United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi I´m from Peru, I had an accident in my motorcycle. I can´t move my arm only i can move my hand and my shoulder. Now i´m quite in peace i understood that this kind of injury is serious. I want to find a job, i only want to work, the employers said that i can´t. Before my accident i was accepted to work as Metallurgical Plant Attendant in Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde SAA in Arequipa-Peru-South America this mining company is part of Phelps Dodge Company(Phoenix-Arizona) i had a contract and had my photocheck, i´m metallurgist i have a title in metallurgical engineering, after of my accident when the people from human resource watched me they postponed my contract 3 months after that period of time they realized that i couldn´t move my arm and they said me that they can´t contracted me because i have a disability. I´m a little upset because i can´t work in my carreer despite i can do all kind of work but the minning company belive i can´t work. I think where is the Social Responsability
I tought that the minning had as policy the access to opportunity to citizens to develop their potential, lead better live.
Can you give me and advice? please or can you answear my questions? thanks .
won´t I never work in a Minning Company?, must I change my carreer? what i should do? Have you ever seen people who have a little disability working in a minning company?

Johnny
that's my sons name, too! I am so sorry I don't have an answer for you. The type of work you speak of is not familar to me. I see no one has responded to your questions. I didn't want you to feel ignored. My heart goes out to you. Your letter clearly shows you desperate plea for help. In America that type of treatment would be considered discrimination and the company would be sued and you would win your case.
I hope someone will come forward to you with some answers. In the mean time I pray that you get the answers you want and will return to your job.
Please try to keep postive.

Hello.....

I am sorry to hear about your job situation. My husband WAS a core driller before his TBPI and he has been told over and over again to change his career path if he can ever work again. His pain is very bad and the drugs that he takes makes him really sick.

I would say the best person to ask if you will ever work in a mine again would be your doctor. They know your limitations.

Best of luck to you and I hope somday real soon you will be into a mine.

Beth
wife of 31 year old TBPI

i been askin myself that for 14 years--most of the folks here in the states seem to have "issues" like insurance or 'what if you hurt yourself" or even 'what can you do?'--only people who've given me a fair shake seem to be bikers. i've modified 3-4 bikes to ride left hand only, and i think from what i've learned about 'handicapped' riding maybe i can build bikes?
i may have some capital to get a small bizness going to build bikes for challenged riders-if it doesn't work, so what?-it'll kill some time till i think of something else. as long as i can ride i'll be ok.

P.S.--i was a commercial diver-- typically thought of as 'underwater welder'-so i know how you feel to be told you aren't any good at your job any more. my ex-wife told me 'push on m.f.' so i did.

My take on this issue is that "it's not what you can or cannot do, it's what the employer wants." Employing a disabled person has some liabilities in the work place, especially if the work you do is physical. Research a new career, one that is friendly toward your injury.

your career choice is fine. I am a chemical engineer and i have lost the use of my left bicep and shoulder region. I had trouble finding a job i liked and i lost one that i really wanted. keep your head up and maybe check into your countries disability rights. Also look and other types of industries maybe. I went from nuclear to equipment design. maybe computer chips or some other need for metallurgists.

Good Luck!

Well certainly can't give you the answer you're looking for.

However, I work as a civil servant and I have done so for last 15 years since I lost the use of my right arm.

Now I have been thinking recently about a change as i am really fed up of office based work.

So here's a thought! I think it would be very helpful if people told the forum what kind of work they do! Who knows it may well give others an idea of what they would like to do and may inspire them to do it! As i said i want to do something different but what? It's sometimes too easy to think "I can't do that with my disability". Well maybe I can!

So come on people, tell us what do you do?

After I lost the arm, I went to university, finished with a PhD, ran own business, then started with amultinational corporation. Now I'm the global training manager.

Sometimes I look in the mirror and go WTF - I did it. Still not sure how, but never quit.

A little stubborness goes a long way.

Henry

Lori,
My daughter wanted to be a probation officer and was working towards that degree when she had her accident. The school counselor told her she probably wouldn't be able to choose that career because it involved being physical at times and that she would need both arms/hands. How did you manage to be a probation officer? Thanks, Sue