GOING BACK TO WORK

02/09/2026

Educate yourself on the job accommodations you’ll need for whichever job you’re applying for. If you already had a job before your injury and are planning on returning to work, your employer should assist you in making any necessary accommodations to return.

Obviously there are many careers that are impossible to continue pursuing post-paralysis. Leaving beloved careers in the dust can feel devastating, but we must focus on what we can still do. For many of us that means starting new careers.

Technology offers the possibility of working from home. A complete quad can attend online college and pursue a variety of remote professions. Working from home can be convenient because care needs can be tended to immediately.

Keep in mind, during your job search, that there are a ton of work-from-home scams out there, too, eager to obtain your personal information from your application. Speak with the Human Resources Department to be sure that you are dealing with a legitimate employer. Look for information that shows they are an established company.

Not sure what you want to do? Brainstorm! Good with computers? Maybe you could find a career as a computer support specialist, or in web or software development. Like languages? Consider a career as an interpreter. Some quads have found careers in graphic design. Paralegals and legal assistants can work remotely. There is an increasing demand for online teachers as online school and college gain popularity. Then there are jobs like accounting, bookkeeping, data entry and medical transcribing. You can sell insurance or sell products as a telemarketer. Interested in counseling? Many marriage and family therapists work from home. Are you a writer? Consider editing, or writing web content.

Other careers, and some of the aforementioned ones, can also be pursued outside of the home. Even quadriplegics with high cervical injuries can perform well at their jobs, utilizing technology and assistive devices. Others have developed their own jobs.

“At 16 I sustained a C6-7 spinal cord injury. I completed high school, my undergrad, and then received my master’s degree in counseling psychology. After teaching K-5 ESL for one year, I distributed wheelchairs in developing countries for eight years (Mexico, Afghanistan, etc.). I now work for an international nonprofit organization where I support our workers emotionally, physically, and spiritually as they work in a cross cultural environment. I also write and run a website. The most important part of my journey to being employed was volunteering and working part-time to discover what I enjoyed doing.” Jenny, C6/7

Jenny runs a website at jennysmithrollson.com. Her quote to live by:

"If I’m not living outside my comfort zone, then I’m not truly living.”

As a quadriplegic, looking for employment can be difficult. Get ready to be underestimated!

“After I graduated I didn't get a job right away. When I did my student teaching every classroom I went into I got looked at like why are you here, you can't do this.” Jordanne C3/4

Eventually an employer did give Jordanne a chance. Her students love her!

JOB SEEKING TIPS

Emphasize the strengths your disability affords you (patience, perspective, alternative methods for completing tasks)
Make sure you can really do everything in the job description (clarify)
Don’t be afraid to ask if accommodations are available
Let them see YOU, not your disabilty

Vocational Rehabilitation

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is a free, state-run program designed to help individuals with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities prepare for, secure, or retain employment. It works through personalized counseling, assessments, training, and job placement assistance tailored to specific abilities and limitations. The program can even help fund accessible transportation like a vehicle modification, or assistive technology.

FIND YOURS HERE

SSI payments depend on how much other income you have. When your other income goes up, your SSI payments go down. When you earn more than the SSI limit, your payments will stop for those months. Your payments will start again for any month your income drops to less than the SSI limits ($994 per month for an individual and $1,491 for a couple in 2026).

SSI's Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS) program allows you to set aside funds to help you get back to work; these funds won't count toward your income or asset limit for SSI.

For those with SSDI benefits, there will be a 9 month Trial Work Period, a 36 month extended period of eligibility and expedited reinstatement in the event of job loss. Sign up for the Ticket to Work Program, a free SSA program for those receiving Social Security disability, helping with employment and financial independence.

Protect your Money with an ABLE Account

KEEP BENEFITS WHILE WORKING

When you begin to have an income again, both your health insurance and your social security disability income will be in jeopardy.

Keep Medicaid benefits and work a full-time job in most states by enrolling in a specific “Employed Persons with Disabilities” or "buy-in" Medicaid program. You may be required to pay a modest monthly premium.

If work income causes your SSI to stop, your Medicaid coverage will continue until your income reaches your state’s limit. Even when you reach that limit, if your health care costs are crazy high, in most states your Medicaid can continue, if you are unable to afford similar medical coverage.

For Medicare, extended eligibility mirrors SSDI’s 9-month trial period and 36 months extended period. You will also qualify for an additional extended period of 93 months. Once premium-free coverage ends, you can buy Medicare by paying premiums.

If you sustained your injury before the age of 46 you can save and invest money without jeopardizing eligibility for benefits. An ABLE account (Achieving a Better Life Experience account) is a tax-advantaged savings account. Funds can be used for “qualified disability expenses,” including housing, transportation, assistive technology, education, healthcare, personal and support services.