This is a complex situation needing to be addressed on several fronts.

First, giving credit to people with disabilities, mental or physical, along with admiration because their weathering the vicissitudes of life is magnified 100 fold. Many of them express desire to work and be productive and once hired and facilitated or accommodated, they make dedicated  employees.

Secondly, make sure your daughter has mental health therapy with a psychiatrist for medication and also a talk therapist which could be a psychiatric social worker she trusts.

Therapy can be a great sounding board for frustration and feelings of anger and rejection and is an integral part of her health and well being maintenance. It would be assumed that she is under care already. “Talking it through” helps someone understand that people aren’t always nice or rational. Therapy with an understanding, patient ear is invaluable. The work world is daunting for those without disabilities. The human factor varies and many people have trouble finding harmony with coworkers and bosses. Today, the workplace is often chaotic and overly demanding, as well.

Third, your daughter has the choice of “declaring” a disability during an interview, or not. If she chooses to declare, she can have the free services of a job coach through one of several government-funded agencies for persons with disabilities. Some of them, depending on where in NYS you reside, could be the National Center for Disabilities; Mental Health Association which offers special job clubs, and others.   However, the central heartbeat agency from which these services are usually accessed, is VESID (Vocational Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities). This may apply to some agencies that serve disabled or all of them.

Best to consult with VESID as a starting point, if she is not already registered with them. The NYC number is 212 630-2300; for Nassau County Long Island 516 227-6800; in Suffolk County Long Island 631-952-6357.   Sometimes having a job coach helps situate the person into a new or newly existing job so she can then run with the ball once the services are over. But securing a job coach can only be done with her permission and she would have to be registered with an agency mentioned above. Some agencies have counselors or coaches accompany the person on the interview and even set up interviews.   There is a NYC agency which helps find jobs for those with disabilities called Fedcap. Go to www.fedcap.org and call them to see if their services are appropriate for her.

A job coach is instrumental in helping a person with a disability become acclimated to his/her job environment and perform duties in a relaxed state of mind. Job coaches usually give 50 hours and stay with the new hire for that duration, coaching and guiding.

There are other services and workshops from agencies that serve people with any and all disabilities. You can call the Mental Health Association for more info or call your local One Stop Career Center (www.servicelocator.org) and ask if they have a Disability Navigator on board to answer your questions.

Your last comment about her “losing everything and starting from scratch” is not clear as to what you refer. If your daughter receives social security disability benefits, there is a provision whereby she can still receive and work. There is also the Ticket to Work program.

Hoping this helps and wishing your daughter well. A parent is a son or daughter’s best advocate. Know the “system” to access the best services for your adult child. Ask around. You can also call your local school district and speak to the Director or a parent advocate for the Committee on Special Education and seek information and opinions from them. Even if they do not know, they may be able to refer you.

~The 405 Club

…………………

Remember, you can ask us anything!