With all the help I received from Social Security and The Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services there is one thing that was never addressed: How to overcome the limits of Isolation caused by on going poverty.
Counseling happens and that helps those who are disabled to overcome the self image issues. It is also true that some spending does happen and field trips but those are mostly to show what is possible and be encouraging. It is all helpful however it doesn't address my problem.
You see most people who have seen the possibilities and have over come the self image issues would have already developed social graces and would already have put aside money to join organizations that would give networking possibilities. Disabled and impoverished people don't actually have that opportunity.
Here is why: It costs money and effort. And it needs someone savvy and experienced to generate the income in doing it. There are 7 or 8 Local organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Business Women Associations, Artists groups and guilds, Rotary, etc etc and all of them take cash. And even if you had the cash most of the time if you haven't had a good meal or you are disabled, fatigue and clarity of mind are not going to be an asset you can draw on. Then of course there is the problem of accessibility.
All of the rehab programs in the world are not going to get the disabled where they need to be if there is no one to partner with who can do the networking and the sales and marketing leg work.
I don't have money so I tried to get somewhere with this through the only two options left to me. The SCORE organization of retired business men who help small businesses to get started And my local church.
Here is what happened. The available gentlemen from SCORE wouldn't even touch what I am doing because I currently use Internet Marketing venues. I didn't need more information on Internet Marketing I needed a way to connect to real people and real businesses face to face and I needed some alternate ideas on how to do that since I am unable to do it myself. SCORE wouldn't touch me.
I also joined the only church in my community that had access to the building for disabled people. Well they refused to help even connect me with any business people and got mad at me because I would not commit money I didn't have to participating in galleries or art shows. And they got even madder when they saw that I had no money to give to the church. My dad was a pastor, I never heard him not help anyone who need it, even helping people get jobs. So that was a real shock.
Really, I need some help here. Do you have any ideas on how I can network or who can be my networking face?
~L
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