[Jobs] Drivers for the Blind Professionals

[Dick Davis]

Matt,

The three main ways to get around are the bus, taxis, and a sighted driver.
Retired persons often make good drivers.  Your employer should pay you at a
set mileage rate for every mile you drive when on business.  Who pays the
driver's salary is open for negotiation.  It would probably be better if you
started paying the salary yourself and negotiated with your employer later
when he/she has had a chance to see how valuable you are.  If you are on
SSDI, you can write off the driver expense as an Impairment Related Work
Expense (IWRE).  If you are on SSI, you can write it off as an IWRE or a
Blind Work Expense (BWE)  

What I mean by "write off" is that the driver expense will reduce the amount
of earned income you have.  In the case of SSDI, it could keep you below the
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) amount of $1,500 per month, or $18,000.00
per year.  If you have SSI, driver expenses will also reduce your earnings
for SSI purposes, so SSI will be in fact paying your driver expenses.  You
can also write driver expenses off on your income taxes as an unreimbursed
work expense, although you won't get a dollar for dollar reduction like you
will with SSI.  

If you hire a driver, you need to keep track of his/her mileage yourself and
turn it in to your employer. Since you are the employee, you are responsible
for making sure the mileage records reflect actual miles driven.  

I know there are bright people on this list who can offer you their ideas
too.

Dick Davis
BLIND, Inc.

-----Original Message-----
From: jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Matt Delaplane
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 11:15 AM
To: il-talk at nfbnet.org
Cc: jobs at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Jobs] Drivers for the Blind Professionals


Hi,
My name is Matt Delaplane.  I live in Rockford, Illinois. I recently
interviewed for a job at the Janet Wattles Center here in town.  I am
experiencing quite a hurdle in the hiring process.  The position requires
alot of driving and because of my visual impairment I am unable to drive.
 
Does anyone know of any services available that would beneficial to my
situation. A driver service or something like that.
Thank you for your help, Matt 
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