One summer while I was walking around Gray’s Lake, I eaves dropped over a conversation two young women were having about tap water throughout the city. I was right behind them, ready to make a fast pass around…and interested in their subject!
I’m not like Gladys Kravitz all the time!
One thought Urbandale water was good and the other didn’t. They agreed West Des Moines water tastes ucky. One loved Chicago water (and I thought ewwww ucky, and the strange smell to boot). Then their conversation turned to a cute guy jogging their way…and I made my pass.
BTW, I remember where I was, nearly 1/2 way round where I started, not including the ever stop at my brother’s plaque on the bridge!
Clearly, people’s opinions vary widely around one subject!
I don’t think I will ever find a person who is adversarial to water – and specifically why water is important to a person. 
However, in my role as a vocational rehabilitation counselor, I routinely find a person (actually an attorney or two!) who is adversarial to my opinion regarding whether or not a person can return to work over their stance that the same person is permanently and totally disabled.
I’ve evaluated hundreds of people and I hold firm in my opinion that work is incredibly important to a person. Rarely have I not been able to identify work for a person. In that type of return to work situation, the person’s serious mental health condition such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder comes into play more than the person’s physical capacity.
One point I’d like to make clear!
And this isn’t an opinion, it’s just the truth! It is easier to state that a person cannot work than to identify what a person can do for work.
“No, can’t work.” That’s it. “No” “Can’t Do” “No Work is Available” What a negative attitude. Is it really just too much work to find work for a person? VS “Yes, you can work” “Here’s why, how and what the person can do!” “Yes” “Can do” “I will help you!”
This is a positive attitude!
Yes, and truly the fact is that it’s a lot of work to find work for a person! That’s what I’m trained to do! And I love it!
A vocational rehabilitation counselor cannot give a person a job – the professional works to define, enhance and channel the placement client’s skills, abilities, and aptitudes into the working world.
The client is empowered with resources and strategies to perform specific and goal-oriented job seeking activities. I’ve found the outcome of return-to-work in a workers’ compensation case impacts the placement process just as much during litigation as it does following case settlement.
Keep an open mind when forming any opinion
It’s a tragedy when an attorney sabotages any job seeking efforts, whether implied or not. I do not appreciate when any one tries to negatively influence any one else, especially when it comes to work.
I keep my opinion clear, based on fact and grounded in rehabilitation. No one can steal my opinion away!
Please see a paper I wrote in August 2013 titled (it’s posted on my LinkedIn page) or ask for a copy titled:
WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCE RETURN-TO-WORK DURING A LITIGATED WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIM?
Let me know what I can do to help you with your legal work regarding your client’s return to work! Thank you for reading my post!
Vocational Resources Plus, LLC * lcpresourcesplus.com * 515-778-0634 * VocResources@gmail.com
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My professional rehabilitation counseling practice is focused on helping people participate in the world around them, particularly in their own world of work.
