Hi Bones,
I hear you about sleep. It's an epic struggle.
I've finally gotten OFF Ambien (very scary study) and have transitioned to melatonin.
Working well enough, but if I take too much there are turbulent dreams.
Mostly, I think it's the damn work schedule.
What is it you need from Voc Rehab?
love
Hops
Edit In: Sorry, Hops. I didn't mean to ignore what you said. I hear you.
Hi, Hops.
Voc. Rehab. was supposed to help me find employment. I've been trying to get my home-based business off the ground but it didn't earn enough money to satisfy their criteria. Now they are pressuring me to go into freelance interpreting, which I used to do when I was in my 20's. I QUIT doing that because I became so burned out just TRYING to get PAID after I completed my interpreting assignments. Yes, there is a demand for Sign Interpreters but NOBODY wants to PAY for the services! At one point, years ago, I had to fight for SIX MONTHS before I saw ANY money! And the legal firm HAD the money earmarked to PAY interpreters. I finally ran out of patience with all the excuses and had to threaten legal action because my bills were piling up! By the time the money finally landed in my hand, I was so far behind the financial 8-ball that the money really didn't make any difference!
Now, in my 60's, I have a cataract developing which impacts my ability to see well enough to drive, let alone attempt to translate from Sign to Voice. I've stopped driving long distances and at night because of my vision issues. Yet, the Voc. Rehab. Counselor expects me to drive all over the state, for a multitude of interpreting jobs in order to earn the income that their criteria requires....and I can NO LONGER PHYSICALLY DO THAT! I also have no desire to rejoin the RID because it costs $300 per year just to have a membership! Certification is an additional cost on top of the membership! There's NO WAY I could pass an RID evaluation given the cataract I have developing in one eye and it's a matter of time before my other eye will be affected.
Plus, 40 years ago, I FOUGHT to have only CERTIFIED interpreters hired because many places that used "In-house volunteers" USED people who could NOT SIGN NOR FINGERSPELL!!! Telling me to apply for work in those same places, WITHOUT CERTIFICATION, is SO WRONG on so many levels and goes against my own personal ethics!
And the Voc. Rehab. Counselor will NOT listen to me!
