work/education oppurtunities when you have a disability?

sillycow

I am frustrated and feel let down by system in this country.
I have a long term illness which is disabling.
I am not on any welfare payments as i'm not entitled to any.
I'm married with two kids and my kids are now at school and my health is a bit more stabilied on a medication which seems to be working better for me.
I have good days and bad with my health but overall my health is doing well the last year and i'm feeling at a level that I may be able to get back to work or education.
Fatigue is my biggest disability and I think i'd only manage something very part time but I need to do this for sanity reasons and self development.
At the moment i feel very frustrated as have tried looking for information and getting help from a few different areas to no avail.
I find because I am not on a social welfare payment that it leaves me with less oppurtunites to get back to work!
I tried FAS disability section last autumn and it was of no help to me.
I have looked into doing online courses but they are all expensive.
My husband works fulltime but we could not afford to pay for education for me ontop on childcare and possibly then some house help if I was out at college all day.
I'm at a loss. Given my illness too I don't know what area to start in as my fatigue and cognitive problems mean that now i'm not as good or as fast as learning as I used be and I'm much slower and doing things.
I don't want a big career but I'd really like to find an area i'm interested in that I could skill up in and be able to work at.
Anyone know anywhere I can get help ?

roycroper

Hello Sillycow ( great handle ) I know exactly how you feel Im pretty much in the same boat. I now have to decide whether to go on welfare full time or work part time which is not what I want to do.

After going through all the channels I am now left with having to either send in a final cert which my doctor will not as I am still receiving treatment or a P45,and give up work altogether Citizens Info said I would be better off giving up work but I can not do this as this is all that is keeping me going mentally. But yet through lifestyle choice i.e. wanting to try and work and contribute as much as I can to my country I am being discriminated against because there are many benefits available to people which allow them to work 20 hours per week and retain their benefit but it seems that a person with a long term illness and trying to raise a family is left with absolutely no support what so ever ! Any one out there agree

e27

Really feel for your situation silly cow, I have been on disabiltity allowance for some time and I would feel very similar in some of my symptoms which you describe..I really am sorry the system has not supported you in gettin a welfare payment...I do know the local authorities give a means tested grant for full time college places which may not be suitable for you but maybe worth a try.. Also I don't know if you have looked on the social and family affairs website to check on return to work schemes...

I really do feel for you and I know what its is like to be soo frustrated by fatigue and lack of concentration and to feel your self esteem plummet as a result, please keep positive and know that there are good people in the system and I hope you will come into contact with them very soon, also there is an organisation called F.E.S (first employment services) they are wonderful and are so helpful in helping people with disability to return to the workforce, best wishes and good luck

LegacyUser

Hey Sillycow, I came across this link while I was looking for jobs a while back and I thought of it when I read your post:http://www.ittralee.ie/en/InformationFor/CurrentStudents/CareersOffice/JobVacancies/JobPosition,30112,en.html
Also type into google "WORK PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES in IBM FOR GRADUATES WITH DISABILITIES/SPECIFIC LEARNING DIFFICULTIES" and see what comes up.
I don't know if it suits you or not, maybe it's only for IT people and you're not in IT but I said I'd let you know.
You ARE being let down by the system but that's nothing new in this country. You want to work but are not allowed, it's not your fault. All the best, keep your chin up.

p!nky19

smithy99 wrote: »

Also type into google "WORK PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES in IBM FOR GRADUATES WITH DISABILITIES/SPECIFIC LEARNING DIFFICULTIES" and see what comes up.
I don't know if it suits you or not, maybe it's only for IT people and you're not in IT but I said I'd let you know.

I have just finished my first week of a graduate placement in IBM (just finished my first week). I have been very pleasantly surprised at the level of support available for employees with disabilities. The software used tends to give the option of screen readers for the blind, subtitles on videos etc for deaf/hard of hearing, and there is an emphasis on simplicity for people with cognitive disabilities.

I have a moderate hearing impairment myself and as soon as I told my manager he said to let him know if I needed any assitive technology or even for him to talk louder.

I know that IBM have assisted employees in overcoming aggressive personailities and provide whatever support they can to their employees to help any situation that the employee needs help with.

I'm sure there are plenty other companies who provide such support. I hope this helps somewhat. Just know there are opportunities out there, and taking the time to research and make contact with the companies you might be interested in to find out what they can offer you.

sillycow

I am so sorry i'm only coming back to this now. I had computer problems!
Thank you all so much for your advice and support!
Am going to look up all the options ye gave me and see if I come up with anything

I'm looking into volunteer work. Think maybe doing a few hours once a week somewhere would help me decide and get more experience.

Thank you !