Disability Experts of Florida's Blog

Your social security disability benefits claim was denied, so you requested a hearing and you’re finally getting your day in court. While this is a great opportunity to finally be heard in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), for many people, the idea of a disability hearing can be intimidating which can lead to bad decision-making. But with proper preparation, the process doesn't have to be frightening and you can come out a winner.

You never thought you’d say it, but you’re actually beginning to miss the daily grind; you definitely miss the water cooler gossip.  After a period of time out of the workforce, you may be thinking about returning to work after long term disability or short term disability. But you may also worry that finding work after disability will endanger your SSDI, SSI, Medicare or other benefits. And if you ultimately decide you’re not returning to work after short term disability, will you have to go through the whole Social Security Disability process again? Because it was a chore the first time around.

What's the talk around town? What's trending on Twitter? Let's face it, news about the rights of the disabled is usually not making front page news. It's unfortunate, but it's reality. So, in an effort to keep people informed and to help them make a difference, we're rounding up today’s current hot topics into one convenient post.

Earlier this month, Starbucks and American Airlines became the first two major companies to announce that they were phasing out plastic straws, and Seattle became the first U.S. city to ban them from food service establishments. While there’s no doubt that eliminating the use of plastic straws does offer environmental and health benefits, it also poses new challenges to people with disabilities, some of whom require a straw just to take a drink.

Fighting for the rights of the disabled has been an uphill battle, but over the years significant strides have been made. A turning point came in 1990, when President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. The ADA made discrimination based upon disability illegal, and specified five key factors:

Physical and mental disability can leave people struggling to make ends meet, making applying for disability benefits a necessity for many Americans. However, without a doctor’s endorsement, obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits can be difficult. Unfortunately, disability leaves many individuals unable to secure work and a paycheck, greatly hindering their ability to afford to see a doctor.

While progress has been gradual, life for Americans with disabilities has been improving. Laws have been enacted to provide protection; benefits are being provided; housing is becoming equal; and proper public accommodations are being offered. But with the United States Census Bureau reporting that nearly one in five Americans is disabled, we wanted to take a deeper dive into the numbers.

If you have been diagnosed with asthma, you have likely experienced the harmfulness and discomfort that is associated with asthma attacks. The shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and chest tightness can greatly interfere with your daily activities. In some cases, you may experience symptoms that are so severe that you need to make frequent visits to the hospital.

As the southernmost peninsular state in the U.S., Florida has been coined as the “Sunshine State.” Between east and west coast beaches and plenty of theme parks, Florida has a happy reputation for sun and fun. However, if you’re suffering from a medically disabling condition in Florida, it may not seem so sunny.