This is the author's experiences dealing with Polio disability, which has made him a paraplegic, since he was 2 1/2 years old. It follows him in the challenges he faces, coping in a world of able bodied people, trying to adjust, to his disability as he continues on his journey. He deals with businesses, in the 1960's & 1970's, whom are not handicapped accessible, or hiring the disabled. In 1973 section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, began the process of making businesses accessible to the disabled and in July 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law, which provided Civil Rights for people with disabilities. It follows him through his first job, being discriminated against, with no reasonable area to park, close to the job. He found out about disabled license plates, which allowed him to park, wherever there was parking of 30 minutes or more. It was difficult going through life trying to find work, for a disabled person, so he finally decided to create his own job, in 1977, by beginning his own upholstery business. He was fully capable of doing the upholstery, but needed help putting the furniture on his home-made upholstery tables, where he used an old office chair, to scoot around the table, tearing down, then reupholstering the piece of furniture. It was difficult to find a location which allowed him to do the upholstery, but also have an apartment, in the same building, since he could not afford a separate apartment and upholstery shop. It also created another problem, finding Medical and Dental Insurance, for someone who is self-employed, but making too much for Medicaid. Doing this by himself, he could not make enough money to support himself. In 1989 he took a class at the Currative Rehabilitation Center, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to learn how to operate a computer and get a job in Data Entry, then in Claims Processing, for a local insurance company. It was nice having the money coming in, along with the Medical and Dental Benefits, but it still required him to do a lot of walking, with his braces and crutches, since he did not have a wheel chair at this time. It also involved a tremendous amount of stress, then in October of 1995, he quit. The following year he found out he had the beginning of a bleeding ulcer, got it under control, then in 1999 found out he had a hiatal hernia, which needed surgery. He dealt with severely low Hemoglobin, which made him tired all the time and risked head on crashes several times, due to his fatigue. He found another job, to get Medical benefits, to have the surgery. He dealt with not having Medical Coverage, but made too much money for Medicaid. In the 1990's with the advent of the internet, he looked toward finding a way to make a living, from his apartment, but was scammed a few times. He was able to find a job working for a company, which provided Customer Service to Fortune 500 companies and was able to work from his apartment, making $8 an hour and not having to commute. He was let go, after 15 months, since they no longer needed him. He was able to start a website, where he learned he could self-publish, which brought him to Amazon.com, Kindle and now Createspace, where he hopes to finally earn a living writing. He has written the book "My Very Long Journey Coping With Polio Disability", which was published and released by Kindle on September 1, 2016. Now he is hoping to release this book in print.
Was born in 1953, just when the Polio epidemic was winding down. I went 1 semester to college, in 1972, then 1-year at North Central Technical Institute, in Antigo WI. Was able to get around with braces and crutches all my life and drive a car. I had a few full time jobs, in the early 1970's, but after the last one, had a difficult time finding another full time job. I created my own job, by beginning my own upholstery business and was able to do okay, but was never really able to take care of myself. I went to the Currative Rehabilitation Center, in Green Bay Wisconsin and learned how to operate a computer, so got a job, first in Data Entry, then in Claims processing, with an insurance company. Stayed there almost 6 years, but was stressed out. Found out I had bleeding ulcers, got them under control, then found out I had a hiatal hernia, which needed surgery. Got another job to get Medical insurance to take care of the surgery. Still not able to take care of myself, with the upholstery, but with the advent of the internet, in the 1990's, thought I could maybe work from home, to make a living. Went on disability in the fall of 2002, so I would have a steady income each month. Scammed and lost over $3,000, to a company, whom was going to show me how to make money over the internet. Excited, when someone suggested writing a book, but was scammed by the Publisher. Delivered weekly Shoppers, from my van to supplement my monthly benefit, but that cost me more than I made. Was able to find a low-income housing, so now I am able to survive, with just my disability. Found out about self-publishing through Amazon Kindle and have published an e-book, which was released September 1, 2016. Am now working to publish my book with Createspace, so it will actually be in print also.
