This contribution is from Disability Digest Member Michaele Wagner.
Dear Mr. Therrien
Your Disability Digest helped me with the one key point for helping the judge to see my disability by explaining my limitations instead of focusing on the diagnosis.
Once I realized that the judge was not interested in what I have, but rather how it has affected my ability to continue working in my last field of employment.
I was focusing on the diagnosis, or multiple problems I had incurred – Paralysis of the right side, Rheumatoid arthritis in my lower back, Fibromyalgia, and Depression.
Your newsletters helped me to express how each of these conditions hindered my ability to work physically. I was able to explain what I used to do, and what I can no longer do, because of pain, physical inability to keep my balance, stiffening of joints, depression that caused insomnia, pain that made it unbearable to sleep or get comfortable.
Brian, the emphasis should be on the physical difficulties from the condition incurred.
I Started receiving SSI/SSD benefits Jan. of this year, after being denied the first time. I was owed three years of back benefits.
Thank you for sharing this information with me.
Sincerely,
Michaele Wagner
Toledo, Ohio
