To my fellow PWDs: what's your job situation?

[Braced4Impact]

I work from home doing medical billing for a group of doctors. My neighbor was initially my boss; I lost my job several years ago and was unemployed for two years, but one day, I was talking with my neighbor and she was lamenting how overworked she was and I offered to help and was hired shortly thereafter. Been doing it for over 8 years now. Pay isn't amazing but I have no more commute, so fuel expenses are no longer as much an issue, nor is the stress of commuting. It's not for everyone, but working from home is a good option for some PWDs. I would look into online classes or community colleges for medical billing certifications and programs and see what you can get, because the medical field is recession-proof; people always need to go to doctors.

[loveonaroll2]

Network got 100% of my jobs this way

[atlwheelin]

Happily unemployed. Surviving by scraping pennies through SSI. I plan on taking online classes soon in Creative Writing. I began it a few years ago and life happened, and it's something I want to finish.

[Experimentalist]

It's worth looking outside the legal profession too, maybe in tech. Your legal training is a serious asset in any field where research, thinking and writing skills are key. I trained as a scientist but my first job was for a software company. I did various things there including being responsible for accessibility. I now run a small science-related business. That's very rewarding but also lots of responsibility so I would probably recommend working for someone else first.

Good luck and keep at it!

[Dr. BiPAP Sachin]

Do you, by any chance, have a vocational counselor affiliated with the state government of Wisconsin? I don't know if that will be of any assistance to you, but I did some research and there's the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) that has several office locations throughout WI that help with employment services, supports, and opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Have you looked at that as an option? I don't know if careers in the legal profession are provided such services, though.

dwd.wisconsin.gov/

[not THAT violet]

Apr 2, 2023 14:50:07 GMT -5 Experimentalist said:

It's worth looking outside the legal profession too, maybe in tech. Your legal training is a serious asset in any field where research, thinking and writing skills are key.

Definitely. Universities in particular can really use people everywhere - regulatory stuff, compliance, HIPAA, FERPA, research administration… so many places.

Also, many jobs (in multiple fields - advising, analysis, etc.) require a terminal degree, which includes a J.D.

[Dr. BiPAP Sachin]

I forgot to mention what my current job situation is like and how it has been.

I've been teaching online classes remotely in pre-calculus, calculus 2, and mathematical modeling one at a time on a contractual basis for Grand Canyon University for the past two years now, as an adjunct math professor. The actual school campus is in Phoenix, AZ, but I teach asynchronously from the comfort of my home in upstate NY. While it's part-time and the pay isn't exactly outstanding, the fact that I can teach on a flexible time schedule at my own pace that fits my lifestyle and that I can put my advanced mathematical skills and knowledge to good use, makes me feel happy, satisfied, and accomplished.

I'm still keeping other career options open through job search providers such as Indeed.com and LinkedIn, for instance. In fact, what's now my current job, I had applied for through Indeed.com just a few months after earning my math PhD degree, which I received in May 2020 from the University at Albany, a SUNY school. I guess a takeaway from this is to immediately hit the ground running, in terms of job hunting, right after obtaining whatever it is you need professionally and/or academically to reach your goals, for example. Somebody also mentioned networking, which is crucial in this day and age, and you should do so with people in your field, especially those with similar or the same skills and interests, including those in your field who are disabled.

[someonerandom]

I probably have been discriminated against for being in a wheelchair, but I don’t know for sure since there have always been other variables I would factor in that could have hurt my chances. This one time I interviewed at a behavioral health hospital, and the manager ended up coming out and getting kind of heated at me because you would have to restrain people for that job, and she didn’t know why I came out. I don’t consider that discrimination, but it did kind of piss me off how she had an attitude.

Another time I interviewed at a bank for teller position, and the counters were all very high up. The lady said: “if we decide to hire you, then reasonable accommodations will be made”. I didn’t get hired, although in retrospect I could have played it more cleverly to address their fears and point out some bonuses of hiring disabled.

I currently work in human services, and have for several years now. I started working with refugee population, and then intellectual/developmental disability population, and now I work with individuals who have severe mental health diagnosis. I think it is really exciting because I work out in the community and get to see parts of the city I would not normally venture to. I work with a lot of interesting people too. Every once in a while accessibility is an issue, but I can always find ways around that. I usually meet clients at the library, coffee shop, etc. Sometimes just meet in my car. The pay is so shit, but whenever I look at other jobs they all just sound so boring. I work one-on-one with people who have schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, and shit like that. It’s not uncommon to be assigned cases with people who have been convicted of homicide or child rape. My morbid fascination with humans is quenched daily. Plus I help society. Even people who have done despicable things, they are less likely to do more shit like that if I am keeping them busy and improving mental health outcomes.

The only other job I would like to do is be a counselor for people who are incarcerated. You need a master’s degree for that though, and I’m not interested in going back to school. Another perk of my job is that I go to sleep until 3am, wake up at 10am, and start work at 11am. I usually finish about 9pm, but I do a lot of stuff outside of work during the day.

[not THAT violet]

Apr 9, 2023 15:43:50 GMT -5 someonerandom said:

…the manager ended up coming out and getting kind of heated at me because you would have to restrain people for that job.

Yeah, guys in wheelchairs can’t restrain people at ALL. Surely you know that.

[mellowcanuck]

Hopefully I'll have an idea after a meeting Tuesday morning. I am trying to re-enter the workforce. 

[someonerandom]

Apr 10, 2023 0:47:26 GMT -5 not THAT violet said:

Apr 9, 2023 15:43:50 GMT -5 someonerandom said:

…the manager ended up coming out and getting kind of heated at me because you would have to restrain people for that job.

Yeah, guys in wheelchairs can’t restrain people at ALL. Surely you know that.

Lol, might have gotten the job if they were looking for a different type of restraining!

[diablednerd]

Been working as an engineer for 23 years now... make good money but no girl to spoil with it, lol ;-)

[wonk]

Apr 10, 2023 18:47:29 GMT -5 diablednerd said:

Been working as an engineer for 23 years now... make good money but no girl to spoil with it, lol ;-)

The Big Bang Theory gave you false hope.

Just kidding.

I am also an engineer, it is a male dominated field so no many ladies at work.

I now build race engines and much to my disgust burnout engines, which are huge over here.

[mellowcanuck]

If this place walks as good as the talk I should be working with a bit of polish and grease.

[not THAT violet]

Apr 11, 2023 11:54:12 GMT -5 mellowcanuck said:

If this place walks as good as the talk I should be working with a bit of polish and grease.

If you’re looking for walking… 😬