Well, I am the ashamed owner of a handicapped parking permit now.
I know that there’s nothing inherently shameful in having a disability. I have no problem understanding and even advocating accommodations for anybody else with a disability.
I’m just still ashamed about mine. That whole “invisible” thing doesn’t help at all.
I haven’t mentioned it to my parents yet. I won’t be unless it becomes unavoidable. I don’t want to deal with them right now. They’ll definitely think I got it dishonestly or am just playing the system or something.
The visit to the rheumatologist on Thursday cost $275 and resulted in nothing but the permit, a letter to my school that isn’t what I told them the school requires, and orders for lots of lab work I can’t afford to get done. They suggested that I go to Gwinnett Clinic for it. I can’t use them—I’m not a resident of that county now. So they suggested the Cobb County health department, and we went there Friday.
The first appointment I could get with the nurse practitioner there was on June 23. Note to self: do not get less-than-ER-sick without lots of advance notice.
Apparently, there is a community clinic for residents of Cobb County. To be seen there, I have to go to DFCS try to see a specific social worker. I have to take all manner of receipts and such that I don’t have since we’ve just moved (proof of exact utility costs and so on—I can’t quite figure out why). I doubt it will be easy to get an appointment there any time soon, either.
Supposedly I have too much income to qualify for Medicaid—that’s not hard for any adult. Thank Goddess for Peachcare for Katie!
