Contemplating Life – Episode 113 – “Benefits Battles and Dueling Diagnoses”

In this episode, I am beginning a series that could possibly be the last of this podcast. It might not be. But it’s a series I need to get finished in case this is the last.

Unless I pull off a minor logistical miracle sometime in the foreseeable future, I will be leaving the house that I have lived in since I was a few weeks shy of my fourth birthday. I will be moving into a skilled nursing facility where I hope to live out my days in comfort.

This series will chronicle my battles to receive the benefits I need to live a safe and fulfilling life. It will lead up to my current situation, which has led me to conclude that it’s time to move on to a different setting. I have no idea how long this series will take. It’s a long story.

Links of Interest

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_muscular_atrophy

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchenne_muscular_dystrophy

Indiana Department of Vocational Rehabilitation: https://www.in.gov/fssa/ddars/brs/vocational-rehabilitation-employment/

Indiana Aged and Disabled Waiver: https://www.in.gov/medicaid/members/home-and-community-based-services/aged-and-disabled-waiver/

Indiana Development Disability Waivers: https://www.in.gov/medicaid/members/home-and-community-based-services/family-supports-waiver/

Developmental Disability Defined: https://www.in.gov/gcpd/developmental-disability/

An older document defining DD: https://www.in.gov/fssa/ddars/files/Eligibility_and_ICF_ID_DD_LOC_Determination_signed.pdf

Mensa International: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mensa_International

Types of trusts: https://blogs.iu.edu/sharedsolutions/2023/08/21/planning-for-the-future-special-needs-and-miller-trusts-explained/

Newspaper article about Special Needs Integrity agency: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2015/11/16/nonprofit-accused-taking-millions/75886746/

Interview with Greg Fehribach: https://www.ibj.com/videos/interview-issue-2015-greg-fehribach

For more episodes: https://contemplating-life.com/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/contemplatinglife

Where to listen to this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/contemplatinglife

YouTube playlist of this and all other episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFFRYfZfNjHL8bFCmGDOBvEiRbzUiiHpq