Appreciation Letter to all Taxpayers, from a Person on Disability

Dear Taxpayers,

 I am writing this letter to you, the taxpayer, to thank you. I am a medically disabled woman, who is on disability and also lives in section 8 housing. I often hear about the “negativity” that many people have against individuals who are on some type of assistance, even disability. I also see and hear many taxpayers, complain about how people on assistance are wasting their tax dollars. Just like you, I also am angry at the unfortunate wasteful spending and abuses in Government Assistance programs. I would like to tell you that in my case, I do not abuse the system. If anything, I very am thankful for such services and appreciate what I have in life, even if I do not have my health. I am even more thankful to you, the taxpayer, who help fund it with the taxes you pay from all of your hard work.  If you ever met me in person, I usually carry a smile and look as if I am healthy. You may even wonder “what is wrong with her? Why is she on disability?” 

   I will not go into details, but I suffer from chronic health issues that affect most, if not all, of the systems in my body. These symptoms include: painful hyper-mobile joints, gastrointestinal issues, neurological symptoms, muscle weakness, and many other symptoms (too many). Many times throughout the day, I become to easily severely exhausted and fatigued to where I feel faint just doing simple activities. I also feel like I have the Flu a lot. There are even times where I use a cane to get around. I used to walk 8 miles a day and was very active in both my school community and in my social life. I even worked many jobs before I went to back to college. Now, I am lucky if I could take a small walks (20-30 min. on a good day). Then there are my “bad days” to where I am bedridden to where I cannot even take care of myself, never mind do any work. Unfortunately, these days are very unpredictable, and could last anywhere from a couple of days, to even a whole month. Also, the majority of my time is spent attending doctor appointments, where I see a variety of specialists including neurologist, hematologist, gastrointerologist, etc. Even when I am not bedridden, I am unable to do heavy household chores. Despite all of this, I tried to push myself through college, even though my health issues were becoming more apparent. I did eventually receive an Associates of Art degree, but I became to ill to work outside of my home. However, I was still determined to find a career that do that did not require as I am unable to physically work outside of my home. So through vocational rehabilitation, I went through an online schooling and internship program. As I went through it, especially the internship portion, I realized how bad my illness was. Even though I was working from home, my symptoms cause me to need constant breaks and most of the time, I was unable to accomplish any tasks at all. I did eventually complete the program, only for my illness to cause me not to be able to keep up with the demand of the job. If it were not for programs like disability, I would probably end up in an institution or having no health care. This is why I want to thank you, the taxpayer, for the hard work that you do and the taxes that you pay into the system.

  1. Thank you for section 8: It allows me to live independently in my own apartment. Part of when I first started disability, I was in an agency owned residence. Section 8 allowed me to move out 100% independent apartment and not depend on my elderly parents. 

  2. Thank you for my social security disability: This allows me to afford the basics I need to survive and to pay my rent, utilities, and other necessary expense I need to live. I pay for my own phone, so I do not use the "so-called" Obama-phones. I do not go out to eat at fancy restaurants, nor do I wear any fancy clothing.

  3. Thank you for my Medicaid and Medicare: This allows me to be alive and to be able to function to the best that I can. It gave me a lifesaving surgery, a total colectomy in 2008, and other medical treatments. It also allowed me to get the proper diagnosis and the right doctors that I need to make my life easier. It also will allow me to get the home health care that I would need, especially in the future.

  4. Thank you for Food Stamps: I only get $100, but it helps me be able to get my nutrition. I also use my own money out of pocket, but that is okay.

  5. Thank you for my public transportation disability bus pass: I am unable to drive due to my neurological issues. This bus pass allows me the freedom to get to my appointments, visit family, and be able to get out of the house on my good days without depending on others for rides.

  6. Thank you for the Para-transit system: I am able to get to places I need to go on days I am unable to walk. It also get me place I need to go to that might not be on a bus line or that is too far for me to walk to from a bus line.

  Overall, I want to thank you for all of your love, support, and understanding of others who are going through the same struggle. I will PROMISE you that I will never use illegal drugs, alcohol and/or do anything that is wasteful. I will let you know that I do not like living like this and would like to be "physically healthy" like you all. Trust me when I tell you that I worked very hard to get somewhere, only to get sicker. However, this is my life I live every day. This is why I appreciate what I have, as it could be a lot worse. I sympathize with you, as well. I see that you struggle with your families and must pay a lot of taxes. I also feel the same way about the waste that I see. This is why I report it when I see it. I too was a taxpayer once, years ago when I worked.  But I will assure you that if there was a cure for my illness, I will be the first to jump at the chance for that cure. That way I can get a full time job in the career that I worked hard for. Thank you for all that you do to contribute to society.

Sincerely,

Maya Lincoln