What to do???

Been a busy couple of months here in Oklahoma! Finally got my Permanent Resident card from Immigrations back in January. Then went to get my SSN # (thats SIN # for you canucks).

Started job hunting with hardly any luck, living in a town of 5,000 people with the big companies being WalMart, Lowe's and Walgreen's. Got a call from Walgreen's to come in and finish the 2nd part of the application. "Whoo hoo!" I thought to myself. But that feeling was short lived as I finished filling out the application and turned it in to the manager and recognized the all too familiar "nervous but polite grin (or sneer?)" and the condescending "Thank you, we'll let you know" remark (people with disabilities will know what I mean). I don't even think that application made it to his desk but to the trash can instead.

Looked through tons of help wanted ads, the majority require phone work (grumble) and if they don't require phone work they require a driver's licence (grumbling louder).

Filled out applications for SSI (Supplemental Income) but I don't qualify until I've lived in the US for 5 years. But I did find a "loophole" and can become an American Citizen 3 years after application because I'm married to a US Cititzen.....so 2 more years to go! But still....2 years of doing what???

Sure my husband tries to reassure me saying "Being mother and taking care of the house is a really important job". But my first reaction is "Yeah but it's not paying the @#$%^#@ bills!!"

Hunting all avenues I could, I came across Oklahoma Vocational Rehabilitation and fired off an email to them. I got a reply saying that they'll come by for a visit. After filling out what seems like 10 pages of applications, they said I do qualify for their services, either for job hunting, or for retraining. The catch is, that won't be until July when their new fiscal year begins and they have money to take on new clients. Time to play the waiting game now!

So I spent some time researching what kind of careers deafblind people can enter. But, having a tough time because many websites are very vague on this subject. "Many deafblind people are employed in administrative positions, factory jobs, computer jobs, etc" Yeah, but doing WHAT???!!!

Did a few free "Match your interests to a career" but then it says "Send in $29.95 for your full report!" So much for being "free" sheeesh. (Banging head on computer desk).

So everyone out there in Cyberland!! (waving with my arms) Tell me what can a person with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration; 2 diplomas as an Accounting Clerk and Finance Assistant (can't remember that training now 'cuz no one gave me a chance to practice it); not enough hearing for phone work in an office; not enough eyesight for quality control in a factory; is supposed TO DO??!! Send in your comments on what careers deafblind people have done that you know of, and please be a little specific and not just "work at Post Office".

Just this past mother's day my daughter gave me a poster she made at school called "I know my Mom Well". One of the questions was "Her job is..." and my daughter's answer was "washing dishes". So I'm going down in my daughter's memory as a dishwasher!! Whoo Hoo!!

I know the most important job I've got is just being a mother, but just sometimes there's a twinge of wanting to provide more for my family.

Anyways, there's a pile of dishes waiting to be washed (snickering). I'll appreciate every comment and suggestion anyone has! Thanks!