Blind Oregon Woman Wins Battle for Disability Benefits

Mary Phillips was driving to work on an August morning in 2003 when, without warning, her world as she knew it suddenly crumbled.

"I was feeling fine until I noticed my depth perception was way off," the Beaverton, Ore., native remembered. "All of a sudden I couldn't see the traffic signals. I saw double taillights in front of me and I had a difficult time determining if I was in the correct lane. I was so frightened that I called the Casey Eye Institute in Portland as soon as I made it home."

Within three months, doctors declared Mary Phillips legally blind.

Ms. Phillips, 59, was diagnosed with wet macular degeneration, a condition where blood vessels behind the retina leak blood and fluid, which rapidly leads to the loss of central vision. According to medical authorities, people in their 50s have only a two percent chance of contracting macular degeneration. Unfortunately, the risk rises sharply for people with a family history of macular degeneration and for those with elevated levels of cholesterol. Ms. Phillips fell into both camps.

"I knew I had high cholesterol and I was being treated for it," she said, "but I had no idea we had a family history of eye problems until later." It wasn't until after her diagnosis that Ms. Phillips learned that her sister, an aunt, and an uncle were also afflicted with this vision crippling disorder.

Despite her rapidly deteriorating condition, Ms. Phillips continued working as a food service technician at a Beaverton elementary school. "It was a struggle, but I managed for as long as I could," she said. "All communications between the school and the head staff were conducted online and I couldn't read the computer screen. And, of course, being in food service I had to deal with hot stoves and sharp knives. I also had to ensure that food was prepared at the proper temperature, but I couldn't read the food thermometer."

Ms. Phillips has high praise for the Oregon Commission for the Blind. They provided software that helped her better read a computer monitor, a talking food thermometer and other tools that prolonged her working life. But, in May 2006, after 20 years on the job and amidst a lot of tears, Ms. Phillips finally quit working. "I couldn't handle the stress any longer," she said. "It just wasn't fair to the school, the students, the staff, my family or me."

In short order, Ms. Phillips long-term disability carrier told her that Allsup Inc. would represent her in her fight to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Allsup is the nation's leading Social Security disability representation company. Founded in 1984 by a former Social Security Administration field representative, Allsup has helped tens of thousands applicants receive their entitled SSDI benefits.

Ms. Phillips admits that she breathed a deep sigh of relief when she first learned that she would have professional help applying for SSDI benefits. "Frankly, I was scared to death. I had heard such horror stories about the SSDI process that I was about ready to throw in the towel before it even started. Just the thought of fighting Social Security was scary and nerve wracking.

"Carol Domescik was my representative and she did a superb job. She let me vent when I needed to and told me the things I needed hear. She was so kind, patient, professional, understanding and encouraging," Ms. Phillips added. "Carol made the process very painless.

"I never had to deal directly with SSA, or even talk to them. She warned me to expect my claim to be denied at first, but I was awarded at the first level. It only took a few months and I was so relieved. Thank God Allsup was there for me because I don't know what I could have done on my own."

Carol Domescik is a claims representative at Allsup's national headquarters near St. Louis. The six-year claims veteran said that Ms. Phillip's attitude and cooperative attitude was instrumental in winning her benefits at the first level. "Mary was very compliant and eager to do what she could to hasten the process," Ms. Domescik said. "It's always a pleasure when we are able to establish such a courteous, professional relationship with a claimant."

Today, Ms. Phillips is learning to cope with her still decreasing vision. She can see her fingers if she holds her hand up near her eyes, but she can't see her hand at all at arm's length. Primarily, she sees shadows and outlines. And she knows it will only get worse.

But instead of wallowing in self-pity, Mary Phillips is meeting the challenge head on. Preparing for the day when she is totally blind, she's learning Braille with help from the Commission for the Blind. And, in March 2006, the Guide House School for the Blind paired her with a beautiful Labrador guide dog, named Beta.

"Beta is so wonderful; we go everywhere together," she said. "With her help, and because our public transportation system is so great, I can go anywhere I want. Beta gets me on and off the bus and trains, and she guides me around mailboxes and other obstacles on the street. She doesn't read the newspapers or e-mail to me yet, but Beta sure gets me where I need to go. My husband, Wayne, is so relieved because he knows he can trust Beta to get me where I need to go safely.

"I owe so much to so many people," Ms. Phillips continued. "The Oregon Commission to the Blind and the people at Guide House for putting me together with Beta, and also Allsup Inc. for helping me when I needed help the most."