More Updates....

So I had my appeal hearing yesterday for my unemployment. The judge seemed really nice. I was a little irritated because the adjudicator didn't provide the letters from the specialists that came in after she prematurely denied me, but the judge said he thought it was ok- he figured we could cover it with testimony. He asked "Ms Best" if she had a copy of the letter I wrote with my appeal application. When she said she did not, he said "Well, I think this letter is important, as it provides some background to her case, so Ms W, if it's ok with you, I'd like to just read it into the record." Sure! I said. When he was done, he said, "Now Ms Best, after hearing this and the clearly stated issues her son has, do you still feel you were right in denying her?" Ms Best sputtered a bit, the said, "I'm not trying to be heartless, I understand her situation, but based on my requirements.... I think that yes, I was and would be still required to deny her."
Then the hearing began. It was so weird to know that I'd have the right to cross examine her.... which I didn't... She said that she denied me because there were certain times that I couldn't work because of my son's "extra curricular" activities.
When it was my turn, I clarified. I had explained to Ms Best that with my son's "conditions" he would not be able to handle me working a fulltime evening shift position. During the school year, he would never see me. Emotionally and mentally- this would only hurt his progress. I had told her that I could work nights, and days, and some evenings... but not all. She asked me, "When can't you work, specifically." So I picked the days that he has scheduled activities as days I couldn't work.
Then the judge asked me more questions.. Periodically, through my testimony, he'd stop and say, "Ms Best, hearing this... does this change your opinion on this matter?"
At one point he asked Ms Best about the "hours normal to my position", and she stated that it's a 24/7 job. Again he asked, "Ms Best, knowing that her son has medical conditions, and that it's a 24/7 job, does this not change your opinion?"
She always maintained that "No, it didn't", That she believed she decided appropriately based on her guidelines. Which I get.. but the judge isn't bound by those guidelines exactly. So I am hopeful. I interpreted that he thought she should change her mind. I think she felt he thought that too!
He said he'd make his decision in a few days... and we both have the right to appeal his decision... so who knows from here... but I am hopeful. I might be able to afford his birthday and school clothes, after all.

On another note... Burp received his scholarship for swim... so YAY there. He'll be starting PreTeam in September. I'm a bit excited for it. I may have gotten him a second scholarship through Direction Service* that will pay the entirety of his next two sessions of swim lessons. Unfortunately, they only offer summertime activity funding. But that's still great... I can save the other scholarship for the school year! Who knows, maybe I'm growing a future Olympian! hehehehe

* Remember to sign up to vote for DS in the Pepsi Refresh Everything Progressive Slate contest so they can keep doing the awesome things that they do for families like mine!

Help Make a Difference...

When we were going through the hassle of getting Burp's analysis for Autism Spectrum Disorder, I learned of a local non-profit organization called Direction Service. Their mission statement is "Helping People with Special Needs Live the Fullest Lives Possible."

What they did for me was give my son his own advocate. She essentially works for him, to make sure that he gets what he needs. She was able to tell me what to expect during each step of the evaluation process, and is now part of my son's IEP team. She knows what questions I need to ask, and she will demand that I get the answers I need. She will arrange to go to any meetings I might need her to go to, just so we have someone "on our side" who understands the language and processes. Her primary job for us is to help make sure that the school does what it needs to in order for him to get the most he can out of his education. They even called at the beginning of the summer to offer a scholarship for Burp if there were any summer activities he was interested in that I couldn't afford. Everything they offer to us is absolutely free. Most of their funding comes from the United Way.

I received a call the other day asking for assistance with a grant contest they are participating in for the month of August. This is The Progressive Slate contest in which 10 organizations are competing for 11 grants that could total up to $500,000 through the  Pepsi Refresh Everything contest. The way the winners are selected is simply through votes.
You sign up. In the "Who told you about it" box, put DS. They will send you an email once a day from Aug 1st to the 31st reminding you to vote. You can vote once a day. The form promises that your email won't be used for anything but this grant contest in August.
Please sign up! This organization has done so much to help me and other families like mine. I went through 3 years of hell before I found them and there would be no way I could afford the services they offer if they weren't non-profit. My first call to them, I just started bawling with relief and they told me I wasn't alone anymore... and it's so true!

Help us out. Sign up, encourage others to sign up. Vote once a day. Really, really... you're helping to change someone's life.....

Pass it on, PLEASE!