A while back, I had went through the Job Assesment Rehabilitation Program for the Disabled...Sounds like a great plan, Huh? I am sure it is a great plan...as long as you are not me...28 ADHD, Bipolar, PTSD, anxiety, and let's not forget hip problems for the extra disability kick...no pun intended.

The evaluators give me all these employment interest and skills and physcological test.....in the interest results came out as I would fit in the Arts(literary of course) and social (blew my mind) but thanks to the good ole impulsive bipolar/adhd behavior and my obivious non conformaty to rules, and my psych eval was extreme derpression, anxiety, self loathing....etc. They say I did well on the apptitude test and there is a lot of things I would be qualified to do.

So Guess what.......They offered to get me a job in an art musem.......

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTT

In a Bakery, it's not a bad profession, dont get me wrong, but unless you are being paid to teach a group of chefs to Make the Sistine Chapel Devils Cake, I don't see where art or social qualifications fit!

Because of my condition..they took the skills and interest I do have and threw them out the window and gave me an option that involved NEITHER of my intersest nor apptitude ability. This is how a bipolar person is to survive in the world? Working 8 hours in a place where I can not express or involve the best most qualified parts about me....because I am in their eyes, ill!

I went there to find out what I can do in life so in therapy I can work towards preparing myself, but They would not even tell me that. I asked for possibilites of working at home....They tell me NO...You would think if they knew I had anxiety with interactions and all these nervous conditions working from home would be another possible good option.

They asked me from the beginning what I wanted to do and I honestly said writing cause it is what I love to do and I have no anxiety about working around others....They tell me that it is not a realistic carrer..(Shhhh...Don't Tell Stephen King or Anne Rice)...I am sure maybe I would have been able to get something helping people like I do online....but Big difference...No one online is telling me "No, WE don't think you can handle that."

....Like they want me in their ballpark so I can serve them a ballpark hot dog, because I am not allowed in the game.

Talk about repeating history...cause as a kid, Remember how kids used to stand in line and captains pick the players they wanted and when it came down to the two least popular? ....I would be the one standing next to the nerd who had already had paste on his breath but still got picked over me...and I would be sent out into far feild by the fence to where I could not even make a difference.....Just someone insignificant to stand there while the More "ABLE" kids actually played. It's exactly how this feels, they want me in the feild but me as insignificant as possible to not make a difference.

In fact, I want to thank the ADD Forums for reminding me that I am useful and I have a purpose after all despite the "views' of everyone else....You guys have helped me out a lot and seen me through some FUBAR times.

I am on SSI now, so as far as a job goes..to the devil with it! I can focus on therapy which I am supposed to be doing, and when I am strong enough...start my own damn game....Just to spite them and make up my own rules on my own home ground.

I say this loud and say it proud....'YOU ARE THE BEST TEAM TO BELONG TO!" :) Thanks For Putting me closer to the game...Love ya Guys!

This could be my contempt talking but,....here is another therory they wanted me in meaningless job doing work I can not make real money from cause they want to keep me low class cause me making as much as them or more scares em to death
...

I think there's more to that than you might realize, Draga.

I think that people can instinctively sense when other people are "like them" or "not like them"... and we unfortunately tend to be biased towards those like us, and bigoted towards people not like us.

The system we live in was created largely by non-ADD people to solve problems they perceived... and the system does, IMNSHO, discriminate against those who don't meet the status quo.

Therefore, if my theory is accurate, it is 100% true that they don't want you to succeed, and that is what you are experiencing here. :(

Then why truly bother to help us at all?

Or even claim TO Try

Because the brain and the heart are capable of rising over these base instincts of ours... otherwise what would be the point of most of our civilization?

What's wrong with working at an art museum? Did they say what the job there would entail? It could be something interesting and "behind the scenes". I don't think they'd start you off by having you lead Mrs. Jones' third grade field trip group on a day-long tour. I think you should give it a try. You might find out that it is great, and at the very worst, you'll demonstrate that you are "cooperative";) .

Wow, pretty heavy stuff Draga.

I absolutely think you need to find your own place and that's probably the only way you'll be motivated enough to make it work. But then, maybe not cause that's what I'm trying to do & it aint's workin'.

OTOH, maybe that's all just a recipe for frustration & maybe if you could find it in yourself to drop the resentment and be more peaceful, maybe you'd be able to accept a 'regular' job. That's what most people do, they just accept it's what needs to be done & put up with it using a heavy dose of humility. Humility can be a good thing ya know. If you can get in a state of mind that is peaceful and accepting, it could be downright pleasant to do nearly any job. (THEORETICALLY).

Another thing is thinking about a job where your efforts are appreciated. Hell, I can do boring jobs if I'm appreciated, it makes such a big difference. That's one way to get into the peaceful frame of mind described above. The depressing part is that if you aren't peaceful but resentful and contrary, it's not likely anyone will appreciate your help unless you are doing something that really drives a burning desire (harnessing the resentment perhaps).

So anyways there's some thoughts.

What's wrong with working at an art museum? .


I appologize Flakey...I should learn how to write sarcasm better....Lousy attempt of humor on my part but understandable considering the lack of sleep and obvious contempt I still feel today. I meant NOT they wouldn't offer me that....rather than.....NOT like I would not have taken it.

It would have been wonderful to work in a museum...they really didn't offer me that even though that would have been something that includes my qualifications and interest...but bakery was all they offered.

Believe this resentufulness and contempt I truly can not help the way I feel..Maybe I am O.D.D or just stubborn Irish/Scots Pride I have to NOT let people put me in a class and keep me there.

What do you think about the "peaceful" idea though? Doesn't it sound good?

I had that strong burning desire to do my job and more than my job than what was expected of me just for satisfaction of knowing that I did it....the bosses saw it..Maybe it got a thank you but was forgotten the moment or come to expect that of me all the time making my job harder...If and when I do get out there I would but 100% into it but it has to mean more to me than just a meaningless lousy *** paycheck and efforts must make a difference to someone and myself as well..Working eight hours a day and not really doing anything to change the world or help people makes what I have been through in my life (ALL THE PAIN) meaningless...I have to believe that I have been through these rough years for a reason and I won't find that reason in asking "paper or plastic?" or"Would you like to Super Size that combo?"

I once heard a quote that went something like "Never let them know everything you really know!"

Is dat going back to not letting them know I am ADHD???? These PPL kinda already knew:p

I swear I responded to a similar thread, but it may have been somewhere else. When I was 20, I ended up needing the help of 2 government agencies. The Career Center and MassRehab. The career center did little to help me. I was living in a halfway House, so the times I was allowed to work were limited to days/no weekends. I ended up working at McDonalds until I left that house. It was great for me at the time, as it was low stress. I was actually kind of fired from that job when I got sick with the flu. I stumbled across an entry level position at a local residential facility for Mentally Retarded adults. I spent the next 14 years working there in a variety of positions. When I was laid off (just after9/11), I was making darn good money and my position was pretty awesome for someone who never finished college. When I was laid off, I found myself in a difficult position. One after another, things happened that made us decide to move to a new area of the state. I found myself back at a Career Center. Again they did nothing for me. I ended up finding my own job. I am now a supervisor of event attendants at a 10,000 seat arena. What that means is that I am a part time janitor. This job had been good for me. It forces me out of the house. It is a pretty relaxed environment so if i don't go in, it is no big deal. I am frustrated with it now. I have been there 7 months with no raise. Everytime I turn around, someone is praising us for the great job we are doing. Persoanlly I am tired of the praise and want the raise. I have found my voice because of this job. When people **** me off, treat me like an idiot, or just plain drive me crazy, I am not afraid to call them on it. I could care less about this job therefore it is easier to open my mouth and stick up for myself. Wish I knew where I was going with this....

Years back, the other agency I dealt with was willing to send me to school. That would have been wonderful had I been able to take advantage of it. I had tried school a few years earlier. Straight A's the first semester, straight incompletes the next. I had no desire to repeat this.

I am now on a new journey for employment. I hope to get back into the field I was so good at. I consider the last 7 months as experience in a new field. I have 5 resumes ready to send out to potential employers. I still find myself using The Career Center, but only their website list of jobs. I figure I am better off on my own.

I am surprised that the agency you dealt with didn't offer job training as a possiblity. Rather than stick you in a job you don't want. I too took an aptitude test. It was useless as the results of the test basically said that I would be good in any field I chose.

Maybe you can figure out what I am saying in this post. CONTINUE WRITING. Don't let anyone take that dream away from you.

I am an independent contractor for a government rehabilitation service.

Get them to send you to school. Point out to them that the aptitude test indicates that you are most suited for a job that requires more education. Read all that paperwork they give you and do not sign an Individualized Employment Plan until they demonstrate that they are taking your future seriously.

There is also an appeals process.

BTW, writer's need college educations.

Great info Coral Rhedd. I needed this info. My husband just told me that his work will in fact pay for me to go to school. I have been bugging him to find out about that for months. The University (university of massachusetts) I work at has some interesting programs. I am thinking forestry or landscaping. A kid I work with has the Forestry for a major. He spent a day in lab. He spent the day learning how to use a chain saw. :cool: I keep trying to get him to come to my house and do some homework. I need some trees cut down.

DVR paid for my college degree, although I hear they are cracking down on who they give money to it still might be worth looking into!

They are having funding woes. But the worst hit are housing programs. Look for more homeless people on the streets of America over the next four years.

Many states have something called CAP or client assistance program. If they deny you services, you have an attorney that represents you. If you feel you are not ready to go to work yet, keep on going to school, sometimes it's the only way to get through your condition. I am getting my bachelors degree in April. I feel that I have to go to graduate school to get ready, as tough as it sounds, you have to be your own advocate sometimes. Us ADDers somtimes rely on other people's advice. That's what I've done all my life. There are no simple answers to treating mental health...

Actually, with DVR (called different things in different states), you have the right to know clearly how they plan to help you. They cannot foist some plan upon you without taking into account the needs pertaining to your disability and your own personal desires and interests. They sometimes like to make you think they can, but you should not allow them to do this.

Many DVRs act as if their only purpose is to close cases. If they can get you employed for 90 days, they will call it a sucessful outcome no matter how unhappy you might be. That is why if you are not happy with the employment they find for you then you need to resign before the 30 days are up and explain in writing to them why the job was not suitable. Ask that your letter be kept in your file and it is good to take a witness to the fact that you have submitted this letter.

I hate to sound discouraging but sometimes people play all sorts of games that are not necessarily to advantage of the very people they are trying to help. Here is an example:

I work to help DVR clients become self-employed in a special program of DVR -- state run not local. One of my consumers got approved for $10,000 dollars worth of funding to start her own business. The local DVR has been slow as molasses coughing up the money. My consumer's DVR counselor has been fairly obstructionist all the way. She had to demand to speak to his supervisor to get the ball rolling on the funding.

Without the funding, she cannot buy supplies for her business, but DVR starts the clock running on case closure the minute the funding is approved. They will demand she show she is making a profit even though she cannot really make her business function without the supplies. I tell her to "document, document, document."

Here is another example:

I have even had one counselor threaten an artist consumer of mine who does wood sculpture that DVR would come and take her saws away from her if she did not begin mass production even though mass production was never in her business plan. (Actually they rarely, rarely do that sort of thing.)

It is true that self-employment is a risky venture, but it would be a great deal less risky if DVR were more fully supportive of this choice.

And I've just had that experience. A week ago I was with my vocational rehabilitation counsular. She says human resources only requires a bachelors degree, and in reality employers want experience and a graduate degree in the field. They want to put me with cornerstone, state used to do the job placement. Oddly enough this weekend when I was at the conference, I was able to speak to the head of the state agency lol. I was sitting there looking at the schedule and my eyes lit up, no one knew who she was.

And I've just had that experience. A week ago I was with my vocational rehabilitation counsular. She says human resources only requires a bachelors degree, and in reality employers want experience and a graduate degree in the field. They want to put me with cornerstone, state used to do the job placement. Oddly enough this weekend when I was at the conference, I was able to speak to the head of the state agency lol. I was sitting there looking at the schedule and my eyes lit up, no one knew who she was.
I hope you get some results. :) If you already have a bachelor's degree and it isn't resulting in employment for you then they can (in the state I live in at least) fund a master's for you. One of my consumers with environmental illnesses got some of her bachelor's and all of her master's funded via DVR. However, she is really hard to place because there are a multitude of environmental hazards that she is sensitive to.

Even if they close a case, you can request that they reopen. They are supposed to keep working with consumers as long as that consumer is disabled and displays an effort toward preparing for or looking for employment/self-employment.