buy a sophisticated
computer to help write but she could earn what it cost because that
would disqualify her for SSDI which she relied on. Fortunately, her
church passed the hat around and bought it for her. This is one of
many examples that I could personally site. (This is also a blatant
argument for establishing a negative income tax for people with
disabilities.)

So what happens when you're poor and have nowhere to live; you live
in government subsidized housing, commonly known as Section VIII. I
hear that Section VIII requires lots of paperwork so most landlords
don't bother with it. So people with disabilities often live in
large Section VIII housing complexes. It's like the projects for
disabilities, if you still don't live with your parents.

So there's really little way to get ahead if you have a disability,
unless you are extremely talented, determined or both.

Most of us have real economic disadvantages, we admit it. We just
want a reasonable chance to make a living doing whatever we do best.

End of rant.
Chris

--- In cerebral_palsy_support@yahoogroups.com, "Tim Affholter"
<thiansdad@...> wrote:
>
> Dear Chris, (and others)
>
> I am very ignorant on this subject. Please help me to
> understand what you are going through and what it is
> that I can do to help.
>
> Here is the first of my "stupid " questions:
>
> 1. "demograhic information" ?
> Are you referring to job applications?
>
> 2. What is a "poverty stipend" ?
>
> 3. I've heard the term "section eight" in referance
> to housing, but what is it?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Tim Affholter
> Parent and My Sons's Advocate
> Thiansdad@...
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --- In cerebral_palsy_support@yahoogroups.com, "batymohn"
> <batymohn@> wrote:
> >
> > This is something that I sent to my congress people after filling
> out
> > demographic information for the hundredth time. May be if we
all
> > write them we can make a small change?
> >
> > Elected Officials,
> >
> > I am one of the few people with a disabilities who has a
> professional
> > degree. I have been looking for jobs and I am sick of filling
out
> > demographic information that doesn't include disability. WHY
NOT?
> Is
> > the government afraid of finding out how under-employed we really
> are?
> > Or is the government content to give us a poverty stipend and
> segregate
> > us in Section VIII housing?
> >
> > Sincerely.
> >
> > Chris Baty
> >
> > Your constituent.
> >
>