Colorado Social Security Disability Law

Tomasz Stasiuk June 30th, 2008

The IBOT is Dean Kamen’s on-road, off road, all terrain, stair climbing, power chair (”wheelchair”) which can also go into two wheel mode to raise the rider into a higher, more eye-level position.

It isn’t exactly new, but it is actually out in the real world; instead of being just some super cool prototype in a lab.

Here’s a nice clear, although in lab videos showing the features:

BlazerCast for April 1: The IBot Mobility System - The best video clips are right here

Here’s a real world video (poorer quality video but showing off road use):

Theresa Test Drives An IBot - Funny blooper videos are here

How stable is it in two wheel mode? Oh, stable enough to go to the gun range! Seriously!

The commercial even shows it on the beach!
Sorry, can’t embed this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKYDLdu930s&feature=related

How much? Oh, about $26,000 according to the videos. Ouch! For more information, see www.ibotnow.com.

Tags: Dean Kamen, IBot, Power Chair, Video, Wheelchair

• Medical Advances
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Tomasz Stasiuk June 16th, 2008

Losing limbs doesn’t keeps these kids from some serious dancing.

Tags: Video

• Real Experiences
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Tomasz Stasiuk June 9th, 2008

Tags: Fibromyalgia, Video

• Real Experiences
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Tomasz Stasiuk June 5th, 2008

I previously posted about Dean Kamen’s prosthetic arm.

That was just a teaser.  Here is a new video showing you much more of what the arm can do.

 
Opps! Bad link initially. Should be working now.
 

Tags: Dean Kamen, Prosthetic, Video

• Medical Advances
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Tomasz Stasiuk June 2nd, 2008

Tags: Cervical Spine, Video

• Disabilities/Impairments
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Tomasz Stasiuk May 28th, 2008

The short answer is “yes.”

Ok. Great. Latte time! Well, maybe not. Knowing that a condition can be disabling does not tell you HOW to prove that social phobia is disabling in your case.

As in any Social Security disability case, you have to show that social phobia keeps you from being able to engage in substantial gainful activity (generally full time work).

Social phobia most likely affects your ability to work by making it impossible for you to have more than very occasional contact with the public, co-workers, or supervisors. That would be the workplace limitation that would preclude most kinds of substantial gainful activity and keep you from being able to work.

You can prove this limitation by obtaining supporting statements showing isolation, difficulty interacting with others, avoiding social events, or avoiding contact with others during social events, going to the store to shop at 1:00 in the morning to avoid dealing with others.  Several of my clients have shared with me that they have left their groceries at the check out line because there was suddenly too many people in line, or there was some kind of commotion, or some other problem.

These cases are very personal.  There is no recipe guaranteed to win your Social Security claim. But, it you just can’t be around people, if you avoid contact, even with people you like, you may qualify for Social Security.

It is often helpful to enlist the help of an attorney, or even a family member, to help you list all the ways social phobia/social anxiety disorder affects your ability to function.  Then figure out ways to document these problems.  

Of course, as I have talked about many (many) times before, medical records are critical.  But, especially in social phobia cases, you will need to go beyond the medical records when developing your case. 

 photo credit: A Touch of Glass

Tags: Social Anxiety, Social Phobia

• Building a Case , Disabilities/Impairments
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Tomasz Stasiuk May 26th, 2008

Tags: Rotator Cuff, Video

• Disabilities/Impairments
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Tomasz Stasiuk May 20th, 2008

Tags: CRPS/RSD, Video

• Disabilities/Impairments
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Tomasz Stasiuk May 19th, 2008

Tags: CRPS/RSD, Video

• Disabilities/Impairments
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Tomasz Stasiuk May 16th, 2008

The diagnosis of complex partial seizures brings a wide set of complications to a Social Security disability case. I have seen cases where benefits were denied because EEG results were normal. This exemplifies the confusion between partial complex partial seizures and epileptic seizures

I have tried to bridge this gap in understanding by working with my clients’ doctors in providing Social Security with an explanation of this devastating condition.

I recently found a wonderful article with shines a clear light on the debilitating effects of complex partial seizures:

During a complex partial seizure, the patient may not communicate, respond to commands, or remember events that occurred. Consciousness might not be impaired completely. During a complex partial seizure, some patients may make simple verbal responses, follow simple commands, or continue to perform simple or, less commonly, complex motor behaviors such as operating a car. Complex partial seizures typically arise from the temporal lobe but may arise from any cortical region.

Automatisms are quasi-purposeful motor or verbal behaviors that commonly accompany complex partial seizures. The behavior is called quasi-purposeful because it is repeated inappropriately or is inappropriate for the situation. Verbal automatisms range from simple vocalizations, such as moaning, to more complex, comprehensible, stereotyped speech.

…

Seizures often begin with a brief aura (simple partial seizure) lasting seconds and then becomes a complex partial seizure. The type of aura is related to the site of cortical onset. Temporal-lobe seizures often begin with a rising abdominal sensation, fear, unreality, or déjà vu. Parietal-lobe seizures may begin with an electrical sensation, tingling, or numbness. Occipital-lobe seizures may begin with visual changes, such as the perception of colored lines, spots, or shapes or even a loss of vision.

Read more here.

photo credit: phatman

Tags: Complex Partial Seizures

• Disabilities/Impairments
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