You were disabled and realize it is not getting better, and no one seems to be able to fix the issue. You’re stuck laying down most of the day, you have enough mobility to function at home, but anything outside of home leaves you in bad shape beyond your control where you are not professionally functional. What do you do to earn a living and survive?
This is not a hypothetical for me.
Anything on the phone and or computer.
There are also services in 1st world countries that help you get setup
Anything from Programming to helpdesk to customer service to ASMR and anything else in between is possible.
You can do it. This is good first step to ask.
If you can divulge your country and or state there may be people on Lemmy who can direct you to specific resources
Southern California
You file for government disability. Hopefully during the filing process you can struggle through survival for a few years because the govt disability filing process takes a few years until MAYBE being approved, but everyone is always denied the first time, then you have to appeal and go through the several years process again. This is one reason why so many people are homeless by the way.
I tried that. I’m in a weird position where it is impossible to prove what is actually wrong with me in a way that I can get through disability. I did it once and was denied because I can’t prove anything conclusive. I’ve been to everyone reputable and a few less reputable; 12 neurosurgeons or specialists. They all spend 5 minutes reading the radiologist’s report, don’t see a thing they want to operate on, and spend another few minutes talking you out of the room. None of them seem willing to solve problems and look deeper.
Well fuck this sounds familiar… I fucked up my shoulder 12+ years ago but didn’t really notice how bad it got over time and now my arm hurts with most things I do. However, I’m not old enough for them to want to risk anything.
Job #1 is researching all available disability programs you can apply for.
Aight. Since you are in California, get connected with the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). In a general nutshell, their main goal is to help people with disabilities get gainful permanent employment.
You will need verification of disability and from your attempt at claims you don’t have any, but any disability will work to include anxiety that raises to the level of disability, depression, anything already verified by medical professionals.
They can also provide funding for college to help you get a job. They can pay for tuition, fees, parking passes, school materials.
Also I think all states have a department similar to DOR.
What do you do to earn a living and survive?
No working anymore. I retire. Social security will take care of me.
(Things may be different in your country).
I feel you friend, this isn’t a hypothetical for me either. That’s literally just my life now. I used to work delivery, 12+ hour days walking 10+ miles per day. Buy after a dog attack standing for more than an hour a day just flat out hurts. Enough that I can’t really focus on anything productive. Thankfully I can still cook and tidy up while my partner makes enough to support us.
Mostly I read. Libby was an absolute game changer for me. I spend too much time on lemmy for sure, but it is what it is. I wish I had a better answer for you friend.
Pirate a CAD program, learn how to use it, then pay for the certification test.
After passing, you apply for CAD designer jobs or do Freelance CAD. You’ll have a leg up on everyone else if you have that certification. Many of these jobs are remote and don’t require college.
CAD programs may seem daunting at first, but they are actually pretty straightforward. If you can do basic math and play video games, you can do CAD.
The best answer here is something work from home in the tech field. Find what interests you most is best tho
there was a guy 25+ years ago who was drunk driving and got in a big accident. ended up quadriplegic, and killed a couple leaving an orphan behind. he devoted his life to making up for it. he got a job as a financial advisor, cold calling strangers 200+ times a day, dialing with his face, until eventually he made like $7Million at UBS.
cold calling strangers 200+ times a day
oh wow he became a different kind of asshole
LMAO
Citation needed.
This can’t help in the short term, I would consider learning steno. It used to cost thousands to rent specialized equipment to do it. Now with Plover (foss), the software component is free. You just need a keyboard with n-key rollover to do it.
I wouldn’t actually recommend learning on a standard keyboard. I personally use an ortholinear for typing, and that’s what got me into plover.
One way this would help one disabilities to make money is that with high-speed internet, you can caption internet broadcasts or remote company meetings. There are nonprofits that you would work for to find companies that need your service.
Work from home customer service
It’s not a mystery what you can do to earn a living. Anything that is remote desktop work is your beat bet.
This is what I would do as a EU citizen.
Step 1. Register at the unemployment office.
Step 2. Have a meeting with the unemployment office and see what they have for you.
Step 3. While they help you find work you are capable of doing. You will recieve a social benefit check each month. It’s not much. But you will survive.
Step 4. Go to the interviews they set up for you.
Step 5. Repeat Step 4 until you have a job.
For me personally, either WFH UX research or teaching asynchronous college classes online.
Trick question: I am and have already given up.
There’s a company that uses robots, controlled remotely by severely disabled people, to be servers in a restaurant. I’d probably do that.
