Blog posts

Beginning in December 2007, the United States suffered an economic downturn considered to be the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. During this time period, layoffs increased at an alarming rate. In the fourth quarter of 2007 there were 5.7 million layoffs. By the first quarter of 2009, that number had quickly grown to 7.6 million—a 34% increase. The unemployment rate grew from 5.0% in December, 2007 to 9.5% by the end of the recession in June 2009.

When applying for Social Security Disability benefits, many people assume that it will be a smooth process with minimal complication. You file the application, provide the necessary documents, and wait for the approval letter. Unfortunately, receiving Social Security Disability benefits is rarely ever that simple. In fact, only about 30 percent of initial applications for Social Security Disability are approved. What happens if your application is one of the remaining 70 percent that are denied disability benefits at the initial stage of the process?

Having a disability may prevent you from working and may impose other limits on your social interactions. It doesn’t have to mean you lose all contact with the outside world or that you stop doing things that are important to you. You can continue your involvement in certain volunteer activities.

It is important to understand however that the amount of volunteer time you commit can affect disability benefit eligibility. The types of volunteer activities in which you participate can affect eligibility as well.

Volunteer Work Evaluations

Social Security Disability Insurance provides financial assistance and help for people who cannot work due to a crucial disability. It is paid for by a Social Security Fund, which is funded by taxpayer dollars. Millions of Americans are dependent on this fund to pay rent, food and other monthly bills. Americans who work legally and pay taxes are contributing into a system that those that are permanently disabled and have certain medical conditions can take advantage of. However, there are some things that are jeopardizing the effectiveness of the program.

Access for Individuals Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision

This access symbol indicates access for individuals who lack either partial or complete visual ability. For example, the access symbol may be used in public places, such as museums and parks, to help the concerned individuals find their way to a guided tour, to a scented garden in the park, or to a touchable exhibit in the museum.

It’s scientifically proven that exercise can offer many health benefits to everyone. Exercising reduces the risk of almost all major illnesses that are the cause of death for thousands of people each year, in each country around the world. Here are some of the reasons why professionals in the health field highly recommend exercising to anyone. Exercise:

How Does Universal Design Benefit Disabled Individuals?

Universal design is a concept that refers to designing products, buildings, and the environment in general to be accessible or usable by the largest spectrum of people. It means that the product, building, or environment should be designed such that it can be used or accessed by an individual of any age, or whether able or disabled. In short, universal design seeks to have products, buildings, and environments that can be used and accessed by anyone.

We can sometimes underestimate how important animals are to our lives. If you've ever seen a service animal at work, however, you may witness how useful animals can be. Even an untrained animal can be a companion, a protector, and a friend, but service animals do all that and more. In many cases, a service animal can literally save your life.

One of the big things that sets us, as humans, apart from animals is the way we use tools. For thousands of years, humans have been using tools to do what they couldn't, from starting fires to flying. From a cane made out of a tree branch all the way up to space-age implants and robotic prosthetics, we have found ways to make the lives of everyone, especially the disabled, easier, healthier, and more fulfilling.

Introducing the DisABILITY Series, where we provide you with information about ways to improve your lifestyle and educate about the progression of the disability community. Despite your disability, whether mental and/or physical, this series will help to advocate and provide helpful knowledge. Today, let's start with an important piece of legislature that everyone should be aware of, that's right, the Americans with Disabilities Act.