__________________Bio____________________________

I have worked with people with disabilities in a professional capacity since February 2002, when I started working as a Benefits & Outreach Specialist at a Center for Independent Living (CIL). 

Since that time I have continued to assist people with barriers to employment, to obtain paid positions in the community.  These are people that experience physical, mental, social, legal and economic barriers.   I have worked with a variety of people, both beneficiaries and agencies, continuing to do Benefits Counseling (now called Work Incentive Counseling)provided career exploration and finding suitable employment, self-employment as well as wage employment.

 For some people, self-employment is the only option.  For these people, assistance is provided as much as needed, up to writing the business plan and cash-flow projections as well as helping to find funding.

 My life experiences as well as my work experiences provide me a valuable insight into people with disabilities, how to assist in finding real solutions to the barriers experienced, as well as how to focus on a persons abilities and how to use them to be self-sufficient.

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We encourage you to visit the Social Security website for information on Work and how earnings relate to your Social Security benefits.  Please use this link: Social Security Office

If you would like to learn about the SSA work incentive titled Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS), please visit this website: SSA Work Incentive  

Please take a minute to learn about how earnings from work will affect your benefits.  This is a very important first step for those beneficiaries that are looking at work. 

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