I can say for sure that I am not a type A (B or C either). I have a degree
and over 25 years experience in accounting, but at the age of 52 and in a
wheelchair, I cannot find work. I do get social sec., but I would rather
work and have been working in campgrounds with my husband the past 3 years
- the last assignment was as manager. But then my husband and I moved
back to Texas and I can not find a job - even Goodwill Ind. Who had a
contract with Randolph AFB would not hire me because of the wheelchair. To
prove my point this week I was hired for an accounting position on base - I
was told that I would have to pick up mail at the hotel that had an outside
lift and if I thought this would be a problem with my scooter - I thought
it would not be and also that I would have to park my scooter and walk
about 2 and half feet to my desk - I said no problem. When I started work
on Tues. I found out that actually they wanted me to park the scooter at
the other end of the building - about 100 feet from the desk and that I
would have to do a lot of walking between the offices (about 20 feet). I
did as they asked and by the end of the day I was hurting. So the next day
I took my manual wheelchair in to use. That is when I was told I was to
come to the office pick up the deposit that it to the officers club, then
take paper work to the main office and then go to the hotel to pick up the
mail and this would be everyday (which meant 5 times of getting the scooter
on and off of the truck - before I even started working!). When I
hesitated I was also told that I would have to go over to the main office
perhaps 2 or 3 more times each day. I couldn't believe it!!! I told them
that would be too much for me to do with the scooter and the left and all
--their remark was "but we were told you could walk". I am sitting in a
wheelchair, they knew I was using a scooter - but they thought I could walk
anyway - and they meant for then a couple a feet. I kept it together long
enough to quit the job and leave the area before I let the tears come.
Since 1983 when I found out I had PPS and started to use a brace then the
wheelchair, I have not had a job where I could use the wheelchair. Even
though I would go on the job interview in my wheelchair, the question was
always "can you walk?". I would be allowed to park the scooter outside the
building or office, but never allowed to use it. One time I did in 1995 at
the PX at Ft. Gillem when I was working in the office and I was called into
the managers office - her statement to me was "your wheelchair scraped some
paint off of my newly painted walls - you did not tell us you had to use
your wheelchair" - I had been interviewed while I was in my
wheelchair!!!!
I am not a type A - because I give up the fight!!! This last time was
enough for me. Susan