Wanda Doop Kilmer was working with a Rehab Counselor with Rehabilitation Services in Brookings when she was told about Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities or MAWD.  Wanda had been unemployed for approximately 5-6 months as well as being without health insurance. With the help of Rehab Services, she was able to secure a job at the United Retirement Center Nursing Home. Wanda works part time in the kitchen as a dishwasher and assists with passing out food trays to the residents. At the same time she became employed, Wanda applied for MAWD and found out she was eligible. Since Wanda had no health insurance prior to MAWD, her stress level has gone down.  Now she knows she can get the medication she needs for her diabetes and asthma conditions which she has had for the last three years. She said without these medicines she could literally die.

Wanda stated that her support to become employed came mostly from Rehab Services.  She stated that she learned a lot from her work with a Rehab Counselor; how to write a resume and interview tips. Wanda is continuing to work with them because her goal is to become employed with a full time job.

 When asked what motivates her to work, Wanda said she needs money to pay her bills and extra items she needs and wants. She said it is “something to do and she is bored when she is at home all the time.” She also said the other benefits to working are you get to know other people, make friends and learn things from others. The only barrier to employment that Wanda experienced was feeling like some employers are very particular in who they hire and some employers are just not hiring right now. If she could say anything to employers, she would like to tell them to give people with disabilities a chance to work.

If Wanda could give other people with disabilities some advice, she would say, “Don’t give up on looking for a job, hang in there and things will eventually turn around for you.”  She is proof that persistence pays off.