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When I found that I was truly disabled and unable to work my regular job, anymore, I wrote to social security and told that dept exactly what was wrong with me. I made sure that I included that Dept's own description of a disability. Not being able to be counted upon to be at a particular job site at particular times is, basically, how the Social Security Dept describes a disability. My asthma is so severe, that some mornings, I feel lucky to get to my nebulizer in time, that I do not strange, trying to be able to get one breath. Because, this is true, I considered myself disabled. I was not able to assure any employer that I could be on the job site at any particular time, because I could not assure Myself that I would be able to breath well enough to get out of bed! I was awarded disability with that one letter. Of course, I had included letters from my doctors that backed up what I had to say. I have COPD, and breathing is a luxury that I cherish.

Having an invisible disability can be a hard thing to manage as the day goes along. My disability tag hangs in my car, and I park in the blue zones for the disabled. Sometimes, people look at me as if to say, "you don't look disabled to me!".......and I can live with that. Trying to shop is very hard. I only go to 'destination' stores. I know my breathing, even on a good day, can drastically change at a moment's notice, and leave me struggling to get that one breath. Normally, my adult son is with me, if I need to shop. I am 63 years young, and I still intend to do all the things I am able to do. I take care of my grandson, as long as the COPD is not horrendous, and we are still able to play the games that six year old boys love to play. I have taught him to cook many things, and that is something he is really proud to do. He takes the food he has cooked, home with him, and shares with his older brother, mom and dad. I have taught my grandson to sew on buttons, as I think everyone should have that ability in their pocket! My grandson and I seek out new insects to enjoy and to put back where we found them. We play with my two teacup toy fox terriers, one of whom, is only 5 inches long and 5 inches high! My grandson has learned how fragile that little one is, and how to play for her with caring. It's good to teach children to care about animals, nature, and to realize that life IS a fragile thing that should be lived to the hilt, and appreciated at all times.
Anyone who cannot be counted upon to work a particular job at particular times is a disabled person. Of course, that is only considering that it is their health that keeps them from doing it! It does bother me, a great deal, that those people who are on drugs are considered disabled. The people I speak of, are on drugs because they got addicted, due to their own choice. It bothers me that I worked all my life, and I am entitled to about three hundred dollars 'less a month' than the people who are on drugs and have never paid into Social Security in their life times! THAT bothers me a lot. It would, at least, seem that if that is what Social Security believes is how much each of those people NEED to exist, then, it would follow, that those of us who did pay into Social Security should be able to get AT LEAST that amount, as well. I have called regarding my beliefs about this, and been told that 'that's just how it is', and basically, told 'forget it!'. I continue to believe that this is an unfair payment schedule for those of us who did work and who did pay into Social Security during our working years!

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