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You were disabled. You're stuck laying down most of the day. What do you do to earn a living and survive?

You were disabled and realize it is not getting better, and no one seems to be able to fix the issue. You're stuck laying down most of the day, you have enough mobility to function at home, but anything outside of home leaves you in bad shape beyond your control where you are not professionally functional. What do you do to earn a living and survive?

This is not a hypothetical for me.

68 comments
  • I'm lucky enough that I'd be able to just continue to do what I currently do, and write code.

  • Aight. Since you are in California, get connected with the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). In a general nutshell, their main goal is to help people with disabilities get gainful permanent employment.

    You will need verification of disability and from your attempt at claims you don't have any, but any disability will work to include anxiety that raises to the level of disability, depression, anything already verified by medical professionals.

    They can also provide funding for college to help you get a job. They can pay for tuition, fees, parking passes, school materials.

    Also I think all states have a department similar to DOR.

  • I feel you friend, this isn't a hypothetical for me either. That's literally just my life now. I used to work delivery, 12+ hour days walking 10+ miles per day. Buy after a dog attack standing for more than an hour a day just flat out hurts. Enough that I can't really focus on anything productive. Thankfully I can still cook and tidy up while my partner makes enough to support us.

    Mostly I read. Libby was an absolute game changer for me. I spend too much time on lemmy for sure, but it is what it is. I wish I had a better answer for you friend.

  • I work in an office typing on a keyboard all day. I could easily do this job from home.

    Any job that fits that description will suit you. There are quite a few of them nowadays.

  • Programming (React, JavaScript, Python and anything AI are hot and tend to pay well once you're in the industry), 3D Modelling, 3D Animation, Game Development, Digital Design, IT / InfoSec work (may need a few certificates to be competitive), Call Taker (these can be brutal, but good companies exist).

    If you're able to walk around somewhat and can sit for very long periods of time, truck driving may be an option (again, depending on your disability specifically). Truck driving is in extremely high demand and pays pretty well, and may even hook you up with hotel rooms if you get the right benefits. You will need to be able to sit in one spot and drive for many hours sometimes though, like 12+ hours.

    Writing is also an option, as is drop shipping / starting a print-on-demand company on Etsy (though these will take a while to get rolling).

  • This can't help in the short term, I would consider learning steno. It used to cost thousands to rent specialized equipment to do it. Now with Plover (foss), the software component is free. You just need a keyboard with n-key rollover to do it.

    I wouldn't actually recommend learning on a standard keyboard. I personally use an ortholinear for typing, and that's what got me into plover.

    One way this would help one disabilities to make money is that with high-speed internet, you can caption internet broadcasts or remote company meetings. There are nonprofits that you would work for to find companies that need your service.

  • In that situation I would try to be a vtuber.

    I'm told what typically takes place is that the person ends up on disability and works a part time call center style job though.

    Edit: might wanna check with your local churches to see if they have a support network you can lean on if you're ok with religion.

  • IT work from home. You can get certs and take courses almost completely online and you can do it relatively quickly

    Edit: A degree is also not mandatory as long as you have some certifications

  • There's a company that uses robots, controlled remotely by severely disabled people, to be servers in a restaurant. I'd probably do that.

  • Arts come to mind immediately: drawing (mainly furry porn), modelling/sculpting (3D or clay), painting (painting minis for nerds is more lucrative than painting canvases), music, writing.

    Programming and web design also don't require physical labor other than you being able to type on a keyboard or equivalent.

    There's also video content you could try, either as creator or editor. Video editing is a skill needed by both big time and internet creators

  • I lived this for years.

    First, you'll want to look into government disability support. The specifics will vary wildly depending where you are, but it's probably your most useful resource. For me, along with the money, they had tailored support for finding work I could do.

    They ended up finding me a part time, WFH call center job. There were incentives for the employer to take me because of my disability and assistance (including financial) for setting me up for it. It was still extremely hard but the disability support checked in on me regularly to help me through it.

    Before that, there are plenty of ways to make money online. Too many to list. If you've got the basic skills, the equipment and you're still able to function enough it's worth trying.

    There is also going to be a variety of various charity and government support programs for people with disabilities, low income earners, etc. with the specifics depending on where you are. The harsh reality is surviving will mean learning to swallow your pride and enduring shame. Don't just look for "disability" support, take anything you might be applicable for. Make sure to look through every level of government you might come under as they aren't unified and can be difficult to find.

    Community groups can be an invaluable resource. If there are ones that might apply to you - whether it be around ethnicity, sexuality, religion, whatever - you can find a wealth of assistance. At the very least they're going to have some free food.

    • I'm just coming around to the idea of trying again. My family will only be around for so long. After a 3 year court case against the responsible party, never getting better and instead coming to terms with declining more and more, then having disability fall through; it was all too much. I've been totally disenfranchised for far too long, but just fighting to barely survive in near total social isolation is not very motivating. Thanks for sharing.

      • It might be worth looking for a family practitioner (that's the American term for a general doctor right?) that advertises experience with mental health. Queer friendly and poor (and the many euphemisms they use) assistance is also a good sign. Talk about how your disability is effecting your mental health, ask if they have recommendations for both.

        The reason I recommend this is you're looking for people with empathy. Bureaucracies are made of people first and foremost, checking the right boxes is second to having someone who will make sure the right box gets checked. People who deal with mental health, queerness and poverty are also far more likely to have the experience to point you in the right direction with government services. They probably wont be the end of your journey but they'll be a good guide.

  • As long as I can operate a computer, I'd get back into 3d modeling.

    Doing it professionally takes a significant upfront investment in a good computer, pro-level software that has expensive yearly subscription, and time to learn how to work the program properly. So, idk how much help this idea is.

    Also, AI is trying hard to break into the 3d modeling space.

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