This is tough to tell you that deaf been into struggle about future like normal people does.   In the years, worked in summer job project and saw deaf workers at government building as data entry or computer jobs.  I was clerical for the summer at government. Also, deaf residents at the center were on social security income while I was on summer job project there where I met at.

When graduated high school, gone to university or college.  You know we try to get major with desired for the future.  No one has that, right?   Many people has been changing many times but graduated with whatever title on it.   Yes, deaf has been gone to university or college too.  All jobs are worse for them because whenever they get degree on whatever titled on it and hired them as janitor or stocker instead of engineer or executive.   Many people thinks deaf can’t do like normal people does.  Deaf is alike normal person but HEAR.  Now there is lot of accessions, no excuse to reject them.  It could be discrimination against.

I met few deaf who use the SSI and part time jobs, I know one person has degree from college but work part time at Wal Mart as warehouse worker.   Many deaf are on SSI because they are jobless and not able to find a job for their life.  The center where deaf resident there,  I met one of my deaf classmates in school years.   She has kids and on SSI, has not finished college.  She was so happy to have SSI because of kids.  I know deaf people not happy without job or SSI because it is hard for them make life.   Their parents?  Their life with deaf kids are not alike normal people does.  The kids are like foster kids because they went to deaf school with housemother there.  When kids go home to visiting their parents and no communication…it is hard for them to life like that.  I am lucky to have parents who supports me all the life, went to normal school like kids and worked as administrative.

Yes, I have struggled with work and life, too.  Why? When I was laid off from company and try to find another job, rejected me because I am deaf.   I kept working on find me a job but ended up work as porter.  Only job I can do that without fighting for it.   I have no degree but has so many credits from college and university that never finished.  I worked in office for more than 25 years and gone to school in flexible time so never finished.   Do I have SSI?   I have SSI when I was in high school and one year at university.   It stopped because I have highest income at work.   I once have SSDI (social security disabled) but it found me work full time, punished me so have to pay them back.  I know accident because work comes up before SSDI notice in same time.  I did not excepted that happens.  My life?  Life is pretty good and kept eye on.   I have been planned for the future when my retirements comes in.  I am so forward in that.

~ DW