Gayle's doctors replaced the discs that had deteriorated in her neck, but the pain never stopped, and she could not return to work. Gayle applied for SSDI and SSI. Denied, she applied again, but this time she contacted The Hawkins Center or support. Her attorney guided her through the system and provided emotional support along the way--something Gayle really needed. Not only was she in severe pain, but her marriage had fallen apart, and she was undergoing a divorce. Broke, depressed, and feeling that her life had come to nothing, Gayle wrestled hard with suicide.
Gayle survived this excruciating period of her life. After winning her claim on appeal, she found renewed strength. The determination that enabled her to live and work despite her childhood disability resurfaced. She just wasn't going to let pain control her life. Gayle wrote a PASS plan which allowed her to receive additional resources from Social Security to pay for school, training, and tools. She did so well that she won an academic award to World Vision School of Cosmetology, graduated in 1993, and passed her state licensing exams.
Armed with her new training, tools, license, and determination, Gayle went back to work in June 1994. She now works as a stylist at LaQuinta and Chips Barber and Beauty Clinic in Oakland. She enjoys her work tremendously. She loves interacting with clients and the creativity involved with helping each customer develop a personal style. Gayle says it feels great to be back in the working world.
Gayle wanted to share her story so that other disabled individuals might
get the help that she found. In particular, she encourages others who think
that they might be able to go back to work to look into setting up a PASS
plan.