Guest guest Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 You answered my question fully. I was told that there have been quite a few complaints to the attorney that owns the building and nothing has been done. His reputation precedes him and I'm not in the mood to deal with ignorance so going elsewhere to complain and hopefully someone will stand up to him that has the powers to make him comply if he isn't. I know the buildings were not remodeled, but not sure how old they are either - they're fairly new. I'm pretty sure I can look up their tax record online and find out how old it is. I was hoping that an ADA group handled this stuff, but probably not. When I asked about resources for retraining I was also told that because I have a degree and had two majors, I could use the other one (meaning that since I wasn't teaching I could use the psychology end of my degree). I don't know many agencies that are looking for someone with an undergraduate dual degree though - they all want someone with a master's in psych. which makes sense. It would be great if we could all suggest careers/education paths that include work at home, by contract, etc. in jobs/careers where our bodies would not be put in jeopardy. Kathy Re: VR/Buliding access.? Kathy, Yes, GA VR will pay for higher education. Not all the time, but in some instances it will. I know for a fact it will pay if the person does not have a college degree. I was enrolled in my MPH when I got involved with VR. They said the reason they would not cover my tuition (or at least the state university rate for graduate classes, as I was going to an expensive, private university) was that they said I was employable with my current level of education. There was NO way I could perform my previous career, but since I had a BA in international studies and had also gotten my MBA, they said I was employable w/o further education - despite the fact that I had NEVER worked in business. Oh well, at least I was able to finish my degree and still receive VR benefits (they installed my first set of hand controls and remodeled my master bathroom and built a ramp to the front door of my house. I don't know about other people's experiences with VR, but mine with GA were atrocious. They basically chose the low bid contractor (well, one up from low bid) and he was AWFUL. I never got a CO for the bathroom mod or the front ramp - just a whole lot of problems. And it took them over a year to start w/o these pr As far as complaining about building access you need to complain to the owner of the building. Generally, the MD office is renting their space. My physiatrist just opened his new office at the Avenues at Forsyth. Gorgeous shopping center. I have spoken with the management company, as has my MD -about getting van accessible spaces. and they kept saying they were in compliance and didn't need to do anything. I finally got to talk to the owner yesterday after my appointment. Because their spaces are just regular handicap spaces with " van accessible " signs, the other car was blocking my ramp and I was unable to leave. My MDs office manager and I went down to the property management office and got the property manager to come out to the parking lot to see exactly why it is not van accessible. It was partly ignorance. he thought that as long as there was a striped area, that a van could use it. He had to see with his own two eyes that a standard handicap space is NOT van accessible (and that hanging a van accessible sign on it doesn't make it so). But - he is going to create 2 va and he is going to create real van accessible spaces. But like your MDs office, he too swears that he is in compliance with the law. You said that they knew it was going to house medical offices, yet was not build accessible. Was this building built recently from the ground up or just remodeled? At least in GA, if a building is being remodeled, then it only has to comply with the access standards for when the building was built. I think more than 80 of the building has to be torn down/removed/gutted in order for them to have to bring it up to current access standards. So, if the building was built in 1980 and remodeled, it very well may be in compliance. But if you are not sure, I would contact code enforcement or the building inspector and have them investigate to see if they are or aren't in compliance. There may also be another agency, but my eyes are closing and I'm nodding off as I type this and can't think of it now). If that doesn't work, its just a matter of talking to your MDs office about it. They have to work with their property management company and beg them to bring the property into compliance. I know it has taken me over a year to get them to know know. ok. That's all I can write now. My eyes are closing. If I failed to answer your question, email me and ask again. Jenn Wed, Mar 23, 2011 at 6:33 AM, DK Moulton wrote: > > > Hi Jenn, , and All, > > I looked into VR when I was thinking about returning to work three years > ago - I was told that they do not pay for education at higher ed > institutions, that they only offer 'training programs'. Does you state pay > for retraining to those that need a new career path that would require > further college education? > > Also - does anyone know who to complain to about a public bldg (a doctor's > office of all things) that is not in anyway, shape or form handicapped > accessible? I had to visit this building last week and I was dumbfounded; no > ramp, no button for the very heavy entrance doors to open and the bathrooms > were a nightmare to navigate in a chair. When I asked a receptionist about > the why of this she said the owner knew during construction that they would > be one of their clients (the doctor and an MRI/x-ray business), but still > did nothing to make the bldg accessible. > > She said others have complained to the owner of the bldg (a large, four > story mult-office building and owned by a local attorney) and she said that > he insists that it meets all guidelines. I don't understand how it can > though (or why these med. places stay) - if it was not for my daughter > lifting my chair like you would a stroller going over a curb to get to the > bldg's walkway, keeping the door open for me, and again lifting my chair to > be able to turn tight corners in the bathroom, I really would not have been > able to even get to the front door of this bldg, never mind get into the > offices > > Kathy > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Sorry this batch of messages isn't truncated (a pet peeve of mine) but they are coming from my phone & too hard to do on such a small screen). Kathy, If I had a degree in psych, I would try to do counseling from my home & build a business for myself. Something to consider. Jenn Sent from my iPhone You answered my question fully. I was told that there have been quite a few complaints to the attorney that owns the building and nothing has been done. His reputation precedes him and I'm not in the mood to deal with ignorance so going elsewhere to complain and hopefully someone will stand up to him that has the powers to make him comply if he isn't. I know the buildings were not remodeled, but not sure how old they are either - they're fairly new. I'm pretty sure I can look up their tax record online and find out how old it is. I was hoping that an ADA group handled this stuff, but probably not. When I asked about resources for retraining I was also told that because I have a degree and had two majors, I could use the other one (meaning that since I wasn't teaching I could use the psychology end of my degree). I don't know many agencies that are looking for someone with an undergraduate dual degree though - they all want someone with a master's in psych. which makes sense. It would be great if we could all suggest careers/education paths that include work at home, by contract, etc. in jobs/careers where our bodies would not be put in jeopardy. Kathy Re: VR/Buliding access.? Kathy, Yes, GA VR will pay for higher education. Not all the time, but in some instances it will. I know for a fact it will pay if the person does not have a college degree. I was enrolled in my MPH when I got involved with VR. They said the reason they would not cover my tuition (or at least the state university rate for graduate classes, as I was going to an expensive, private university) was that they said I was employable with my current level of education. There was NO way I could perform my previous career, but since I had a BA in international studies and had also gotten my MBA, they said I was employable w/o further education - despite the fact that I had NEVER worked in business. Oh well, at least I was able to finish my degree and still receive VR benefits (they installed my first set of hand controls and remodeled my master bathroom and built a ramp to the front door of my house. I don't know about other people's experiences with VR, but mine with GA were atrocious. They basically chose the low bid contractor (well, one up from low bid) and he was AWFUL. I never got a CO for the bathroom mod or the front ramp - just a whole lot of problems. And it took them over a year to start w/o these pr As far as complaining about building access you need to complain to the owner of the building. Generally, the MD office is renting their space. My physiatrist just opened his new office at the Avenues at Forsyth. Gorgeous shopping center. I have spoken with the management company, as has my MD -about getting van accessible spaces. and they kept saying they were in compliance and didn't need to do anything. I finally got to talk to the owner yesterday after my appointment. Because their spaces are just regular handicap spaces with " van accessible " signs, the other car was blocking my ramp and I was unable to leave. My MDs office manager and I went down to the property management office and got the property manager to come out to the parking lot to see exactly why it is not van accessible. It was partly ignorance. he thought that as long as there was a striped area, that a van could use it. He had to see with his own two eyes that a standard handicap space is NOT van accessible (and that hanging a van accessible sign on it doesn't make it so). But - he is going to create 2 va and he is going to create real van accessible spaces. But like your MDs office, he too swears that he is in compliance with the law. You said that they knew it was going to house medical offices, yet was not build accessible. Was this building built recently from the ground up or just remodeled? At least in GA, if a building is being remodeled, then it only has to comply with the access standards for when the building was built. I think more than 80 of the building has to be torn down/removed/gutted in order for them to have to bring it up to current access standards. So, if the building was built in 1980 and remodeled, it very well may be in compliance. But if you are not sure, I would contact code enforcement or the building inspector and have them investigate to see if they are or aren't in compliance. There may also be another agency, but my eyes are closing and I'm nodding off as I type this and can't think of it now). If that doesn't work, its just a matter of talking to your MDs office about it. They have to work with their property management company and beg them to bring the property into compliance. I know it has taken me over a year to get them to know know. ok. That's all I can write now. My eyes are closing. If I failed to answer your question, email me and ask again. Jenn Wed, Mar 23, 2011 at 6:33 AM, DK Moulton wrote: > > > Hi Jenn, , and All, > > I looked into VR when I was thinking about returning to work three years > ago - I was told that they do not pay for education at higher ed > institutions, that they only offer 'training programs'. Does you state pay > for retraining to those that need a new career path that would require > further college education? > > Also - does anyone know who to complain to about a public bldg (a doctor's > office of all things) that is not in anyway, shape or form handicapped > accessible? I had to visit this building last week and I was dumbfounded; no > ramp, no button for the very heavy entrance doors to open and the bathrooms > were a nightmare to navigate in a chair. When I asked a receptionist about > the why of this she said the owner knew during construction that they would > be one of their clients (the doctor and an MRI/x-ray business), but still > did nothing to make the bldg accessible. > > She said others have complained to the owner of the bldg (a large, four > story mult-office building and owned by a local attorney) and she said that > he insists that it meets all guidelines. I don't understand how it can > though (or why these med. places stay) - if it was not for my daughter > lifting my chair like you would a stroller going over a curb to get to the > bldg's walkway, keeping the door open for me, and again lifting my chair to > be able to turn tight corners in the bathroom, I really would not have been > able to even get to the front door of this bldg, never mind get into the > offices > > Kathy > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Thanks Jenn - Wish I could - but psych is only part of a double-major (and a minor in business - comes from not making up my mind and switching majors three times). Even an undergraduate degree in psych doesn't get you a license to do anything. I have been looking into different graduate programs (distance ed) for either psychology/rehabilitation counseling (sort of ironic, huh?) which is something I could do from home or to concentrate even further within special education or reading (my teaching license is for special ed and reading spec). At some point, it would be nice to contract with a school for very part-time specialized work. Kathy Re: VR/Buliding access.? > > Kathy, > > Yes, GA VR will pay for higher education. Not all the time, but in some > instances it will. I know for a fact it will pay if the person does not > have a college degree. I was enrolled in my MPH when I got involved with > VR. They said the reason they would not cover my tuition (or at least the > state university rate for graduate classes, as I was going to an > expensive, > private university) was that they said I was employable with my current > level of education. There was NO way I could perform my previous career, > but since I had a BA in international studies and had also gotten my MBA, > they said I was employable w/o further education - despite the fact that I > had NEVER worked in business. Oh well, at least I was able to finish my > degree and still receive VR benefits (they installed my first set of hand > controls and remodeled my master bathroom and built a ramp to the front > door > of my house. > > I don't know about other people's experiences with VR, but mine with GA > were > atrocious. They basically chose the low bid contractor (well, one up from > low bid) and he was AWFUL. I never got a CO for the bathroom mod or the > front ramp - just a whole lot of problems. And it took them over a year to > start w/o these pr > > As far as complaining about building access you need to complain to the > owner of the building. Generally, the MD office is renting their space. My > physiatrist just opened his new office at the Avenues at Forsyth. Gorgeous > shopping center. I have spoken with the management company, as has my MD > -about getting van accessible spaces. and they kept saying they were in > compliance and didn't need to do anything. I finally got to talk to the > owner yesterday after my appointment. Because their spaces are just > regular > handicap spaces with " van accessible " signs, the other car was blocking my > ramp and I was unable to leave. My MDs office manager and I went down to > the > property management office and got the property manager to come out to the > parking lot to see exactly why it is not van accessible. It was partly > ignorance. he thought that as long as there was a striped area, that a van > could use it. He had to see with his own two eyes that a standard handicap > space is NOT van accessible (and that hanging a van accessible sign on it > doesn't make it so). But - he is going to create 2 va and he is going to > create real van accessible spaces. But like your MDs office, he too swears > that he is in compliance with the law. > > You said that they knew it was going to house medical offices, yet was not > build accessible. Was this building built recently from the ground up or > just remodeled? At least in GA, if a building is being remodeled, then it > only has to comply with the access standards for when the building was > built. I think more than 80 of the building has to be torn > down/removed/gutted in order for them to have to bring it up to current > access standards. So, if the building was built in 1980 and remodeled, it > very well may be in compliance. But if you are not sure, I would contact > code enforcement or the building inspector and have them investigate to > see > if they are or aren't in compliance. There may also be another agency, but > my eyes are closing and I'm nodding off as I type this and can't think of > it > now). If that doesn't work, its just a matter of talking to your MDs > office > about it. They have to work with their property management company and beg > them to bring the property into compliance. I know it has taken me over a > year to get them to know know. > > ok. That's all I can write now. My eyes are closing. If I failed to answer > your question, email me and ask again. > > Jenn > > Wed, Mar 23, 2011 at 6:33 AM, DK Moulton wrote: > >> >> >> Hi Jenn, , and All, >> >> I looked into VR when I was thinking about returning to work three years >> ago - I was told that they do not pay for education at higher ed >> institutions, that they only offer 'training programs'. Does you state >> pay >> for retraining to those that need a new career path that would require >> further college education? >> >> Also - does anyone know who to complain to about a public bldg (a >> doctor's >> office of all things) that is not in anyway, shape or form handicapped >> accessible? I had to visit this building last week and I was dumbfounded; > no >> ramp, no button for the very heavy entrance doors to open and the > bathrooms >> were a nightmare to navigate in a chair. When I asked a receptionist >> about >> the why of this she said the owner knew during construction that they > would >> be one of their clients (the doctor and an MRI/x-ray business), but still >> did nothing to make the bldg accessible. >> >> She said others have complained to the owner of the bldg (a large, four >> story mult-office building and owned by a local attorney) and she said > that >> he insists that it meets all guidelines. I don't understand how it can >> though (or why these med. places stay) - if it was not for my daughter >> lifting my chair like you would a stroller going over a curb to get to >> the >> bldg's walkway, keeping the door open for me, and again lifting my chair > to >> be able to turn tight corners in the bathroom, I really would not have > been >> able to even get to the front door of this bldg, never mind get into the >> offices >> >> Kathy >> > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Thats an excellent idea! I am very involved with CCI (Canine Companions for Independence). Mostly because my Mom has been wheelchair bound for years and is also about 90% deaf. She is now on her third service dog from this company (two retired) and it has made such a difference in her life and her independence that I do whatever I can to support them. They are one of the only companies that doesnt charge for their dogs. Most organizations charge from 10-20 thousand dollars. Can you imagine? Anyway, CCI breeds, raises, trains their dogs. We have two puppy raisers here in ee and they are both school teachers. They take their pups with them to school every day and it helps socialize the pups (and the kids love it!) One of the teachers also has a " flunkie " . A pup that didnt make it through advanced training but is still an awesomely trained dog. She started a program where kids below reading level read to the dog. Its a fantastic program! Cant tell you how many kids are now reading above their level just from reading to Delores  > >> >> >> Hi Jenn, , and All, >> >> I looked into VR when I was thinking about returning to work three years >> ago - I was told that they do not pay for education at higher ed >> institutions, that they only offer 'training programs'. Does you state >> pay >> for retraining to those that need a new career path that would require >> further college education? >> >> Also - does anyone know who to complain to about a public bldg (a >> doctor's >> office of all things) that is not in anyway, shape or form handicapped >> accessible? I had to visit this building last week and I was dumbfounded; > no >> ramp, no button for the very heavy entrance doors to open and the > bathrooms >> were a nightmare to navigate in a chair. When I asked a receptionist >> about >> the why of this she said the owner knew during construction that they > would >> be one of their clients (the doctor and an MRI/x-ray business), but still >> did nothing to make the bldg accessible. >> >> She said others have complained to the owner of the bldg (a large, four >> story mult-office building and owned by a local attorney) and she said > that >> he insists that it meets all guidelines. I don't understand how it can >> though (or why these med. places stay) - if it was not for my daughter >> lifting my chair like you would a stroller going over a curb to get to >> the >> bldg's walkway, keeping the door open for me, and again lifting my chair > to >> be able to turn tight corners in the bathroom, I really would not have > been >> able to even get to the front door of this bldg, never mind get into the >> offices >> >> Kathy >> > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Kathy, I thought Walden University was supposed to have a good reputation. Have you looked into online schools (middle/HS)? I would assume there are online schools for those students that are home schooled or have medical problems and cannot attend classes. Just like online college classes, I would think they would need online professors. I have looked into doing that, but unfortunately my advanced degrees are in business and public health and there aren't many undergraduate classes in those fields. There are a few business classes, but you generally have to have a certain number of classes in that area, and my MBA was a general MBA (I didn't really care about the degree, so none of the specific fields interested me enough to concentrate in them - marketing, management, econ, etc). So, I never have the requisite number of hours in the area to teach undergrad classes. I have yet to find an online undergrad program that offers public health classes. Jenn > > > I have been looking into different graduate programs (distance ed) for > either psychology/rehabilitation counseling (sort of ironic, huh?) which is > > something I could do from home or to concentrate even further within > special > education or reading (my teaching license is for special ed and reading > spec). > Kathy > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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