After having a serious, unexpected injury in 2006, causing her to have a broken neck, Paularae Morris didn’t know what she was going to do.  One thing she did know was she wanted to be able to continue to work. She was very fortunate to have an understanding boss who told her not to worry; her job would still be there once she recovered from surgery.  Even though she couldn’t do some of the things that she had done before her injury, Paularae’s boss said again, not to worry, they would make some minor changes and she would still be able to work. For some of the heavy lifting tasks, her boss made sure that there was another person to help her so that she did not become further injured. Paularae works at the Double Play Casino in Pierre.  

Paularae’s main concern was healthcare insurance which she did not have before she was injured. She wasn’t sure if she would be able to work if she didn’t have a way to pay for her follow-up healthcare treatment after surgery and therefore would not be healthy enough to maintain a job. When Paularae applied for fuel assistance and food stamps, she was told about Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD). She applied for MAWD and was enrolled in the program. When the letter arrived stating that she was approved, she said she fell to her knees and thanked God. Her first thoughts were, “I can get better and I can work now”. She said she was able to get the continued treatment she needed in order to keep working. Paularae said without MAWD “she would be in a world of hurt.” She said she would probably still have tried to work but she may have become more disabled and hurt her neck and back even more.

Even though Paularae is only able to work part time hours, she is very motivated to work. Her goal is to eventually be able to work full time hours. She doesn’t want to go on SSI or SSDI; she would rather stay employed and not rely on Social Security benefits. She loves her job and says she has higher self esteem because of it. Her job provides her with a sense of self worth by being able to participate in the workforce and with the public. “Even though I do have limitations, I still have something to offer,” says Paularae. In her voice you can tell how much she enjoys her job and appreciates what her employer has done to help her overcome barriers. Paularae’s employer assured her that she would work around and through any barriers to help her to adjust back to work. She has done just that in a variety of ways, one of which is letting her know that it is ok to sit down on a stool if and when she needs to. Something other employers might not allow. Paularae said her boss understood how much she needed the job and that she was concerned about being unemployed.

Paularae would like to tell employers that they might be totally surprised at what a person with a disability can do if they were given the opportunity.  She believes that if there were more employers like hers, who could be flexible enough to allow change and be open minded, people with disabilities who want to work would have a better chance. She  feels that people with disabilities are often times afraid because they have been made to feel different and have lower self worth because of being turned down many times. Paularae says, “It may take more time to find a job, but don’t give up and sit at home. Our limitations are what they are. Keep an open mind and don’t give up.”