Story Time!

Can I share a story? One with a happy ending that will remind you that there are some VERY awesome people out there?

Here it goes.

In February I applied for ODSP (Ontario Disability Program) It helps those with a registered disability to survive and helps them get back on there feet by giving them a worker (who helps them gain employment, or start a buisness, and a steady monthly income)

A barely survivable income if you are on your own, but it works.

So I put the paper work in, got the doctor's forms and such and then waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Aug 29 they finally sent me a letter saying that yes, I was their definition of disabled (the border-line personality disorder) and that my local branch would contact me soon.

So I waited again.

And waited.

But things were getting too desperate and so I called. For me, that's a big deal. I'm TERRIFIED of calling ((and you can actually blame Disgaea 4 on me getting up the guts to do it sadly))

So I called. And the lady on the other end, after a long period of silence, said she'd print off my file and make sure someone saw it immediately.

The very NEXT day I get a call. I'm going to refer to this person simply as Awesome, or A for short. So, A had stayed late hunting for the rest of my file (which had gotten lost) and refused to let me go another day without an answer. She called me up and arranged a meeting the next day, which was today.

I went there today with mom and A brought us in to the interview room.

I won't get into full details, but here:

This is what she was REQUIRED to do:

-get me to sign a form saying that yes, I still needed finacial assistance and tell me to pick up checks on Friday.

This is what she ACTUALLY did:

-She got me a check for that day with all the back payments of monthly income from the date I applied.
-She wrote me out my drug and dental plan cards so that I would not go another day with my medication
-She got it switched so that instead of paying room and board as a child, I am an adult who is responsible for 1/3 of the household. Which means higher monthly payments.
-She then added that on to my back payments so that when I go on Friday to get Septembers check, there will be another with the back payment amount.
-She did the same to my brother's file so that he is getting that same bonus check and an increased monthly payment.
-She showed me every instance that I could use to get the money that I needed and got the number so that I can get my epi-pens covered

In short, she was amazing!

And what this means is that we can get caught up on all our bills. Rent is covered. I have my meds. We have some food. I was able to treat my family to dinner this evening and I got myself a GOOD pair of shoes (since I do an insane amount of walking both fitness and not). My bunny has a good log for chewing and all his food and hay. The cats got what they need and....mom can breath again.

She was smiling and joking around and actually talking to us again! She has a long way to go, but I'm no longer fearing for her life.

All because some lady saw my file and was determined that I would not go another day without help. I had to hug her before I left. She's not even my case worker, she's over-worked because the Goverment cut one of the programs staff and gave everyone else a double load, and yet, she found time to hunt for my missing file and arrange it so that I would be alright.


I thought some of you out there would like to hear that. There are still good people out there!

And me.

I'm okay. And now that I'm not scrambling after money and stressed I can work properly on the stuff I want to do and share with all of you.

But first, I think I'm going to go relax with videogames and cookies ((yeah I baked ^___^))

...

Thanks for sending me all the good wishes, I know damn well they helped!