Could that be given to you by an optometrist? Barring that, an ophthalmologist?
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I’m physically disabled but it’s not eye-related. In my experience if it’s a nonprofit or that kind of service (which does NOT accept government funding) you usually don’t have to provide actual documentation. You just fill out a form listing what your disabilities are, meds you take, person to call, etc.
If it’s anything government related or partly government funded there is a huge web you have to go through, but it depends on the exact program/service you’re attempting to access. I would go directly to the sites of those agencies/orgs/whatever to see what’s required as some make you see their medical people (like they won’t just take your medical history from your specialists).
When it comes to job accommodations: in my experience (and unfortunately the experience of other disabled ppl I know) no documentation (not even a very visible disability- i.e. something impossible to fake and easy to prove) whatsoever will force an employer to accommodate your needs, as they are the ones who determine reasonableness. Accommodation is all about the workplace culture and relationships you have IME.
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When I have gotten different disability things (thinking specifically of my parking pass) I had to get a doctor to sign a form saying I needed it.
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You will want to see an ophthalmologist, probably a low-vision ophthalmologist who will provide you with an assessment of your functional vision. Paratransit in different cities will have different processes but they might have a form they want you to have filled out as well. My husband is visually impaired (less than 5% of functional vision remaining) and this is what he has done. For Denver he has to go do an in-person interview with the paratransit department as well. To get his disability RTD pass for discounted tickets all he had to do was submit his proof of being deemed totally and permanently disabled by SSA. If you don’t have that, you will probably need the functional vision assessment by the low vision doctor.
He hasn’t filled out the application and scheduled his interview yet for paratransit and it is frustrating. He needs to do it!
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Does anybody here (maybe @wooljaguar?) have any input on Colorado’s Proposition 122? They’re proposing decriminalizing the personal use and possession of some hallucinogenic plants and fungi, and creating a Natural Medicine Services program for regulation of some sort.
I don’t know enough about any of the arguments on either side to form a solid opinion 
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I like the Colorado Sun’s voter guide, and felt like their context on it was helpful: Proposition 122: Magic mushrooms are on the Colorado ballot
I just texted my neighbor friend who is in the same world as wooljaguar and does a lot of ethics in psychedelics writing/speaking, so I’ll ask her and see what she says.
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Ok, she says lean yes but took her a bit to get there 
Sorry I don’t have more info.
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That’s more than I had before, thanks!
I was surprised it was on the ballot, and I thought it might be a good thing, but I have no science behind my answers. Thank goodness for Colorado mailing out SO much info ahead of time. I love having time to research all of the ballot propositions (plus like 3 reminders that I should turn my ballot in soon).
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Sorry, I know very little about it—only enough to know that there is significant disagreement about it within the psychedelic community—and have not had the bandwidth to dig in deeper at the moment since I didn’t think my knowing anything would affect anything.
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Garden wise you could either go for public ones or see if there are Open Gardens during your visit. At the moment November and some December dates are available.
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Something I put on my face made it very angry with me. How do I get the red and itchy to diminish?
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Mostly time, and don’t continue to wash it or wipe it, etc. Is there any moisturizer that is always ok for you? You could try that, but if I were you I’d wait it out until evening and then I’d apply a light moisturizer and nothing else. Doing more can be a bit like itching a wound that’s trying to heal, if that makes sense.
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Ugh. Time. Lol. I’ve always had good skin and am not a fan of this. I totally caused it myself by using something on top of a breakout so I’m just mad. Face bumps are not a good look and I have a presentation thingy tomorrow. 
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To decrease swelling/redness: tomorrow morning you can apply a cold compress! That might help.
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If it’s an allergic reaction you could try Benedryl?
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weird, but my family does yogurt
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US healthcare experts, would love your help! Paging @anomalily if you’re up for it.
My insurance denied an expensive prescription medication. Just talked to someone in customer service, and they said the best way forward is for me (not my doctor) to file an appeal. I asked 3 different ways if the rep could tell me what I should include in the claim, but of course he couldn’t give me an answer. This is what I’m leaning towards, any advice?
- Obviously, basics: my name, drug name, dosage, insurance info
- Request for an expedited appeal
- When I talked to my prescribing doctor, they told me this is the best option for my symptoms and that any alternatives don’t work as well
- Describe my symptoms and talk about how they interfere with my daily life (sorry to the person reading the claim because it is for IBS)
I’m looking into cheaper ways of getting it too, but this might be my best bet. I want to start taking it a month from now, so I do have some time to go back and forth. If it matters, it’s an antibiotic that I’d expect to take for one two-week period (so not a medication I’d be on permanently).
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Does your doctor have a patient portal where you can access your visit record and notes? I would include also what dates you saw the prescribing doctor and any visit notes they took.
Health insurance sucks.
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Appeal is the first step but your DOCTOR should be leading it, all the things you mentioned are what needs to be included, hopefully if they are a gastro they have an admin team, because gastro admin teams deal with this all the time (since biologicals are first line treatments for chrons/UC). Literature is also helpful if this is a documented medication for IBS.
The first rejection doesn’t even come from a medical professional, sometimes not even a human (it’s an automatic process). They need to ask for a “peer to peer” review - they will talk with a medical professional rather than a bureaucrat/computer.
Also check into it on goodrx in which case you don’t need your insurance. Let me know if I can help more! If it’s a super expensive drug (like a biological), the pharma company might actually have counselors to help fight with the insurance for you.
If that doesn’t work, there’s escalations beyond that.
I actually talked about this one this week’s livestream starting at 02:21:08
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Also here are two sketches about this process to make you feel better.
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