For the last 15 years, Velma Austad has been employed in her home in Elk Point, SD, doing daycare for her grandchildren.  As recently as 2001, Velma was providing daycare and also working at Gateway as the head cook.  Due to Velma’s degenerative disc disease which began to worsen in 2001, she had to quit her job at Gateway and only do the daycare in her home. Velma also transports one of her grandsons to his program at Children’s Care Hospital in Sioux Falls.

In 2009, as Velma was meeting with her food stamp caseworker, she was told about the Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) program. She applied and was so thankful to be approved. While on MAWD, Velma was able to obtain some medical procedures that helped her to be free of some of the pain she is constantly in, as well as being able to move around more. Having the medical appointments paid for during this time was a lifesaver for Velma. Even though Velma was only eligible for MAWD for a short time, she is very grateful for the medical coverage she had during that time.

Velma feels work is so important for everyone whether you have a disability or not. She said people need to get out and try to work. Her advice to others is to “keep looking until you find something you can do, even though you are disabled you can still work doing something.” For Velma, working by providing daycare makes her feel like she is not a burden to anyone and the plus side is that she is a part of her grandchildren’s lives. Velma wants to help herself as long as she can and working and being as active as she can helps her with that goal. She said she is never one to sit and do nothing no matter what the barrier in front of her is. Velma said you have to have some incentive to get up every day, her job is just that motivation she needs.

Velma understands how easy it would have been to just give up and she understands that others may also feel that way. She would like to tell other people with disabilities that you can’t let your disability hold you back, you have to help yourself! Velma is very proud of herself and what she has done even though her disability has been a barrier to overcome especially these last few years. 

Even though Velma does not work outside the home for someone else, she has some advice for employers. “Don’t be afraid to hire a person with a disability; give them a chance. Put them in a position that they can handle and match them to their ability.”