Posted by Leah on 8/12/07

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Howdy,
Perhaps someone can tell me how, in good conscience,
our illustrious legislators in Texas decided that any and
all school district employees are not to receive any income
benefits from Workman's Comp.?
Do they not think it discriminatory that people in
every occupation continue to receive income benefits
throughout the entirity of the year or years that they may
have to receive those same benefits ? Do they understand
that trends like these undermine the very purpose of the
Workman's Comp. system ? This system was created to
safeguard, protect and sustain injured workers until they
could recover and return to the work force.
By not paying school district employees who have been
injured on the job for three months, they compile
significant financial and basic survival stressors and
constraints, to an already difficult and painful situation.
I am a high school teacher who had her back injured by
one of her students. I am now single and self-sustaining,
and I can tell you that three months without an income has
been extremely stressful and harmful to my overall
wellbeing. I have completely drained my savings, I avoided
eviction this month due to a compassioante landlord, I am
under threat of having my vehicled repossessed due to
having to make a partial payment, I am behind on all of my
bills as of this month (due to partial payments), and I
have twenty dollars to my name until August 21st when I am
supposed to once again start receiving my income benefits
from the Workman's Comp system.
I am in need of a new lawyer. I let mine go for
failing to help me get my benefits over the summer and
keeping me from falling into this financial abyss, and
according to that lawyer's office I will not be able to get
another lawyer until they are paid in full for the work
that they failed to do, from the income benefits I am to
once again receive on Aug. 21st, which they had nothing to
do with. It's ironically laughable. The lawyer I went to
for help so that I would not wind up in debt over the
summer failed to do just that. And yet they will taking
$170.00 out of 10 of my weekly $674.00 cheques until they
are paid for a job they didn't perform. I found myself
laughing so hard that I cried !
What in the world am I to do now ? Who can I turn to
for help with the Workman's Comp system and a possble
disputation over their claim that my condition was
preexisitng, because of a successful laminectomy I had on
my lower back 28 years ago. What they don't understand is
that before my student (a deaf and blind, MR 5'11 and
approxiamtely 180 lbs. young man) accidentally fell on top
of me during P.E. I led a very active life. I am an avid
hiker, kayaker, I bike with family and friends, I walked
ffive miles daily, I volunteered my services with troubled
and handicapped children and teens in equine therapy and
horseback riding programs, and sang and danced with the
Interplay performers and Emerald Eyes in Austin, Texas. I
also have a line of people who will attest to who I was
before this accident and who I am now - a cripple who has
lost her quality of life and her ability to work
effectively.
What are my options from here ?

Respectfully,

Leah

Workman's comp Law in Texas, 8/12/07, by Leah .

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