A disability Should be Judged by its effect upon the Individual not by manmade criteria.

By definition a disability is anything that may tend to: 1. Disqualify 2. Deprive 3. Make useless or 4. Cripple an Individual Under existing law it appears that a potentially disabling condition must meet three artificial criteria before being declared disabling. · It must be Observable · It must be Visual and · It must be Quantitative If a condition does not meet these criteria; it most probably will not be judged disabling. This is a faulty assumption because some disabling conditions are not readily: · Observable, · Visual, or · Quantitative.

TBI is one such condition whose effects maybe deeply buried in the individuals’ psyche. However these effects may last a lifetime and include the following: 1. Epilepsy 2. Hearing Impairments 3. Speech Impairments 4. Cognitive deficiencies, and in some cases mild to severe 5. Behavioral problems.

Conditions, like the above, may not be Observable, Visual or Quantitative; however they may be just as devastating as conditions which meet these criteria. In some cases they may even hinder ones attempts to gain employment.

Under existing law, it appears that one’s socioeconomic status may be a further determiner of his eligibility for assistance either Monetary or for Vocational Rehabilitation.

One’s economic status should not be used to determine eligibility for help. Most times it reflects the status of some other significant other and not that of the disabled individual. Economic status further does not reflect one’s future employability or earning capability. Economic status further does not consider the following: · The age of the individual when they became disabled · Lifelong limitations that may prevent future employability.

Future employability is the only true indicator of one’s economic status.

Regardless of their” present” status; it may be presumed that the disabled will be capable of leading a productive life if they receive the the following: · Quality care · Effective help, and · Lifelong supports.

Deny the above and the disabled may become burdens not only upon their “Families” but also upon Society.

What standard should be used when assessing the effects of a disability? Their effects upon the individual should judge all disabilities: · Are their lasting residual limitations? · Will these be expected to last a lifetime? · If there are residual limitations, will they cause the individual to be considered an insurance risk under? 1. Workers Compensation or 2. Life/Health insurance? · What was its age of onset? · Did it occur during the formative years or did it occur after? · If during the formative years did it cause the individual to develop socially inappropriate skills? · If in later years; what is the victim’s projected lost income?

To use any other standard to determine eligibility for help will ultimately deny the disabled those Rights that cannot be taken away without “Due Process.” These are ones Rights of Self Determination that are:

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