Terminated from Job on account of my TBI
 

Long story short, I am a teacher and was forced to resign on account of comments made, the result of my tbi.

My students were being very disrespectful and I decided to give them a moral lesson, considering the extra stress my body was under. I stated that it was wrong to intentionally make things worse for someone with medical issues. I referred to the behavior as idiotic. There were a couple of other benign comments, but me referring to a behavior as idiotic was enough for them to can me.

I plead my case to HR, stating that I have a traumatic brain injury, the result of a car accident. I told them that when under intense stress, I sometimes have trouble finding the more appropriate word. Despite pointing out my disability and having filed papers documenting my disability two years ago, my employer has decided to terminate, even likely violating the Americans With Disability Act.

As it stands, I am going to be out of a job, and it is iffy if I will be able to attain another teaching position. I'm currently half-way through my career.

I also have to take a growth hormone medication on account of the fact that in my car accident, my head was shook so hard that it damaged my pituitary gland. Now I produce very little growth hormone, and without the shots my body begins to break down (bones become weaker, muscles become weaker, skin thins out, intense fatigue). Growth hormone medication is extremely expensive without insurance. Mine will be 1600 dollars without insurance. I can't afford it.

I'm looking at my economic survival in jeopardy, as well as my life. All because of one word that I said because of my word finding issue when under stress, the result of all the pressure and pain put on my body because of my tbi.

What should I do? Do I have a winnable case? My medical documentation is thorough. The medical research to back up that documentation is thorough. Tell me what you think.

Teaching is a tough job, and stressful enough for non injured people..
I would think a related job of some sort but not dealing with students daily.. might be the way to go..

I suppose a lot depends on if you have contract & what it says about reasons for dismissal.
A legal battle is stressful too, why put yourself through that..

Patriotic American,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. I am sorry to hear of your struggles. I carry slips of paper in my wallet that explain how I tend to respond verbally in stress situations.

My first recommendation is to check out TBILaw.com and SubtleBrainInjury.com for some legal issues to consider. You need to find a true expert in brain injuries. There are a few experts worth consideration.

Honestly, the term idiotic sounds appropriate but I am old school. Today's school administrations are indoctrinating snowflakes. Oops, I'll get fired for saying that.

You should immediately apply for Social Security Disability if you qualify. Some teachers do not have qualifying wages. SSDI will include Medicare. Your struggles since the accident may qualify you for benefits. The health insurance is an important benefit. When one applies for SSDI, the application includes a SSI and Medicaid application as a short term safety.

Hope you can find the help you need.

My best to you.

My wife has suggested that I become a private tutor, but I know that you can't earn a comparative income by tutoring. it is more or less supplemental income.

Teaching in a private school is also another option, since they are not tied to other public schools. They also have better behaved students, so this would less likely exacerbate my symptoms from my tbi when under stress.

In the first couple years following my tbi, one day of work was like a full week on the job. It was that taxing. I constantly felt like I was going to pass out. I had no tolerance to the fluorescent lighting. I was so light headed and dizzy. I am now able to tolerate the lights and loud sounds, but stressful situations, such as unruly children, still has a significant impact on how my brain feels. I am also more irritable than I used to be, and I am more prone to anger given the pressure, disconnected feeling that my brain gets, along with the anxiety tension, when I am under stress. I also make poor choices of words when under such stress, given that I have difficulty finding the right word under such condition.