Social Security, Rehabilitation, and Employment

Social Security, Rehabilitation, and Employment

American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults Outreach Worker Handbook
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SOCIAL SECURITY
Social Security law has become so complex that the people responsible for administering it are often unaware of its less commonly used provisions. Blind applicants for Social Security benefits are often misinformed by well-meaning Social Security employees who mistakenly believe that the rules for the blind are the same as the rules for the other disabled. As an outreach worker, you can assist blind individuals and your local Social Security office by becoming thoroughly knowledgeable about the special rules for the blind. The executive director will furnish you with all the material you need to educate yourself about Social Security.
Social Security employees are anxious to provide good service to the blind. They often wonder where to refer blind people who come to them needing retraining and encouragement. By making contact with people in your local Social Security office, you can find blind people and help the Social Security Administration serve them better.
REHABILITATION
Federal rehabilitation laws are implemented in various ways by the states. Your state rehabilitation agency operates under rules and regulations which have been adopted through the state's administrative procedures. These regulations have been published in a manual which is used by agency administrators and employees. You should become thoroughly familiar with the basic provisions of the manual, though you may not need to know all of the administrative detail. Once you understand the procedure yourself, you can begin teaching it to blind people in your community.
Sometimes American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults workers are called upon to assist rehabilitation clients in developing and implementing an individualized plan for their training. The executive director should be contacted if you need specialized technical assistance in this area.
EMPLOYMENT
More than two-thirds of blind Americans of working age are unemployed. This is not, as the public so often believes, because the blind are unable to work. It is because misunderstandings about blindness are widespread in our society. It is not surprising that blind people often share public misconceptions about their own potential.
American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults outreach workers are experienced in using alternative techniques of blindness. You can use this experience to teach and encourage blind people in your community. You can help develop specific alternative techniques that a blind person can use on a specific job. You can inform blind job seekers about services available to them, both within and outside of government.
You can contact employers and tell them about the abilities of blind workers. You can help conduct workshops for employers to introduce them to blind job applicants. You can coordinate your work with that of public and private organizations in your community. You can share the results of these activities with the executive director and your fellow American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults outreach workers.
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