The Advocacy Life Podcast & Blog

Author: Kevin Núñez

  • Physical Disability Not Included

    Physical Disability Not Included

    If you could hide one part of yourself what would it be? I think everyone has that one thing in real life that they’d rather not have to deal with daily, what if temporarily you can live without it? Hello, once again readers. Before I delve into the topic of this post I have to admit to a guilty pleasure, I like to watch the reality TV show Big Brother. Don’t judge me, please. Just in case you’re not familiar with the show, the premise is that 16 people are locked in the house together and go through crazy challenges to eliminate each other. At the end, when only two remain, those that are eliminated vote on the winner. That is an oversimplification but you get the idea. I published this post last year but it’s something that families need to talk about at the dinner table.

    From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. Acts 17:26 NIV

    I’ve always liked the show and I like the idea that someone like me could actually compete in the show. I know I could probably not compete in a lot of the competitions, in fact at a simple glance there were only a few I could easily adapt to make it fair for me or someone like me using a wheelchair. I didn’t finish. To be clear this show has really shown a lot of diversity in its casting before, we even had a past winner on the autism spectrum. In season 23 I felt more hopeful than ever as the runner-up won a significant financial prize without winning a single competition advancing only on his strategic and social game. At the finale one of the contestants who voted on the winner revealed that she was on the autism spectrum. However, she did not want to disclose it as she wanted the other contestants to know just her as she was as a person. This made me feel very mixed emotions.

    24-year-old BrittanyD’Angelo came off as a very spunky and energetic young lady who was a friend to all. While I admire and fully understand why she would choose not to disclose her disability, I couldn’t help but feel a little hurt upon hearing this. Please understand me, part of me was truly happy for Brittany. People with disabilities should not have to disclose any part of a disability if they don’t feel comfortable and I know she’s not ashamed of her disability. As much as I have come to understand why I was given this disability over the years, there were still days growing up when I wished I could have gotten out of my chair and played football with the other kids. Even as an adult at least twice a week I have a scenario where I say to myself  “regular people don’t have to deal with this.”

    What D’Angelo did was still a tremendous accomplishment and I am absolutely not trying to put her down in any way but I have to ask, is what she did really fair? I know it’s not right every time one of us has a chance to be seen in public to represent the entire community and I argued against inspiration porn in past blogs but if we want to be seen as equals by society then why are we hiding our disability? So many people on the spectrum could never hide it, even the past winner couldn’t hide his own disability. If someone like me enters the Big Brother house I would have to roll in there with my entire chair and a caregiver for my personal needs.  I would have to ask the housemates for help with various tasks throughout the day Which would force the contestants and the viewing public to separate the person from the disability. In a way it’s hard for me because I can’t hide my disability, there’s nothing wrong or shameful about invisible disabilities. They do exist and they should be learned about by the public at the discretion of those who live with them. I just wanted to give people something to think about. The disability life can be very complex. See you guys next time and God bless you.

    Sources:
    ‘Big Brother 23’ Houseguest Britini D’Angelo Reveals She Has Autism

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferpalumbo/2022/01/25/how-one-cbs-big-brother-houseguest-is-promoting-autism-acceptance/?sh=516951619f72

  • Javier Robles Leeds covid-19 Memorial

    Javier Robles Leeds covid-19 Memorial

    Hello my friends, please allow me to welcome you back to another blog. In my last post, I highlighted a disability advocate named Bill Byrne. This week I want to honor another one. Mr. Javier Robles is a professor at Rutgers University and a fierce disability advocate. His work represents everything I as an advocate aspire to be.

     Let me take a step back. We in the disability community always feared some sort of public emergency like Covid-19 because we knew the system was overloaded and pushed to the breaking point. Years before the public started wearing masks. My fellow individuals in group homes we’re worried about a shortage in personal protective equipment. Before the pandemic staff would wash gloves after using them because there weren’t enough for the individuals in day programs. I would go visit folks in nursing homes that had some sort of disability after having a stroke. Knowing full well they were too young to be placed there. 

    Mr. Robles decided to do something about it. He’s the leader of the Disability Action Committee (DAC) after the outbreak they published a report identifying all the gaps the policymakers and decision-makers overlooked. I will be sure to add it to the sources below for you to read for yourself.

    Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
    1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV

    The world decided on its own that the COVID-19 emergency is over. Javier in late September spirited a memorial at the New Jersey state house for those of us who passed away along with our caregivers.

    I still can’t believe I was chosen to represent the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD) at this event. I don’t see myself as a great man. I try to stay humble. If you ask me, I didn’t deserve to be there. I was ignorant of the greater disability community. There was only one other boy with Cerebral Palsy that attended mainstream classes in my entire School district. When I was growing up my approach to life was so laid back that I am now ashamed of it. I knew of Mr. Robles’ work along with his colleagues. I even emailed him and his team on more than a few occasions. I had to fight just to enter college. This man has hundreds of students listening to him every week. The lesson I learned that day as if you see a problem coming, don’t complain about it, find a way to solve it. Thank you Javier for mentoring the next generation.

    Sources:

    NJ_DAC_Initial_ReportDownload

    https://sas.rutgers.edu/news-a-events/news/newsroom/faculty/3399-javier-robles

    https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/state/2022/09/20/trenton-nj-disability-community-rally-covid/69495352007/

  • Who is Bill Byrne?

    Who is Bill Byrne?

    Quick question to all my readers, Do you know the name of your town mayor?  I’ve lived in the southern part of New Jersey for almost 15 years now and I have no idea who he or she is. I’ve been advocating for my disability community officially since September 2016. I just move on to the next meeting trying to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Advocates and disability allies never acknowledge the work we do. We just keep going. There is an international disability community, we all work together to ensure dignity and respect for all regardless of circumstance. The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD) hosted their Community Building Awards An event that is held every few years to honor leaders in the disability population.

    Earlier this week I was left speechless When I met a real-life disability hero, Mr. Bill Byrne. I’m ashamed to say this but I did not grow up training or believing in disability rights. I had a very laid-back approach and let my parents do everything. I didn’t begin to discover my voice until well after I was 18. people like Mr. Byrne were rockstars to me. Everyone knows of Madonna and The Beatles for example. At least in New Jersey and in some national circles, That’s how people describe Bill to me. Here are some of his accolades:

    1. He is friends with Mayor Dorothy of Morristown, NJ. He regularly attends town council meetings.
    2. One of the biggest advocacy organizations used to be known as the Association for Retarded Citizens. Thanks to Mr. Byrne and his colleagues There now known as just The Arc.  
    3. He petitioned the New Jersey government to have the words idiot, insane, and retard removed from the state constitution In the early 2000s. 
    4. He sits on many state, local, and national boards.
    5. A proclamation was passed in his township that declared August 16th as Bill Byrne’s Day.

    Yes, I knew he was receiving the Colleen Frazier award for Self Advocacy from the NJCDD weeks before the event. I am the vice chair of the NJCDD to be transparent. (They’re not sponsoring this article or any work that I post on this website.)  It never occurred to me that I would see him there or sit at the same table as he did. I didn’t realize it until he came to shake my hand. This gentleman who had been raising awareness for disability issues since before I had braces talked to me like  I was the next-door neighbor that he had known for years. So often I get frustrated because my work is not good enough for my perfectionist standards. I know we can all relate to that. We are so focused on tangible results, that we forget about the personal touch. Bill has mastered the personal touch.

    “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.”2 Corinthians 11:30‭-‬31 NIV

    This man who cannot read or write and I’m sure has been put down by others, was so humble and passionate. The first words he spoke when he got up to the podium were to praise and Thank God. As a new Christian, this was the first time I completely understood the mission! All his work meant nothing to him without God. Mr.  Byrne from one disability advocate to another, I thank you for showing me the way. You reminded me of what matters. I pray these words can help someone else. Thank you for reading I will see you next week.

    Sources:

    https://patch.com/new-jersey/morristown/bill-byrne-gets-his-day-in-the-sun

    Bill Byrne, champion of the ‘differently abled,’ to be honored by Morristown mayor and council
  • Spiritual Growing Pains part 2

    Spiritual Growing Pains part 2

    Hello, good people. How are you guys? Let me know in the comments. For me, I just set up my fantasy football league and saw the first episode of House of the Dragon The Game of Thrones spin-off. I’ve always admired authors like George R. R . Martin and JK Rowling. They were able to look at a blank page and create an entire world. That is a gift.  I am a writer but my journey is different than theirs. We all have gifts that take time to develop. From roughly 16 to about 25 the world told me “You can do anything.” They say if you throw pasta at the wall and it sticks it’s done.  I started a bunch of projects and went the college 3 different times. Nothing went the way it was supposed to. So, I started to believe it.

    In this three-dimensional world value and performance are judged on results. That can be measured by human standards. We are taught this from our childhoods. After a certain point every year, every test is measured into an average to determine our grades. Baseball players are offered multi-million dollar deals based on their mathematical averages. Singers and DJs can count how many people they make dance. A boxer fights until their opponent is knocked down or once again they’re judged on performance. How much money is in your account determines where you can live. The authors mentioned above are world-renowned   How can I quantify my value?

    “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV

    Yes, I published a book and I’ve had this blog and podcast for a few years now. However, print media is on life support and there is a podcast for everything. Writing is not a sexy occupation. When was the last time you saw anyone that published anything on career day at school? You will see doctors, lawyers, and even plumbers. I rejected this gift for the longest time because I subscribed to the same line of thought. With my calling statistics can be misleading. I can see how many books are shipped out and how many followers I have, but the message cannot be delivered once the book is received if it sits on their coffee table. We all get a lot of emails. It’s impossible to read them all. In modern times I’ve never heard a girl say “I fell in love with him through his writing.” I do not have a silky smooth voice. My laugh is like a dying seal.  When I sit in front of my tablet and or laptop I can’t let a coworker finish my ideas. All I can do is have someone proofread it. It takes approximately 3 hours to produce a 15-minute episode. What hope do I have? 

    I meditated on these sets of questions For a few days I was in a horrible funk. The Holy Spirit gave me answers! Do you want to know a secret? I always say a prayer and listen to one gospel song before I sit down to write or press record. A speech by George Washington is still out there in the universe. The same as Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream Speech. All sounds never die They only dissipate beyond our physical hearing. When I write I’m not alone. I write with the help of the Holy Spirit. That’s the same force that is making the Bible lasts over 2,000 years I may never know the names of the people who were impacted by my productions, but God does. I will undoubtedly get lonely from time to time but that is only temporary. Through faith, we can live forever. Thank you to anyone who took the time to read these words I’m simply trying to share what was on my heart. These past two blogs were written in quick succession after a rough few days.

  • Over 20 years of Sadness

    Over 20 years of Sadness

    There are some days in life you can never forget no matter how hard you try. We are a few days removed from the anniversary of September 11th, 2001 I was in my 8th-grade social studies class when the announcement came over the loudspeakers about the horrific attacks unfolding at the World Trade Center. What would those who died that day think about the world of the living now?

    Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 NIV

    I remember feeling hurt, Confused, and angry. On that day race and religion did not matter, we were all proud to be Americans. No one ever thought about kneeling for the national anthem. Political affiliations meant nothing. 21 years later and the country is more divided than ever. We stopped listening to each other. We don’t value each other anymore. Think about this, when people lined up to donate blood it didn’t matter what color they were on the outside because they all bleed red on the inside.

    The president is just one man, we cannot blame all the country’s problems on him. It should not matter who voted for him but we should respect him as a person because every person deserves to be respected. You can disagree with someone without having them be racist or a socialist. Over 3,000 people died in one day. We cannot forget what they died for. We are all given the right to protest, not to destroy each other. That is what we are doing. September 11th, 2001 is not about conspiracies or social agendas. Is about honoring our neighbors who made the ultimate sacrifice so we can unite as a country and as a people. It’s sad to think that over 20 years later we still have not learned that lesson.

  • Spiritual Growing Pains

    Spiritual Growing Pains

    @theadvocacylifepodcastat

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    Hello, my wonderful readers I’ve been looking forward to writing this particular post for a little while now. With all the distractions that capture our attention, I feel special anytime someone chooses to spend a few minutes with me reading my writings. That being said,  once again I’m going to talk about disability and my faith journey. I am not a preacher, a pastor, or a faith leader of any kind. This is my testimony as a follower of my big brother, lord, and savior Jesus Christ. At this time I’m not trying to convert anyone or start any controversy. I intend to use my experience of growth to uplift my fellow individuals with disabilities. If you feel uncomfortable you are more than welcome to come back next week. 

    The last few days I felt a little out of sorts. You see, July is disability pride month As you might have seen  I have recently written a few pieces advocating for the changes that need to occur in the disability system to better our lives and they were selected for publication. This made me feel great! I love being the voice for others and I love writing. It’s one of the few activities I can do by myself so I feel free, due to my financial situation and the limitations of my disability, I don’t get out much. It’s always cool to me when I look at the statistics of my website and someone oversees views one of my pieces. 

    Think of it like this, have you ever posted a picture of yourself in front of the mirror and posted it on Facebook? You find yourself going back and looking at how many likes you have. Facebook used to mean a lot to me too. I had over 500 friends at one point and a separate page promoting all my advocacy work. A little over a month ago both of my pages were hacked, I know this is kind of trivial but I had over 10 years of memories that were lost because the creep changed both the email and the password before I noticed. This was my validation of the “normal world.”  It was important to see myself as more than just the “disability hero.” 

    “While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass. Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless." Job 8:12‭-‬13 NIV

    What would Jesus do (WWJD)?  This is an acronym every supposed churchgoer knows but so many don’t understand it because they don’t know Jesus they only know of Jesus. Spiritual growth just like physical growth takes time. We don’t go from sucking on our thumbs to driving cars in a few weeks. We learn those skills over a given time.  The more I have come to study and meditate on the word of God the more I realized what was important.  The number of Facebook friends and views on my little website doesn’t matter at all. A few weeks ago I secretly held a social experiment. For one week I did not post anything on Facebook or text anyone. except for my childhood best friend. Who by the way just relaunched his blog. Click Here to read.

    I was hurt. I was always the guy who would send messages to everyone to make sure they were having a good day. Hardly anyone texted me. I thought I was a social butterfly. Turns out I was just easily forgettable. In life quality matters over quantity. That is the opposite of what this world teaches us. So focused on results that are only temporary. This must have been a small example of what Jesus felt like, having so much love for the world knowing and eventually accepting that it would reject him in the long run. Sometimes you only need to restart and be still so God can reveal his actual plan for us. I hope this gives you a lot to think about see you next week. 

  • An Interabled Love Story Part 2

    An Interabled Love Story Part 2

    Welcome back, friends. as promised I am presenting my second interview with Charlie and Margaret. A fabulous interabled couple. Since the last interview in 2020, they’re now engaged and more in love than ever. You can find more about the story on their blog and other social media accounts at Just an Interabled Thing. I gave them each a set of questions their answers have never been altered. They deal with society’s judgments on a daily basis they handle them with grace and kindness. They are an example to everyone that love is real. Regardless of circumstance. I am so thankful they gave me this opportunity to be part of their lives. Hope everyone enjoys it and I will see you next week.

    Questions for Margaret:

    1. Your fiance is not independently wealthy and cannot do basic household chores like taking out the garbage, how does he provide for you?

        “There are different definitions of providing, I would argue that providing emotional support and things like that is harder than providing financially or physically, you know what I mean? Charlie is amazing with emotional support. Our current living situation is living rent-free with my dad, and I do all the cooking and most of the cleaning around the house, we are both so grateful for my dad letting us live in his house.”

    2. How has this relationship changed you as a person?

       “I think that dating Charlie has given me more confidence. When you are in an interabled relationship, you are almost guaranteed to get looked at in public. Being with him has taught me not to care what other people think when I get looked at like I shouldn’t be with him or like I was crazy for being with him.”

    3. Was  Charlie’s family afraid of you dating him? (Follow up) Did you have to earn their trust?

      “ I don’t know the answer to that. I’m sure there were some apprehensions about it at first, and I’d like to think that I’ve earned their trust.”

    4. Being Charlie’s caregiver is easy now because you’re young, What do you plan to do when you both get older and your needs change?

       “I want it to just be me for as long as I can, we have talked about this and when I am no longer able to take care of Charlie on my own, that is when we will look into getting help.”

    5. Are you hesitant to get married due to the disability marriage penalty? The assumption is you would have to take on the financial burden as well as the caregiving one.

     “Absolutely, it amazes me that disabled people still don’t have marriage equality, maybe that stems from the assumption that disabled people are not worthy partners, I don’t know. It scares me as of now because I don’t make that much money and I have student loans to pay off and bills, and we don’t even have our own home yet. Charlie has a bachelor’s degree and tries so hard to get a job and has yet to have success, but hopefully one day a company will see all of his potentials and he will have a job.”

    "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."Romans 12:9‭-‬10 NIV
    Questions for Charlie:
    1. On the subject of engagement, everyone always focuses on the female. as a disabled male, the expectation is that you will never get married. What did it mean to you to be able to “pop the question?”

    “Honestly, I never thought I would get to that point with someone. I was so used to getting to the CP part of the discussion and people disappearing. I knew very early on that Margaret was the one and knew Disney would be the place. When it came time to pop the question, I thought I would be nervous, but I was not. To me, It was the easiest question I ever asked.”

    1. How can advocates like yourself, break this false expectation of people with disabilities unable to love?

    “Society views disabled people as unworthy of love. To break that ableist view, Margaret and I always post pictures pretty much daily on each of our Instagrams of places we go, etc. We are also not afraid to be all over in public either.”

    1. How has this relationship made you more independent not only physically but as a complete person? (Follow up) If God forbid you guys broke up, Are you afraid you’d have to move back home or into a group home facility?

    “My relationship with Margaret has definitely made me more open and vulnerable. Margaret has always allowed me to be my true self around her and we talk about anything and everything. If we ever broke up, we would no doubt find our way back, there’s no one else for me.”

    1. Was there any aspect of your life as a whole that you will reluctant to let her see or help you with?

    “No that were any aspects of my life that I was reluctant for Margaret to see or help with. I think her experience with people with a disability made everything easier. Margaret was very open about wanting to learn about my care and was helping with getting me dressed, showering, and bathroom stuff from the beginning.”

    1. What do you say to any skeptics that believe that Margaret settled for you and she could do better?

    “To society, our love is as real as it gets. Just like me, Margaret thought she would never find something like this. Margaret never saw my CP or my wheelchair first, she saw me as a person. I know for sure society thinks well he can’t do anything and as a result sees no value. I do plenty for us and Margaret makes me want to be the best version of myself every day.” 

  • An Interabled Love Story Part 1

    An Interabled Love Story Part 1

    Happy Wednesday wonderful friends. I’ve been a blogger for a few years now, but people don’t know it because I relaunched my website in March of 2022. As part of that relaunch, I wanted to focus on sharing the stories of other disabled content creators.  I recently had a chance to catch up with Margaret and Charlie two very good friends of mine. I can’t wait to share the latest interview I had with them but before I do It’s important to reintroduce their story to all my new followers. Below is the first interview I have with them back in the spring of 2020. You can read more about the story on their blog Just interabled Things. Come back next week to learn more about their story.

    “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4‭-‬7 NIV

      Margaret and Charlie are an interabled couple from New York.  For those of you who don’t know “Interabled” is the term used when one of the partners in the relationship has some sort of disability and the other is “normal.” Charlie is diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy like me. In some ways, the disability community can be very small Charlie and I started networking after I discovered his blog with Margaret. Anyone who knows me would tell you that I’m not the kind of guy who falls for sappy love stories. I can’t tell you the last romantic comedy I sat down to watch. They are usually reserved for background noise. The reason I fell in love with their story was simply that it was real and not Hollywood fiction. They provide hope for those of us in the disability community on a very taboo topic, disability, and love. Thank you to Margaret and Charlie for participating in this blog. I hope we can all learn something from it. Love Is Love.

    Please tell all of us how you met.

        – We met on an app called Hinge. I (Margaret) had joined Hinge on Sunday and wasn’t sure if I was going to keep the app for long because I was never a fan of the whole online dating thing. Monday morning I checked my phone at work and saw a message from Charlie and we spent the whole day talking. 

    What first attracted you to each other?

        — Margret: I fell in love with Charlie’s smile. If I am being honest, I still fall for his smile every day. 

        — Charlie: My disability was not the first conversation we had. Margaret wanted to know who I was other than my disability.

    Name one annoying habit about the other that you would not change.

        – Margaret: Charlie likes to sleep impossibly close to me, but I honestly can’t imagine not sleeping, literally holding each other. 

        — Charlie: I was never a person who naps. Margaret loves her naps and I now love them, all thanks to her.

    How do you know it was love and not just some passing fling?

        – Margaret: The second time we FaceTimed, we sat there for almost 6 hours talking. We never ran out of things to talk about and the conversation just felt natural.

        — Charlie: I don’t want to be cliche but I am going to anyway, it was when I woke up the second day after we matched and she was still there.

    What would you tell someone starting an interabled relationship?

        – Margaret: Keep an open mind, do not let their disability scare you off, and don’t be afraid to ask them questions about what they need help with. It is not for everyone, not everyone is meant to date someone with a disability, and society is not ready for it either so you will get looked at, you will get asked if you’re their aid or their sibling even and people will stare, just let them.

        — Charlie: Come in with an open mind, get to know them more than their disability but realize that their disability is still a part of who they are.

    Some people would say that people with a disability should only date other people with disabilities because only they will understand. How do you respond to that?

        — Margaret: I would say that you don’t need to have a disability to completely understand if you are able to put yourself in their shoes. 

        — Charlie: I personally wouldn’t date another person with a disability, we would both need help that we couldn’t give each other.

    There is a misconception that Margaret must have sacrificed everything to be with Charlie. What do you think about that?

        – Margaret: It is definitely a misconception. There really isn’t anything that I have had to sacrifice to be with Charlie. The only thing really is that when we are getting ready for the day or to go somewhere it takes longer because I have to get Charlie ready and get myself ready, but we have gotten it down to a system and it does not even take that long anymore, especially our weekday mornings when I have work.

    Is being Charlie’s main caregiver a burden?

        – Margaret: I would say no. The caregiving aspects of our relationship to me are just more things for us to do together. Being in an interabled relationship brings a whole new level of intimacy to the relationship.

    I apologize for this question, you guys do NOT have to answer it. I’m just asking it because I know someone will ask it. It is Nobody’s Business. I would never ask a stranger but I wanted my blog to be real. Can you have sex and are you both satisfied?

     Both   – Yes and yes, that’s as detailed as that’ll ever get, I get people being curious but our sex life is just for us.

    What do you guys see yourselves in the next 5 years?

    Both — I would say that we want to be living in a different state, be married, and have a few dogs. 

  • Amazing Advocacy Moments

    Amazing Advocacy Moments

    Hello, before I begin I want to send each one of you a very big hug. Every so often I get asked what I do for a living. I don’t always have a correct answer because being a disability advocate is not a traditional job. Even if it was there wouldn’t be a lot of money in it. with a labor of love, it’s not always appropriate to stop and reflect on your achievements because you’re always moving on to the next mission that needs to be completed. Over the last few weeks, I have been fortunate to see some of the fruit of my blessings from God. This is not me bragging but stopping to smell the roses please take a minute and go with me on this journey. I will be back with a traditional blog post next week.

    "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
    Galatians 5:25 NIV

    August 16, 2022:

    August 12, 2022

    August 11, 2022

    July, 13, 2022

    https://njcdd.org/financial-slavery/
  • Financial Slavery

    Financial Slavery

    I’m a 35-year-old single male with a developmental disability. I’m a capitalist and I love this country but I am financially suffocating. I am writing this on July 5, 2022. The day after this great nation celebrated its independence. This is the land of the free, the home of the brave, and most of all opportunity. Individuals like myself are never given this opportunity. I don’t believe in complaining. I support small businesses and I admire corporations like Google, thanks to the dictation software on this Chromebook I can give you blogs like these. I would like to showcase how expensive it is to live with a disability. I want to focus on two specific numbers $2,000 and $3,000. 

    One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
    Proverbs 11:24 NIV

    As an individual, the maximum I’m allowed to have in my bank account is $2,000 at any one time. If I were to get married that’s when I am eligible to make $3,000, The reason why no one is in a rush to get married with a disability? You cannot have more than $3,000 between both partners. Most disabled Americans and the majority of non-disabled know these numbers. What people don’t realize is these numbers have not been increased since 1983 by President Ronald Reagan. According to the national price index, the current inflation rate is 8.6% The monthly maximum Federal amounts for 2022 are $841 for an eligible individual and $1,261 for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse. Every asset except for the house you live in will count against you. Most of my colleagues with disabilities including myself do not make the maximum the average amongst people I know is approximately $500 a month. The majority of Americans have invested in some form of stocks.  People with disabilities cannot afford this luxury. 

    The average accessible vehicle is $60,000. For me to sit in my chair and be the advocate that I am every day costs $50,000.  I need 24/7 personal care. To receive my care I must remain Medicaid eligible. All I have to do to maintain my eligibility is stay below the poverty line. I am not an economist but something seems out of balance with the American dream. There are programs like Able Accounts and Special Needs Trust Funds that will allow disabled Americans to save but they are very complex and restricted. New Jersey also just updated its WorkAbility program In January of 2022 but as of July of the same year, the signed law is still not been implemented. Instead of circumventing an already overloaded system, if you raise the asset limit to $10,000 per individual, we will ensure that people with disabilities can contribute to this country’s economy. If we don’t fight for financial freedom, then some Americans will always be slaves.

    Note:

    This was also featured in the disability in the Disability in Focus Blog run by the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities:

    https://njcdd.org/financial-slavery/