24 replies to this topic

[mexpipe]

So I was not very sure what I wanted to do with my life before my accident but I was working as a technician for konica minolta but now after my accident (T9 complete) I am totally lost
so for those of you that work what do you do ???

[MxDisasterGrl]

mexpipe, on Feb 1 2010, 03:16 PM, said:

So I was not very sure what I wanted to do with my life before my accident but I was working as a technician for konica minolta but now after my accident (T9 complete) I am totally lost
so for those of you that work what do you do ???

lol, well not long after my accident i actually went to a female's "slumber party" and then decided to be a distributor for them. I make a little here and there, but i don't really persue it like i should if i want a large income. But now i'm fixing to start up school to be a medical coder. They are short on them right now around this area and state and it's good money that can be earned from home or in an office. You can also work for as many docs and places as you can handle. But i'm hoping to also find something else to do that i can enjoy and make good money. I hate this no money to spend thing, it really sucks. I grew up so poor, then joined the military and then started a good career making great money just for all that hard work to end up nowhere. All my medical training, "gone w/ the wind...."

[StillFingers]

Jack of all pre sci; brick mason, carpenter, plumber, landscaper, Jr. architect. Post sci; software designer/developer, business analyst, network and database administrator, manager, technical writer, chief systems architect...freelancing now, back to a jack of all again while I rehab.

[doublelibra]

Before my SCI I was in graduate school for Developmental Psychology, and was an intern at UNMC's Meyer Institute for children in the Psych Dep't. Earlier jobs included being a piano teacher, day care worker, warehouse worker (NOT whorehouse worker lol) and waitress.

I graduated with an MS in Community and Agency Counseling in 2004, completing an internship for the Douglas County Correctional Center Day Reporting Center.

Now I've been laid up for 3 yrs. with a pressure sore on the gluteal fold, and wish I could work. Maybe soon, I hope...

[mexpipe]

dam I wanted to know how to be a whorehouse worker hahaha

[jules]

I had my accident when I was 15 so no pre-sci job for me. I carried on with school and kept up with my friends to do my GCSEs and A'levels, then went to University, did a BSc in Biomedical Science, did my post grad state registration training and worked as a Biomedical scientist. I've since done an MSc and am now a Senior Biomedical Scientist.

[chris135]

Pre SCI i was an autobody technician.Currently unemployed but i'm supposed to talk to my shop this month about coming back as a parts person/supplement writer

[pistol_pete]

Pre injury I was a forest firefighter, thats what put me in the chair. Now I work for the same Govt department as a GIS Project officer (Geographic Information Science) developing mapping products for the departments various conservation roles.
I've just applied to university to do a creative writing degree, something I've always wanted to do but never would have if I hadn't been injured.
It's all about retraining. Choose something you're interested in and learn learn learn. Turn that chair into a vehicle to take you places you never imagined you'd be.

[slyd]

Luckily, I was in hotel/casino management, and our company had very responsible policies on disability etc. I'm now on a disab. pension that is almost enough to live on!

I'd love to find some creative work (digital, arts, music) that brings in a little extra cash, just to maybe buy bread 'n milk !

[mexpipe]

thanks guys this is great

[SuzinNYC]

Hi, my BF was an electrician before his accident, and now is a C6/7 SCI and legally blind. He is 38 and starting college with the help of interactive software, in the Public Administration program at the local university. We work on a charity for the troops together, and he is going into Public Relations, since he is this very charismatic speaker. Even though his injury was motorcycle related, he has represented the Paralyzed Veteras of America at engagements, and was inspired to go into PR. The hardest thing in balancing career/job with and SCI is the loss of benefits if you earn too much.....so you have to earn enough to lose your benefits and pay for those services you need out of pocket......quite a backward system here in the USA!

Good luck, find something that inspires you...and go for it.

[slyd]

SuzinNYC, on Feb 3 2010, 03:36 AM, said:

so you have to earn enough to lose your benefits and pay for those services you need out of pocket . .

Now THERE's a good one . . . heheheheh !!

[ajl338]

Before SCI i was a teacher, teaching physics to 11-18 year old boys.
Now i still teach but i do it outside and work at an environmental / adventure centre. I get to play all day, get muddy, wet and cold, get a good suntan in the summer and only work 9 - 5 so i have free time

[fatcrx]

i used to work as a tree sugeon hence why im in a chair, since the accident ive lost the use of my legs and fingers so tree surgery is out the window. Im looking at a new career as a coat stand.

[dsindc]

fatcrx, on Feb 7 2010, 02:29 PM, said:

i used to work as a tree sugeon hence why im in a chair, since the accident ive lost the use of my legs and fingers so tree surgery is out the window. Im looking at a new career as a coat stand.

Encouraging.
that's a fast paced business good luck

[Texaswheelz]

SuzinNYC, on Feb 2 2010, 08:36 PM, said:

The hardest thing in balancing career/job with and SCI is the loss of benefits if you earn too much.....so you have to earn enough to lose your benefits and pay for those services you need out of pocket......quite a backward system here in the USA!

So damn true. I find myself worried more about balancing that then anything else in my life right now. I was laid off last month from my job, as the agency I worked for lost their contract and everyone was sent home. Over the last 3-4 years I've tried to get assistance through DARS(Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services) in going back to college, but always get told that I can't get assistance if I'm working. Even though I was working a job that I didn't want, didn't like, didn't pay the bills, didn't have any benefits..etc. and was not healthy for me. So now that I'm out of work I called them and got a meeting to see about receiving assistance to go back to school, however that meeting is a month and a half from when I got laid off. I need to make money NOW, however if I start a new job again I'm afraid they'll go back to not being able to assist me. If I don't go back to work we can't pay our bills as my wife opened her own business last year and it is doing well enough to pay the business bills and paychecks, but my paychecks were paying for us and our personal bills.

As for jobs, pre-SCI(I was 16) I had worked on a Ranch, herding cows, driving tractors, moving irrigation pipe, regular old ranch hand in the panhandle of Texas. Since then I have worked at 5 retail places, either selling crap or running the register. Worked in customer service in call centers 4 different times, was a City Secretary for 3 years, Court clerk for a bit, ticket taker at a movie theater, just a bunch of crap jobs.

I can't just blame the system though as i had my chance in college and couldn't decide what I wanted to do and kept changing my major, so I never graduated. Now at 36 I still am not for sure what I would like to do, but I do know I need to get back to college, another year at a job like the last one and my right hand will be useless(spent all days typing emails to customers or chatting with them). That is of course just with assistance in getting back to school. The whole receiving disability while not earning much and losing insurance benefits while not earning enough to pay for insurance is a whole other rant.

[airart1]

artist, owned retail stores in malls, 3 different malls=3 stores, retired in 2000.............airforce before accident........

[E-DOG]

fatcrx, on Feb 7 2010, 11:29 AM, said:

. Im looking at a new career as a coat stand.

Bet you'd make a terrific paper weight. Or perhaps one of those things that keep doors open.

[Tetracyclone]

I was many things pre-SCI, but none compares to my current status as a house pet.

[Soryfam]

Pre SCI I was a Pharmacy Tech in a hospital. Tried to go back to work, was even offered my old job back, but two seperate occupational doctors nixed the idea. They declared me totally disabled even though I can walk with a cane for short type distances. So.... now I am a stay at home and watch after my Alzheimer afflicted Father in Law. I miss work and the comraderie a lot, but life could be a whole lot worse so I'm not complaining!

[Andrew Meddings]

im a interstate truckie. i deliver & supervise instillation of swimming pools all around australia. customers are generally surprised when i get out of the cabin on a lifter

[JohnD]

I started working for BT in 1980, had my accident in 1992 and still working for BT now 30 years on!

[S&W Winger]

Andrew Meddings, on Feb 9 2010, 01:39 AM, said:

im a interstate truckie. i deliver & supervise instillation of swimming pools all around australia. customers are generally surprised when i get out of the cabin on a lifter

Very cool! Guess I'll have to move there to drive big trucks again!!! Of all my jobs and businesses, that was the most fun! Drove for about 10 years...owned a small trucking company, and found I Loved driving 'em myself when the drivers would call out sick (and my lazy drunk ex- couldn't get up off the floor to cover) so I just eventually starting driving cross-country alone ...


I always say I've been a jackass of all trades: ...taught nursery school...worked in factories, restaurants, stores...delivered mail (would've stayed at the USPS, if I hadn't been promoted to stupervisor!!)...mostly did A LOT of outside sales, like Real Estate...last work for about 10 years, was as a financial consultant/planner/insurance agent selling with various securities corps., insurance companies, and even a bank, juggling the sales of bank products, loans, and investments (misery, as the only people that banks treat worse than the customers, are the employees!)...


Had been subsisting on disability for about two years already preSCI due to arthritis and DDD, as I would be good for a day or two, then in bed for a week and kept having surgeries and procedures along the way (only time I did not feel all the pain was while riding my motorcycle sure hope its the same down the road when I am able to ride again!! )...

Now, at 50, I plan to focus on my "real" Life's work as a writer (at age 40 FINALLY earned my BA in English and would've taught, but could not afford to take that huge cut in pay!!!) and musician...maybe not good enough to be pro, but can teach ("those who can DO, those who can't TEACH!!?" ), as I was about to just before the accident (HAD a few students ready to start guitar lessons...now I have to re-teach myself again!)...

...and yes, also have to do the USA $$/benefits balancing act...

[Murray]

then: hs Eng tchr/football, basketball, XCountry coach; construction hand in off season

now: retired; freelance writer for New Mobility; handcycler; ADA consultant; facilitator local sci support grp

[apollock2006]

i had some menial jobs through hs and college like eckerds and blockbuster. then i joined the us army and loved being a bomb tech. i had my mva on november 29 2008 and still as of today am on active duty status. the military will take care of me for life. but i'm usually bored out of my mind and need somethin to do. i like talking to other vets at the va hospital, and want to volunteer here. i tried applying at best buy recently but they only wanted seasonal. i'm very computer savvy but would rather go to work instead of working from home. i'm 24 yrs old and not ready for retirement because i dont have any memoirs to write. school will probably be my next 'job' as i want to change cities and do everything independently as a quad. i think a fraternity will greatly help my schooling and i could be a mascot.