As every one of the millions of Americans living with a disability knows, it can often be difficult to really make your voice heard. However, one area where you should always have a say is your healthcare. Healthcare costs tend to rise with age, so you can stay in control of your care and your finances by planning ahead for future healthcare expenses. Here are some steps everyone should take when planning their financial and healthcare futures.
 
Make Sure You’re Covered by Medicare
 
Part of planning for your healthcare future should include making a solid plan for retirement. Medicare may be your best option to pay for healthcare services, so make sure you know how Medicare will benefit you now and in the future. If you have questions about the kind of Medicare coverage you can obtain in your state, be sure to check out this state-by-state guide from Medicare Advantage. You can click on your individual state for easy access to websites and contact information for state-level organizations that can give you the information you are looking for and maybe even help you out when it comes time to apply for your benefits.
 
Talk to Your Loved Ones About Your Care
 
If you are living with a disability, you may have gotten pretty good at taking care of things on your own. For most aging Americans, there will come a time in their life when they need to depend on others for their care. With this in mind, it’s important to know how to ask for help. You can write out your needs ahead of time so that you can match it to the best candidates in your support network. Be upfront about these needs with your loved ones, and be specific. If you think you will need someone to make medical decisions for you, be sure to take the necessary legal steps to give them this authority ahead of time.
 
Know Your Options for Paying for Care
 
Most adults will need some form of long-term health care, but most people fail to properly prepare their finances for the costs of long-term care. If you are not working and have not done so, you may want to look into Social Security benefits that can help you make ends meet when it comes to healthcare costs and other expenses. Options can include looking into VA and other federal benefits, using your savings, or even purchasing long-term care insurance. The latter option is best if you can begin your policy when you are younger; all the more reason to plan ahead.
 
Figuring out how to fit your healthcare needs into your financial future is an important step in making sure you will always have access to the care you need. Take some time to really think about what your healthcare future may look like, ask for help when you need it, and give yourself peace of mind when it comes to preparing for the years ahead.

By Ed Carter, Able Futures
For more articles by Ed, visit his website at ablefutures.org​

 
Photo Credit: Pixabay

Finding a job in today’s economy can be difficult, but it’s even tougher to manage if you have a disability. However, there is no reason to let your disability hold you back from landing the job of your dreams. Here are some methods to find opportunities and shine in interviews as you search through the job market.
 
How to find jobs
 
One of the biggest challenges you may experience is finding a position that will work around your disability. Before applying for a position, it’s always a good idea to research the company’s history of hiring people with disabilities. There are also several websites, such as Ability Jobs and Getting Hired, that are geared specifically toward job seekers with disabilities.
 
Preparing for interviews
 
Whether this is your first interview or your 50th, the key to all interviews is to project confidence.  No matter how uncertain or insecure you are about your disability, the interviewer will look past your physical capabilities if you present yourself as capable and confident. The best way to be confident is to be come prepared. That way, you can ask educated questions that show interest and initiative.
 
You may be wondering whether or not you should disclose your disability in the interview; it’s really up to your discretion. If your disability would make it more difficult to complete some of the position’s basic tasks without special accommodation, then you should probably disclose it to the employer.  However, unless your disability affects your ability to sit for an interview, it is generally best to leave it off of your resume. Instead, use your resume to demonstrate your capabilities and strengths. 
 
Another thing to consider is the company’s history of employing people with disabilities. Are they accommodating? Carefully weigh the options before bringing it up in the interview. If you do decide to talk about your disability, it is important that you frame it in terms of possible solutions, rather than as a problem you expect the interviewer to solve. This will further demonstrate your strengths and show that you are much more than your disability. Be prepared to answer potentially difficult questions, keeping in mind that the interviewer may not fully grasp how your disability will affect your capacity to fulfill the job’s requirements. Answer as you would any other interview question - politely and calmly, explaining your answer without oversharing.
 
Become an entrepreneur
 
You can also bypass the job search and interview process entirely by starting a business yourself.  The Internet has made it easier than ever to find gigs that fit your interests. You can choose from dozens of different service platform sites to get your business up and running. For example, if you enjoy spending time with dogs and would like to turn that into a full-time dog sitting or walking career, you can use Rover’s turnkey platform to locate clients, set rates and schedules and get paid for your services. 
 
If you enjoy cleaning or other handyman-style services, sites such as TaskRabbit are a great way to connect with clients. Finally, people who love driving might as well get paid for the miles they spend on the road through services like Lyft.
 
There is no reason to let your disability get in the way of becoming successful in your chosen field. Whether you choose to go your own way as an entrepreneur or ace your next job interview, you can maximize your odds of success with proper preparation and confidence.

By Jenny Wise. For more articles by Jenny, check out her blog at http://specialhomeeducator.com/welcome-to-my-blog/
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Photo Credit: pixabay.com