CLINIC LOCATION: 4021 West 8th St. Little Rock, AR 72204
Located just south of I-630 at the Cedar and Pine exit (old KARN Building).
Free parking available as well as wheelchair ramp and accessible entrance.
Want to be a brain injury advocate?
Apply to join our Brain Injury Council!
Be a voice for brain injury in Arkansas. Read more and apply here: http://bit.ly/joinabic
Social Security Pointers: Disability – Part of the Equity Equation
By Tonya Cater, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist
People with disabilities play an important role in a diverse and inclusive workforce. We would like to tell you about Amy and her path to financial independence through work.
Meet Amy
Amy has a disability that affects her speech, learning, and social interactions. When she was ready to find a path to financial independence through work, Amy turned to her State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency for help (here, it is called Arkansas Rehabilitation Services). Amy’s VR counselor told her about Social Security’s Ticket to Work (Ticket) Program.
The Ticket Program helps people with disabilities who want to work. Any adults ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can qualify. Service providers offer free employment support services.
Amy had questions about how working could affect her benefits. Her state VR counselor connected her with Full Circle Employment Solutions, which is an Employment Network (EN) with benefits counselors who could answer her questions. Amy’s benefits counselor also told her about work incentives. Work incentives make it easier for adults with disabilities to build job skills and gain work experience without losing benefits.
With a better understanding of the programs, Amy was ready to explore some job options. She pursued an internship with Project SEARCH, a training program for young adults with developmental disabilities. Through Project SEARCH, Amy found an internship that led to a permanent position with her local government.
Amy earned her way to financial independence, and no longer receives SSI. Now, she’s a union member, receives benefits through her job, and enjoys the security and stability that comes with full-time employment. She’s grateful for the support she received through the Ticket Program and looks forward to building the future she always hoped for.
“This job makes me feel needed and welcomed,” she said. “I have learned about what motivates me and how to keep going, even when things get hard.”
Learn More
To learn more about the Ticket Program, visit choosework.ssa.gov where you also can see a list of service providers. Or you can call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, and ask for a list of service providers.
You can also learn more by registering for a free, online Work Incentives Seminar Event webinar at choosework.ssa.gov/wise. Or you can text TICKET to 474747 to receive Ticket Program texts. Standard messaging rates may apply, and you can opt out at any time.
Please share this information with friends and family who may need it.