Living with disabilities in North Carolina

“Nobody is guaranteed complete mobility,” said a North Carolina resident recently when asked about living with disabilities. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 17 years ago. “Disability is something that could happen to anybody,” she adds.

A recent article in an Asheville newspaper serves as an eye-opener for readers unaccustomed to living with a disability or living with someone who has a disability. The personal stories in the piece help readers understand that even when injury or illness results in a disability that keeps a person from working, accomplishment, enjoyment of life and growth are all still attainable.

One of the stories shared is of a man who was up on a scaffold for a painting job. Unfortunately, the scaffold was improperly secured, and he plunged four stories to the ground, sustaining serious injuries that left him paralyzed from the middle of his chest down.

Still, he is proud that he has surpassed doctors’ estimates of his post-accident capabilities. And he is proud as well of the work he does as an advocate for people living with disabilities.

One of his goals is to make sure those he comes in contact with come away with a better understanding of “the Americans with Disabilities Act and how its requirements can benefit us.”

When businesses remain inaccessible to people with disabilities, it can lead to a downward spiral, said a disability advocate.

“If you don’t know if you can get in somewhere, if you aren’t sure you’ll be able to use the bathroom, how likely are you to take the trouble?” she asked. “It’s easier to just stay home. Out of sight, out of mind: It’s a vicious cycle.”

One of the most important tools available to people with disabilities is Social Security Disability. The process of getting a claim approved can be slow and difficult, which is why many claimants file appeals of denied claims with the help of a Charlotte attorney experienced in SSDI appeals.