As some of you know I have Multiple Sclerosis and it poses some challenges for mystery shopping. I rarely do more than 3 shops a day. I typically need the day after to complete the reports, hence 24 hours, hence penalities on the 12 hour report requirements. I am also afraid that I may be memorable since I am a young looking person with a cane.

What are some of the other challenges faced by shoppers with disabilities and how do you overcome them?

Cure, I have advanced degenerative arthritis, heart issues, early stage ALZ, and nerve damage from four back surgeries.
I am grateful for the strength and clarity I have and deal with my health issues on a day to day basis as appropriate. I prefer to keep working for more than one reason and have found that mystery shopping/auditing is the most flexible thing I've done. I need that flexibility so I can arrange my work schedule and have time to take care of myself. Medical appointments would be a serious problem with a full time job and a fixed schedule, and from time to time I need a few days or a few weeks off to rest and recover.

This work provides me with enough supplemental money I don't have to go into my savings yet and it keeps me more active than I would be without it. Many days I get up and work as scheduled, whereas otherwise I would just pull up the blanket and stay in bed. This work keeps me going day by day and it's good for me. An operating rocking chair never runs for long.

I can't imaging being out there and after it with something as serious as MS. I applaud and admire your gutsy spirit and your will to work. Please keep working as long as possible and keep us updated on how you're doing.

Cure MS, have you reached out to the MSCs with 12 hour deadlines? It seems to me that an extension would be a very reasonable accommodation for you. I greatly admire your fortitude and wish you all the best.

You two are amazing. I have some back issues and refuse to have surgery because of all the horror stories I have heard. I am impressed that the two of you are able to persevere and do all you do. You set a shining example.

I am a 100% Disabled Vet who shops daily...

mr computer, thank you for your service.

MDavisnowell Wrote:
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> Cure, I have advanced degenerative arthritis,
> heart issues, early stage ALZ, and nerve damage
> from four back surgeries.
> I am grateful for the strength and clarity I have
> and deal with my health issues on a day to day
> basis as appropriate. I prefer to keep working
> for more than one reason and have found that
> mystery shopping/auditing is the most flexible
> thing I've done. I need that flexibility so I can
> arrange my work schedule and have time to take
> care of myself. Medical appointments would be a
> serious problem with a full time job and a fixed
> schedule, and from time to time I need a few days
> or a few weeks off to rest and recover.
>
> This work provides me with enough supplemental
> money I don't have to go into my savings yet and
> it keeps me more active than I would be without
> it. Many days I get up and work as scheduled,
> whereas otherwise I would just pull up the blanket
> and stay in bed. This work keeps me going day by
> day and it's good for me. An operating rocking
> chair never runs for long.
>
> I can't imaging being out there and after it with
> something as serious as MS. I applaud and admire
> your gutsy spirit and your will to work. Please
> keep working as long as possible and keep us
> updated on how you're doing.

Kudos to you MDavis! You are dealing with a heck of a lot of stuff too! I forgot about the days where I just want to pull the cover over my head and go back to bed. As long as I don't flake on a shop, I probably do that. It might cause me to be late on reports sometimes, but I'm trying to get the schedulers to know me and to know that it happens sometimes.
Keep pushing, as will I.

JenW Wrote:
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> Cure MS, have you reached out to the MSCs with 12
> hour deadlines? It seems to me that an extension
> would be a very reasonable accommodation for you.
> I greatly admire your fortitude and wish you all
> the best.

Hi JenW - I reach out to all my schedulers. I guess the problem is the sporatic nature in which things occur. Some days are good and some days are bad, never can tell. I am trying to get more in the mode of requesting 12 hour extensions regardless, but sometimes, I don't know who the scheduler is until I accept a shop. Then, I hate to cancel it once accepted. Any suggestions?

cjbstar Wrote:
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> You two are amazing. I have some back issues and
> refuse to have surgery because of all the horror
> stories I have heard. I am impressed that the two
> of you are able to persevere and do all you do.
> You set a shining example.

Aw shucks, I'm blushng .

It's a state of mind. There is an MS saying that says "I will defeat MS, it will not defeat me." That's pretty much the way I feel.

mrcomputer101 Wrote:
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> I am a 100% Disabled Vet who shops daily...


First of all, Thank you for your service to our country. Yoour severice is very appreciated.

Second, what is your disability?

My plumbing is patched with Kevlar. I have very limited mobility. I do NOT really consider myself disabled. I have simply learned to do most things differently. Please keep your handicapped parking tag and sticker. I refuse to use them...

mrcomputer101 Wrote:
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> My plumbing is patched with Kevlar. I have very
> limited mobility. I do NOT really consider myself
> disabled. I have simply learned to do most things
> differently. Please keep your handicapped parking
> tag and sticker. I refuse to use them...

I understand. At one time I would not accept being called "disabled", now I've learn to live with it just as I've learned to live with the fact that it takes me 3x as long as everyone else to get in and out of a car. With one hand dedicated to a cane, I have to put the key away, get my purse strapped around me, put on my jacket, etc. in preparation for having only one hand available. I can't do this as I walk because that beautiful can of mine gets in the way. And yes, it is beautiful. My hubby bought me a clear lucite cane because he knew I didn't like walking with one. Now it is a fashion statement
But I lake some of the "perks" that go with disability just as I like the perks that go with growing more mature. Comes with the territory and there's nothing I can do to stop it so let me find the goodness in it. One perk that it rarely mentioned that goes with this disability is the attitute of people that I meet. Most everyone is kind and they are curteous, including the young people. I feel guilty sometimes because I get special treatment. But then there are days like recently when I missed taking my medicine one morning. I could not function for two days.
As for the handicap parking, I learned my lesson trying to be cute. Parked away from handicap parking, but on the way back to the car I fell in the parking lot. Not again.

I'm 76, have arthritis in my lower back which negates standing/walking for any distance or length of time, COPD and a slow bleed off and on from my middle bowel. The latter causes me the most problems because when my blood numbers are off, oxygen doesn't flow the way it should and I seem to mind my back more. Since Oct. 6 I have only 12 days that I went without the bleeding.

I am fortunate that in my neck of the woods, most of the shops available do not require much walking. I don't do mall shops because of my handicap but there are a lot of shops where I can pull up in front of the business, get out of the car and walk directly into the store or restaurant. I pace myself and do my shops, then home for a nap and when I get up I do my reports. I don't always meet the 12 hour deadlines but haven't had any of the MSCs cause me any major problems either.

I think the shopping keeps me moving plus gives me a few extra bucks and certainly the food shops stretches my food budget since I am on a fixed income. I think without the shopping I would eventually get even more disabled.

I'm paralyzed and use a wheelchair 100% of the time. But I'm young and strong and am able to do a lot of shops. I think 16 was the most I ever did in one day. As someone said earlier in this post, it's the flexible hours that mystery shopping provides that I love. I also worry about how 'memorable' I am to employees. It makes it more interesting reshopping the same locations. That would be easier if I didn't stick out like a sore thumb, lol.

Snuffycuts99 Wrote:
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> I'm paralyzed and use a wheelchair 100% of the
> time. But I'm young and strong and am able to do
> a lot of shops. I think 16 was the most I ever
> did in one day. As someone said earlier in this
> post, it's the flexible hours that mystery
> shopping provides that I love. I also worry about
> how 'memorable' I am to employees. It makes it
> more interesting reshopping the same locations.
> That would be easier if I didn't stick out like a
> sore thumb, lol.

How did you do 16 in one day?? What type of shops were they? The one time that I did 5 in one day, and they were gas station shops, I was totally exhaused and flustered when I got home. I vowed never to do that again. I am so awed at the people who do 1, 20, or more shops in a day, no matter the type. I realize because of my disabilty that is not possible, but I wonder if I would be able to do it otherwise.
Also with you being in a wheelchair, how do you get about getting in and out of the car? Do you ever find any physical obstacles to shopping? Of course I don't do shops like the ones for fitness centers, although I am tempted just to see if they too comply with the ADA act! LOL

I remember that day well...8 were gas station audits and 8 were auto parts stores. The auto stores were very quick and easy. The gas station audits took a while. They were all very close in a route but it still took a good 8 hour day to complete them all. And then I was up til midnight entering reports. An all day affair and I was exhausted...but that was my best pay day ever...over $800. So well worth the exhaustion! I use an accessible van with a ramp for transportation. It makes it a lot easier. I definitely come across obstacles occasionally, but not all that often thanks to the ADA.

MSCs are not required to accommodate independent contractor mysteryshoppers like regular employees under ADA as far as I know...but most of the time when I asked, they said it wasn't a problem to extend the time as they purposely use a shorter time frame to allow for late reports..

I have lymphedema. One leg weighs almost as much as the rest of me put together. I walk with a cane and, with the huge leg, would seem to be very memorable.

Surprisingly, I have not had that problem. I've been shopping since 2007. My big issue is that I may be hospitalized, with no notice, for anywhere from 3 days to a week. Just happened last week. Had to reschedule two assignments, but the schedulers were very understanding and just happy that I was interested in rescheduling and not canceling.

My right lower leg was crushed in an accident 3 years ago. I was in a wheelchair for 4 months and kudos to you Snuffy for not letting being in a wheelchair stop you from from shopping. Like others have said I have just learned to do things differently with my disability. I cannot stand for long periods of time so the shops stating that you need to be on your feet for 4 hours are out as well as most inventories. I find Malls very difficult because you do not always know where the shops are and could end up on the wrong side of the mall. That does make me sad. This is what I have found - I just need more rest than other people and that is OK. Most of my life I was running on the hamster wheel anyways. So mystery shopping suits me. Just schedule smart and save your energy.

KUDOs to you teriraia for finding a way to make it work. Question for you and others shopping with disabilities, are you on disability and do you ever come close to losing your disability? I use a spreadsheet to track my monthly income. However, my MS fatigue always manages to kick me in the but when I come within 1/2 the limit, so I have never been within range of the "trial" months.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone here have a learning or developmental disability? Does anyone suffer from mental illness? I was diagnosed with PTSD/OCD last year. Loud sounds and certain places still affect me but shopping has actually helped a lot with the treatment I had (and thankfully no medication!!) It keeps me focused and gives me something positive to be OC about e.g. deadlines, guidelines, etc. I have much respect for the people here who have revealed their challenges as well as how they have overcome them.

Dixie, I've recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and I've had lifelong mental and emotional issues related to a traumatic but interesting childhood. Insanity evidently runs in my family on Dad's side or else we're just a bunch of murderous cut throats, maybe both. Anyway, it's been a trip and a half.

One particular issue I have now is that it's getting harder and harder to assimilate new and complicated information. I was reading the technical manual on an android tablet yesterday and I swear it might as well have been written by aliens and maybe it was.

Your diagnosis is recent and you're probably overly concerned. I'm not making light of your condition, but you need to know that a lot of us have mental issues and live productive and enjoyable lives. The fortunate part of knowing what's wrong is now you can learn to understand it and you can better organize yourself around your strengths.

If you'll pay really close attention to everyone else, you'll see that we all have our little odd tendencies which is just part of being human. Never doubt yourself because you have a label. Decades ago a psychologist told me something I'm going to pass on to you: There's nothing wrong with being a little bit insane. Some of the best people are.

Thanks Mary, that is an excellent observation! I too share your difficulty in being able to assimilate information. I have to read it step by step then stop and think about what the step was. If there are too many steps, I can no longer put them together, even though I have been an acclaimed project manager. I knew how to break dow large pieces of a puzzle, but can no longer do so. But there are large and small shops that keep me going.

You all are an encouragement to all of us.

I have 7 herniated disks in my back from a car accident 367 days ago. I take 2-3 800 IBprophen daily and live with the pain. i will never get better and am limited in what I can do. Despite this mystery shopping has allowed me to live without disability. I could probably get it but won't take it as I refuse to live off the government.

Buffalo, I'm sorry you got hurt and admire your independent spirit. Please let me make a suggestion for your consideration. You paid in taxes to provide disability assistance to you if you ever became disabled. Right now you're able to make it on your own by mystery shopping, but your condition could become worse at any time and that stream of income could be cut off abruptly. My suggestion is that you apply for the disability now as it may take a long time to get it started, as in months to years. Once you get the disability payments set up, you'll have a choice whether you work or not and that could become crucial to you.

To all of you that have [dis]abilities, please know you are an encouragement to all of us.
@ MrComputer - thank you for your service!
@ Dixie: I will pm you.


Endure not to the end but rather to the beginning!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/2014 03:09PM by gypsymonkey.

I agree with MDavis. I worked for years maxing out in payments to Social Security. My husband still does. I am very fortunate to have found mystery shopping to supplement our income and spice it up. I am also very cognizant of the rules regarding working while on disability. I contacted them rather than waiting for them to contact me. I have a spreadsheet created just for them and of course I have digital copies of all my receipts. My point is not to try and cheat the system but use it the way it was meant. IF I ever get to the point where I can come off disability because of mystery shopping, there are legal ways to do that without losing disability status, at least for several years. Unfortunately, unless they come up with a cure for Multiple Sclerosis, I don't see that happening. Make no mistake, given the choice of coming off disability and having multiple sclerosis which enables me to get disability, I'd give up the disability in a heartbeat.
I know that many people prefer not to take disability status. It was many years after my diagnosis before I decided to apply. I simply did not want the label "disabled". I felt that my employer would discriminate against me, yes I know that is illegal, but I also know that it can be done. I also did not want pity. You see I had four brain tumors before I had MS. As a result, I was left with a slight blind spot. This blind spot caused me difficulty in reading as I missed seeing letters. I was treated differently and it was not just in my mind. There were remarks in meetings and other outright instances. So when I was diagnosed with MS I kept it quiet. I only decided to apply for disability because I became so afraid of falling at work and could no longer walk without a cane. Working 8 hours a day began to take its toll by increasing the pain levels.
My advice too would be to not let work cause your condition to get worse. Sometimes you can not recover

Cure
Our society does not understand that a person needs time to heal, no matter the [dis]ability. We have become cogs and when that cog is no longer able to perform in a suitable manner, it is discarded or made to feel invalid. We as humans have a purpose and are valid. We should only stop when we are ready to stop ourselves however that is sometimes easier said then done.

Agreed with above poster. SSDI is an insurance program that you paid into with your taxes. Just like any insurance program, you are entitled to the benefits IF you become disabled. You can only claim it if you have so many working quarters. I would never call it living off the government. Now, are there cheats in today's society that take advantage of the system...of course. But, that should never make someone who is truly disabled feel bad about receiving SSDI payments.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/2014 05:53PM by Snuffycuts99.