Possible new job and 100 volunteers!!!

I had an interview for a pediatric occupational therapist position today. I had been pretty down the last few days, because I realized it was an independent contractor position, and wouldn't have medical benefits, and that unless it was only a few hours a week or many hours a week, I couldn't accept the job, because I have to be able to be on Medicaid (very low income) or I have to earn enough to pay my COBRA health insurance and the expensive co-payments that Medicaid pays. I hated that medical issues were once again crushing down on my opportunities these past few years.

Well, it turns out it would be a perfect position! Right now, there is only a few children in therapy, so it is only a few hours a week. But they so much want to expand the program, into many areas including teens, many summer programs, and OT play groups. I meet with the agency director tomorrow, but it looks like I am hired. I explained my whole situation to the therapy supervisor, and she thinks we can work around Medicaid in that we can make a contract up to the maximum Social Security and Medicaid income levels before it changes my benefits. And if the Freedom to Work Medicaid reform bills in the Michigan legislature pass, then we can renegotiate my contract!!! This is the best possible situation that I could have at this time.

It also means that I will be able to actually do occupational therapy with the children in Berrien County that I have been advocating for more therapy services for over a year, as there is a lack of therapy services (and actually any type of services) for disabled children in the county. There is potential that I could help write grants to start new programs and finally help these children be served. The down side, is that my position is tied to agency funding, and their funding has been recently cut because United Way cut the agency's funding because of the economy. But, if the agency hires me, there are tax credits because I am in vocational rehab... So it might be best for the agency to hire me over others because of the credit!!!

I am very excited!!! And the other good news today...an email I sent to the local democratic club about the Freedom to Work Medicaid reform bills in the Michigan legislature (that help fix the broken Medicaid system here in Michigan so that it rewards people of SSDI for work instead of punishing them) has been going around the Democratic party leaders here in Western Michigan. I received an email today from the Michigan Democratic party, offering me a phone campaign to get these bills passed that has over 100 volunteers!!!! I don't even know what to think of this yet, as I want to get through the job interview with the agency director first, but this is exciting news also. My advocacy efforts are finally paying off...

Great day!!!