Re: [QUAD-L] Getting vans bought by DR

[Stacy Harim]

I'm having issues now because I just got a new counselor and she is new to her job so she is not even that aware of my issues now.  I'm taking my 2 fall classes online because I have some health issues to get cleared up like the sore on my foot so I am opting to take my classes at home so I can get healed up.  I won't run into transportation issues until I take my full time classes in the spring semester.  There isn't too much fighting I can do about that transportation until I know my schedule and I won't know that for some time yet.   I had my driving evaluation on June 11th and the guy that did that promised that he would fax my release for the medical board at the DMV so that could get started.  I never received it.  I called voc rehab and I had a supervisor taking cases while they were looking for someone look into it.  He said "that John that did my evaluation should have had that taken care of in 10 - 14 days.  My report should have been out.  He was to look into it.  I then got a letter a few weeks later that I got a new counselor.  I called and left a message for her, no call back.  I left two more before I heard from her.  She gets into my file, no one had heard a thing.  The supervisor never checked on it and then she emailed John and he emailed her back telling her that the fax failed and he had lost my file.  He could have called me or mailed me something when the fax failed.  I told him that I did not want to wait so long to get my license and he promised me he would get the ball moving and did the total opposite.  I'm so sick with this office.  Unfortunately, I can't get another counselor because she is the only one in that office.  She is telling me how busy everyone is and making excuses because voc rehab doesn't turn anyone away and I am actually lucky that I am getting done what I am.  I had to wait months for the driving evaluation to begin with because they don't have anyone in the area that does the driving evaluation so I had to wait.  Now I have to wait until he make can make it in the area again to get my 8 to 10 hours of training.    Funny story with the guy who did the training.  He didn't move the seat out of the drivers side of the van because he had hurt his back, but I had to transfer into the seat to drive.  Not such a big deal, but there was equipment bolted down in between the seats that I could not get my legs around.  It's like they are making me work around their conveniences but they can't work with me at all and nothing I can do to get someone else to take my case because their isn't anyone else to work on my case because of the area I live in.   Thanks for listening to my bitching. Stacy   "People who hate you do not win unless you hate them. Then you destroy yourself" ----- Original Message ----- From: b.hickey To: Quad-List Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2004 3:24 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Getting vans bought by DR ......"there isn't anything that they can do about it"...........   Sounds like you may need a new DVR person.......I will bring your situation up with Eric Potter, My DVR guy! He's Fantastic at gettin the job done!   Hmm try this......call 360-651-6404.....Ask for Eric. Perhaps he can chat with your local DVR for ideas.   It doest sound like there is much teamwork or communication between DVR State to State. So this kinda stuff may help   DVR also told me, before we went with the PASS plan, that they could "buy and carry the note" on a new van. I would have made payments to "DVR" for the new van, unlike now, where I will make payments to the "SSA" (Social Security Admin) with my SSI check.   DVR has tons of options......but if they are trying to "Shine the Fiscal Departments Badges" by not spending all of the Federally matched $$....then they get raises and we get the bent arrow shaft, in the wrong target.  lol   Ill talk to Eric Monday.....OK?   Bob     ----- Original Message ----- From: Stacy Harim To: Quad-List ; b.hickey Sent: Friday, August 06, 2004 8:28 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Getting vans bought by DR It does Bob, I knew some of what you said. I was aware of what Social security could do as far as that goes.  I just thought that DVR did not pay for the van.  I knew about the conversions.  I still don't know what is going on with the van that is supposed to get donated to me.  I haven't heard anything about it.  I am going to call on Monday about it and see where he stands.  It worries me since I haven't heard anything.    The thing that would concern me about PASS or ticket to work is that I am trying to go to school these days and that is where my transportation problem is lying. I don't have a PASS or ticket to work for another 2 years yet and I will start working on that plan when it gets to be a closer time for it.    Everyone is saying that it is DVR's plan to get my transportation and any cost, but they explained to me that they are to help me with what is available.  If there isn't any available or accessible to me then there isn't anything that they can do about it.   Stacy   "People who hate you do not win unless you hate them. Then you destroy yourself" ----- Original Message ----- From: b.hickey To: Quad-List Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 2:42 AM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Getting vans bought by DR The catch is...... it takes justification, time, patience, hard work ans a solid Business Plan. All of wich you have or can get!!   You do have to go thru the "Division of Vocational Rehabilitation" because they also have funding resourses for things like hand controls,  power lifts and anything you can think of that you need in order to get back to work. There's the fun part.....   :-)  ....   Use your imagination and come up with a solid plan. Remember the goal is, Driving Independently to Work. So plan accordingly. For a business Plan ask yourself what am I good at, that makes me happy?   What im trying to say is, have DVR help yo start up your own MOBILE Business or find a job that you need to drive to. Use all thats availible, SSA, DVR.....The Pass Plan, Ticket to Work, IRWE's (Income Related Work Expenses)......ect.   The Pass plan is funding my van with monthly payments from my SSI check  and DVR is funding the conversions.   Hope this helps.....Bob   ----- Original Message ----- From: Stacy Harim To: Quad-List Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 11:21 PM Subject: [QUAD-L] Getting vans bought by DR How in the hell are some of you getting DR to pay for vans.?  There is no way I can get them to pay for any kind of vehicle modifications to a van that is more than 4 years old and more than 40,000 miles.  I brought up that a couple of people got DR in their state to pay for the vans (DR is federal) and they have no idea what I am talking about except for they they say that they don't know how that was done since DR is federal. Stacy   "People who hate you do not win unless you hate them. Then you destroy yourself"