We’re middle class; where’s the program benefits for my son?We’re middle class; where’s the program benefits for my son?

My son was diagnosed with a brain tumor/optic nerve glioma in May 2010. He has lost his vision due to the tumor. He has been diagnosed legally blind. He has been undergoing chemotherapy since that time and will continue to receive chemotherapy for the next year in hopes that the tumor will shrink. Unfortunately, he is not able to attend school this year.

We have struggled with finding him resources to assist him with mobility training, technology training and other programs. We have called every agency and every medical facility. Most of them are located in the Columbus area or more than three hours away. All of the state/federal agencies tell us that they can't help. Why? We make too much money. I guess because we have always worked and taken care of our family, this is our punishment. Our son is being punished not only through this horrible illness, but for the fact that his parents have always worked for a living. How is this fair?

What kind of state/federal programs are the working men and women paying for? We work and pay into the programs, but we cannot draw upon them when our families are in need of services. Is this really an income-based service? We are a middle-class family that is just looking for education, mobility and personal wellbeing for our son.

We do not want a monthly check given to our son. This is what is wrong with our society today. You should take that money and put it into our education system, rehabilitation, medical services and other resources that actually help people. You should make it free for everyone. You shouldn't just give it out to the poor, who may not be helping themselves. I personally joined the Navy and fought for my country during wartime. My husband leaves our home every Monday and doesn't come home until Friday, because there are no jobs here in southeast Ohio. He works for a company out of Seattle, Wash. He works out of state to provide for us.

Yet the non-working society gets to sit home and get free medical, free food, free money, free education, free rehabilitation and basic services that I cannot get for my disabled son. But I am expected to pay my taxes? Is this fair? Then when I go to file my taxes, I must pay even more and they get an additional check of thousands of dollars for being low-income. How does this ever encourage them to get ahead in life? Isn't it time we take the silver spoon out of their mouth and make them earn a living like the rest of us?

Nothing has been given to my husband and me. We had to earn it, as did my entire family. This is how I was raised, and this is how I am raising my children. Yet now I am asking for basic services for my son, and I can't seem to find those things. Where are they? I am so tired of being told you make too much money. Upon whose standards, I ask? I would love to know where all that money is, because it isn't in our bank account. It is going to medical bills, utility companies, mortgage bill, food cost, taxes, clothing, and so many other things. How do the middle working men and women ever get ahead?

When you go to the voting polls this November, make sure you know whom you are voting for and what they stand for. Make sure you know if that program you are voting for is something you can qualify for if your family may need it one day. You will be surprised to know how many things are income-based. I was even told that maybe one of us should quit our job.

Again, we are not looking for a check, free services, or a free easy way out. We are looking for educated individuals who can assist him/us with educating our son with mobility and teaching him how to live his life as a blind/low-vision young man. We want him to be productive in his life, not living on welfare or SSI. We want him to be a college-educated individual who gives back to his country, not just taking up space.

We found out that many individuals locally encouraged their children not to strive to further educate themselves so that they could continue to receive their SSI checks of $674 a month in benefits. I was amazed that we even have a program where we give free money to adults/children for having a learning disability. How does this benefit the child? Does it provide more education for them? My son would qualify for the benefit due to his blindness. However, here we go again; we make too much money.

I thank the Trimble Local School District for helping us as much as they can. We do not live in their district, but they have gone above and beyond to try to help us. They are working with us as much as possible, and we are learning as we go. They have been wonderful to my son in trying to assist him as much as they can. We are truly grateful!

Shelly Lowery-Rowan lives in Morgan County and works at Ohio University.

REPLY TO THIS COMMENT

Teresa

Kudos to you Shelly for writing this article! Well said and so very true! Sad, but true!

Tami

I feel for you Shelly! We were there...we did get some help from BCMH (Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps)...maybe they could help you find some resources. When it comes to children it shouldn't matter how much money a family makes...the child shoudl get the support and help they need! We are praying for you daily and rooting for you! You are an amazing family! Lots of love to you all!

loweryrowan

I did apply with the BCMH. We were denied, because this is an income based program. I don't disagree with the programs. I disagree with how they are handled and denied to those who many times help pay for them. Look at how many people are unemployed now. Yet they are being turned away for help (food stamps, medical care, and other support) due to the fact that there previous income showed a higher level or that they might have property or retirement/nest egg. Because of this, they will be considered to have too much money. They will be forced to lose everything they have worked so hard for and yet there will be no federal/state programs there to assist them, other then unemployment possibly. Hopefully, they will get another job. However, why should they not be able to get further assistance when they are out there actively seeking work and just having difficulty/hard times. This was my only suggestion that the working American seems to pay the price the most and receive the least amount!

Kristi

Keep forging ahead. You determination for your son is admirable. I agree with everything you said. It is extremely frustrating that our politicians buy into the fact that they are helping society by supporting a life style of public support. I understand that welfare and other support systems are temporary and needed, but they are not permanent. I was on public support as a child, but it was temporary while my single Mom worked three jobs to support us three kids. She did it-so should others!! Let's help the lower income become self sustaining and be proud to be. That is part of the problem. For some, this lifestyle has been going on for so long they don't want to achieve more. OK, I'm done-enough of my soap box!! I'll be praying for you Shelley!

Silver spoon for those on welfare??? I am sure most people that have to rely on public benefits would much prefer to live a different way than to scrape by month to month without any security of a permanent roof over their heads, food on the table and clothes on their backs.

For a family of three - such as yours, would get - at most- a whopping $400 a month in cash and $500 in food stamps - and if the parents aren't disabled, would have work/education requirements to complete each month too. And, cash assistance in Ohio has a 36 month life-time limit - it is a temporary program.

If your family of 3 makes about $3000 a month or less, yes, you could have Medicaid for your son - even as a secondary insurance to help offset your medical costs.

You need to contact the Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps (BCMH) through the state health department. And your county Job & Family Services for other referrals and screening for programs.

Living in SE Ohio has its challenges with jobs and resources and many of us have to travel for special services , but its a choice we make to live here.

You asked "upon who's standards?" all these programs are income based - that would be on the people of this country and those that represent us - as over the last ten years, budgets for social services continue to be cut (and income guidelines are reduced) because no one is willing to raise taxes (or give up their tax cuts - or bail out Wall Street) or come up with ways to pay for such services on such a wide scale. So, it leads to tighter guidelines and only helping our neediest citizens with basic needs assistance only. That's a whole other debate on its own and opens other cans of worms too!

Poverty is a multi-faceted issue with many factors that isn't easily solved - if it were, we wouldn't have more people in poverty today than we have had since the Depression! Poverty is a crisis in Ohio and for America. I agree, people need to pay attention to the details of the campaigns and where the candidates stand/how they vote (not the mud slinging commercials) and VOTE - as well as voice your own opinions to those who represent you throughout the year!

By the way, BCMH is an income based organization. We have applied and was denied. If you figured in what we pay for our insurance cost, copays, and other things. I would take free insurance anyday! However, my husband and I continue to go to work each day to make sure we both have insurance to cover our high medical cost for our family.

I have great respect for your Mother! This is why these types of programs are put in to place and she is a great example as to why we have them. To have three kids and three jobs, that is amazing. She deserves every dime she received! However, this is my whole message. That it is a temporary support system. I do realize that the economy is in very difficult times and there are lots of people unemployed, however that doesn't mean we just hand out free money and don't further educate ourselves for future employment or don't look for jobs. We follow up with those receiving support to make sure they are using funds for what they are intended and children are being taken care of. I also believe that disabled individuals should receive lots of help! Whether it be financially, medically, or educationally. It should be provided from a baby to an ederly regardless of their income level. Please let your Mother know that I am so proud of her! She did an awesome job and obviously raised a wonderful girl/woman who truly understands how public assistance should help individuals, not support them!

I am not using this as a political statement. Only as a parent who is very fustrated at a situation of a sick child who can not find basic mobility services for my son. My insurance is not accepted, federal/state programs are not available to me, and yet I can not afford the extreme high cost of $105.00 an hour for the services. Plus, the two hour drive to get him to the appointments along with the weekly chemo therapy appointments and many other appointments. I understand the poverty and other challenges family face. This is why I joined the military when I graduated high school. I made a choice in my life to get training and education to place myself in a position to further educate and make myself job ready. The same opportunity that many others have. I did move away and yes I have the choice to move away. I choose to live here and build my home here in Southeast Ohio. I have a job here. My kids enjoy it here. I only state that these programs should not be income base when it comes to a Disabled Child! I have worked for many years and my child deserves it just as much as the other children in this country. I would have been better off to go in to the hospital and say that I was not an American citizen. Would I have received free care then? Is that fair? I only question the way we have allowed these programs to get out of hand and created a problem to allow people to depend on them instead to help them and educate. Create jobs and opportunity. Not dependency on the programs.

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We’re middle class; where’s the program benefits for my son?

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