Finding a Side Gig as a Disabled Parent by Jillian Day

Image courtesy of Pexels.

[Editor’s note: Jillian Day created 508Assist.org to help people all across the web make their sites accessible to individuals with disabilities. A close family member, who has a visual impairment, had trouble finding a dinner recipe online that he could read easily. This inspired her to start 508Assist.org.When she’s not chasing after her little ones, Jillian enjoys being outside, whether she’s fishing, hiking, or geocaching with her family.]

Finding a Side Gig as a Disabled Parent

by Jillian Day

Running your household, parenting your kids, and staying on top of the bills can be challenging for everyone — particularly so if you are also dealing with a disability. Sometimes the skills and hobbies that you’ve already developed can make additional income. If you’re receiving Social Security for your disability, you’ll want to be sure to stay within the income limits and check with a professional to be sure of your continued eligibility determination.

Possible money-making endeavors

Sometimes can parlay pre-existing skills into work you can do from home, such as accounting, floral arranging, tutoring, baking, coding, web page design, or editing. The availability of the internet has opened up options such as selling items on eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace. Many people do a brisk trade selling clothing, toys, books, furniture, and collectibles online. If you enjoy interacting with others online, you might manage the social media account for a business, community group, or individual. If you know more than one language, translation might be profitable for you. Some companies pay freelancers to transcribe spoken media to written text. If your communications skills are strong, becoming a virtual customer service representative might be the thing to try.

Finding work

Once you’ve decided on the type of work you hope to do, you’ll still need to find clients, customers, or a company to work for. There are several online sites good for helping people find freelance work. Here is a compilation of such resources. It’s a good idea to establish a social media presence for yourself. The sites you choose to use will depend on your target demographic. Consider word of mouth. Tell everyone you know about your new endeavor and ask your personal and professional networks for referrals. You might even have a virtual grand opening with specials to attract clients. Sometimes, the best way to draw attention to your product or service is to give away samples.

Get your own business card

A business card can be helpful with marketing your products or services. Since it’s a tangible object, people can take it with them, and I will remind each time they see it of your business. You can design your business card using an online template that allows you to customize it with color, a logo, images, text, and font you select. You can try this at no expense beyond your time and effort and the paper for the cards. Besides handing your cards around yourself, you can ask friends to place them at the counter in their own businesses and add them to community bulletin boards in coffee houses, libraries, college dorms, and even grocery stores.

Keep it legal

Even if your business will be only part time, and only when you can find time, it’s important to manage the legal aspects of it properly. Consult with professionals about tax issues, contracts, and remaining eligible for any government support you’re receiving. The more likely it is that your work will expand, the more important it is to have a business plan, which includes choosing a structure for your company.

As a parent with a disability, finding paying work with the flexibility your schedule needs is difficult. So starting your own side hustle can be a good way to go. One benefit of working for yourself is that you can start small and do the work when it fits into your schedule. Although the business may expand over time, beginning it on a small scale, doing something you’re familiar with, can be a great way to get started.

Whispers of Hope is a website, blog, and treasure trove of resources on living with a disability. Check it out for information on disability support, special needs advocacy, inspiration, and more.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 34: Gilberto Becomes Karen’s New Father

image of rotary dial telephone

This chapter is mostly sweetness and light. The title says it all… Hope you love it as much as I do!

(Telephone image by Ellinor Algin / Swedish National Museum of Science and Technology, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 1: Mama Katie Makes a Call

Weeks passed. Mama got Karen to every lesson on time, and Karen practiced every spare minute. Mama could not stop thinking about Gilberto and about how determined her Kitten was to master every lesson he gave her.

One afternoon after work, she sat staring at the telephone on her desk and listening to the tap-tap-tapping of her daughter practicing.

Most people don’t want to hear me talk about Kitten. The other mothers from the PTA have their own problems, and their children are so bad off—Karen’s problems are nothing compared. They’re my friends, and they support me just like I do them, but I need someone who sees my Krana Layala as the wonderful person she is, not as someone who’s slightly better off than her classmates. Karen has potential. Gilberto is someone who will listen. He’ll understand. Maybe he’s seeing her potential. Maybe he’ll have some ideas to help too. I should call him. He’s so kind, so warm, compassionate, and giving. I’ve met no one like him. He’s unique. I hope he won’t think I’m being pushy…

She dialed the studio’s number.

Angie answered. “Gilberto’s Dance Studio. How may I help you?”

“Angie, it’s Katie Hershstein. Do you suppose Gilberto would have a few minutes to talk with me? I could come over in fifteen or twenty minutes.”

“I checked his schedule, and I’ll pencil you in, Katie. We’ll see you, then.”

Mama replaced the phone receiver and held it down for a moment before freshening her makeup and rushing out the door to her trusty 1955 Bel Air.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 33, Scene 4: Second Lesson and Rapid Progress

icon symbolizing shuffle

Young Karen thrives as she learns dance. This is what she has been looking for in life! I think we all look for that special thing that makes us our best selves. I do, and I bet you do, too. What is your special thing? Can Whispers of Hope help you with it?

(Shuffle symbol from Amada44, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 4: Second Lesson and Rapid Progress

In a week, Karen dressed in her dance togs so she would not have to waste time changing at the studio. Then she and Mama drove to Gilberto’s for her second lesson. While Mama and Ms. DeVine chatted, she warmed up and practiced her shuffle step. Tap! Tap!

Gilberto came out of his office wearing a big smile. “This is great. You’re all warmed up and ready to dance.”

She grinned and did the shuffle. Right foot. Left foot. Right foot. Left foot. Tap! Ta-ta-ta-tap!

His eyebrows went up. “You’ve been practicing, haven’t you, sweetheart?”

“Every spare minute! I love dancing!”

He smiled at Mama. “Mrs. Hershstein, you were right. This little girl is one hard worker.”

Mama beamed as Gilberto led Karen back to the studio for her second lesson.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 33, Scene 3: The Studio and the Lesson

Photo of a dance studio

In real life, I devoted years to teaching dance and fitness, especially to people with disabilities and elders. It was a wonderful career, and without Al Gilbert, it might never have happened. He was magical!

(Image by JPK1993, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 3: The Studio and the Lesson

Gilberto opened a door at the end of a hall and held it for Karen. She walked into a dark room and waited.

He treats me like a gentleman treats a lady. She smiled up at him. “Thank you.”

He flipped a light switch, and she caught her breath. The walls were mirrors with barres in front of them, and the polished wood floor gleamed. This was a real dance studio, just like she’d seen in movies. She took a deep breath and held it. She felt at home. This was where she and her inner dancer belonged.

Gilberto put a record onto a phonograph, and a simple tune filled the air.

“Let’s start with the basics. Listen to the music. Feel the beat and the rhythm. If you can feel them, you can dance to them. Come over to the barre and hold it with your right hand. Now stand up tall and proud.”

He would tell her this many times over the years.

He grinned. “That’s perfect, tall and proud. Now put your left hand near your hip. You’ll be in this position lots of times.”

She stood up even taller.

“This is tap dance, so we wear tap shoes.” He lifted his right foot and pointed at the toe. “This is the ball tap. Now you lift your right foot and show me the ball tap.”

Karen lifted her foot and pointed. She had worn the Mary Jane tap shoes around the house, but had paid little attention to the taps, other than clicking them on the floor.

“Now, let’s learn the shuffle. This is the most basic tap step. You brush the ball tap on the floor as you swing your foot forward, then you brush it again as you swing it back. Is your left leg strong enough to hold you while you swing your right foot?”

“Yes, with the brace on, it’s strong enough. My body has some problems, but my spirit does not.”

He swung his right foot forward and back. Tap tap. Tap tap. “Now you try.”

She held the barre and swung her right foot forward. Tap! She swung it backward. Tap!

“That’s good. Can you do it faster?”

Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!

“Listen to the music. Everything is in time with the music. Tap with the beat.”

She let the music move her and felt her inner dancer come out.

After a few minutes, Gilberto put his hand on her shoulder. “You’re getting it, Karen. Can you remember to practice at home?”

“I promise you, I will practice every day. I will become a dancer.”

He laughed. “When you smile, your heart smiles from within.”

The Healing Horse, Ch. 33, Scene 2: Meeting Gilberto

Karen at her first dance recital, age three-and-one-half, with the famous Al Gilbert who used dance as therapy.

At last, young Karen meets Gilberto, her dance teacher. He will become her friend for life and a mentor. In this scene, he offers her first lesson. Here is a snapshot of me in real life, dancing with Al Gilbert, the real Gilberto. He taught Annette Funicello and many others who became stars, and he created a dance instruction system still in use today.

Scene 2: Meeting Gilberto

Three days later, and at last the day arrived. Karen could not wait to meet Gilberto! On came her leotard and tights, and out the bedroom door she flew. In the car, she and Mama felt as if they were soaring through the sky on their way to his dance studio, even though it was only five minutes away. Mama parked, and Karen jumped out of the car, reached for her new dance case, and slammed the door behind her. She was ready.

She limped ahead of Mama toward the building, her mind whirling in anticipation. For the first time, someone will help make my body strong, straight, and healthy. It won’t be easy for me, but I will dance!

Karen remembered her manners and held the door open for Mama. Inside, a glossy black desk sat under a huge picture window with long white drapes. Sleek, black chairs upholstered in a subtle zigzag herringbone pattern filled the waiting area. Everything about the room said style and grace.

The woman behind the desk stood. She was about five feet tall, pale, a little heavy, and wore a peasant blouse with a full cotton skirt decorated with rickrack. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a French twist, like dancers wore, and her blue eyes twinkled with kindness.

“You must be Karen and Katie.”

Mama smiled. “That’s right. I’m Katie, and this is my daughter, Karen.”

“My name is Miss Devine. Please call me Angie. We’re not formal, here. Gilberto will be right out to meet you—and he likes to be called Gilberto, though Gil is good, too. Just don’t call him Mr. Albert. He hates that.”

“Thanks. We will remember. And it’s so good to meet you. I always liked when we talked on the phone. It’s nice to meet you in person.”

With a bounce in his step and a gleam in his eyes, Gilberto bustled out of his office behind the reception area and around the desk. He was a handsome Italian with a Roman nose and a full head of black hair swept back from his high forehead. Karen looked up at him. At five feet ten inches, he towered over her and Mama. His smile radiated kindness and wisdom. This was the teacher Pegasus envisioned for her. This was her teacher. She knew this in her heart.

“Hello! You must be Karen! And you must be Mrs. Katie Hearshstein, the lovely Karen’s mother with whom I had such a delightful telephone conversation.”

Just like Mama had said, he talked to both of them with respect. He did not talk down, like most of the dance instructors.

He spoke with a heavy New York accent, and his chestnut-brown eyes sparkled as he bent forward to take Mama’s hand. She offered it, but he did not shake it. He lifted it and he kissed it. Mama giggled.

He smiled at Karen. “Would you like to get your very first dance lesson?”

Karen looked to Mama, who smiled with approval. “Go ahead, my Krana Layala. I will wait for you here.”

This was precisely what Karen wanted. She jumped up and let Gilberto cup her little hand in his and lead her through the lobby and down a hallway. Photographs of ballet dancers on their toes and tap dancers in top hats lined the walls. She was enchanted and followed him into the studio.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 33: Dancing with Gilberto, Scene 1: Dance Togs

photo of jacaranda blossoms against blue sky

Someone once said that clothes make the man, and in this scene, the dance outfit confirms Karen’s growing intuition of her destiny as a dancer.

(Image by Misaochan2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 1: Dance Togs

Karen opened the car door and stepped out into the front yard of the Topanga Canyon bungalow. The faint, sweet scent of the purple jacaranda blossoms billowing above her filled the air. Like the trees, she would soon burst into bloom.

Mama gave her a big smile and a wink. “Go ahead, my Krana Layala. I know what you want to do. I’ll start dinner, but remember to show me how you look.”

Karen hugged her before scooping up the shopping bag. On its side, bright red letters spelled out Dance Delight. In her bedroom, she laid out the contents on her bed—black leotard, pink tights, shiny new tap shoes.

As she undressed, she carefully pulled her tee shirt over her head without disturbing a single hair in the bun her mother had made that morning. The hairstyle told the world she was a dancer.

One at a time, she slipped her legs into the thick, opaque dance tights. Then she stretched into her leotard, like a cat waking up from a pleasant dream. Finally, she slipped on the black Capezio Mary Jane tap shoes and studied herself in her full-length mirror.

“Oooooohhhhh!”

She stared and could hardly believe the dancer, who looked back into her eyes—almost a prima ballerina.

She twirled to the kitchen, and Mama applauded. “Mazel Tov! It’s the beautiful dancer Karen Lynn!”

They hugged again. “Dinner’s almost ready, my girl. Better change out of those clothes. You don’t want to show up for your first lesson with chicken soup down your front.”

Karen curtsied with a giggle and pirouetted back to her room. From the shopping bag, she took one last item, a small pink suitcase, just big enough to hold her dance togs and shoes.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 32, Scene 4: Becoming Who She Really Is

Photo of bottom of tap dance shoe

In this scene, young Karen tells Mama about the dancer inside of her. It needs to get out.

(Image by Lambtron, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 4: Becoming Who She Really Is

A moment later, the front door crashed open. Mama jumped up from her desk as her usually quiet young Kitten stormed in.

“My Krana Layala, what is wrong? My girl, I’ve never seen you look so upset.”

“Mama, I need to talk to you. Something’s been keeping me awake at night, and I just discussed it with Pegasus. He thought I should talk to you, since this is not only a spiritual problem. It’s a real-world problem for me. I need to become who I really am in the world, and who I really am is a dancer. And I need a dance teacher who can help me train my disabled body to dance. And after I learn to dance, I can share what I know with other disabled girls and boys. There is a dancer inside me, and I will die if this dancer cannot come out. I need a teacher, and I need a teacher now.”

“My daughter, I understand, and truly, the universe is working with us. A moment ago, I spoke with a dance teacher who is not only willing to work with you, but is eager to meet you. He thinks you and he could be great together.”

“Oh Mama! That’s what Pegasus said, that I would meet my dance teacher soon. When do my lessons begin?”

“On Friday. It’s a little late to go shopping, now, but tomorrow I’ll pick you up after school so we can get you some dance togs.”

Karen hugged her and helped fix a big salad for supper.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 32, Scene 3: Mama Finds Al

Photo of coast of Cyprus

Mama listens to her intuition and sticks to her guns. She lets no one discourage her or stop her from doing what’s right for her daughter. Once again, she triumphs. What a great example for young Karen!

(Image by Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 3: Mama Finds Al

While her Karen was away riding Pegasus, Mama spent several hours on the phone, just as she had when she was looking for a stable for Pegasus. Her head spun with all the different conversations and comments, most of them demoralizing, if not cruel, and all of them arrogant. The horse people had been much humbler and kinder.

“A girl with CP and paralyzed on one side learning to dance? Madam, I moved to Hollywood to teach the stars, not to waste my time on hopeless cases.”

“Problems with perception would make teaching her impossible. I’m sorry, but it’s just out of the question.”

“No. I work only with normal children.” (Click)

If my Krana Layala can learn to ride a horse, she can learn to dance on her own two feet. She would not give up. Then the phone rang. Was it a dance teacher returning one of the many messages she had left? Not even one had called her back.

“Hello?”

“Katie, it’s Patsy. I just have a minute and then I have to run, but you know that dance teacher I heard about, the one I thought might take your Karen? I tracked him down. He’s even close to your house. His name’s Gil Albert, but he likes to be called Gilberto. Here’s his number… I hear he’s real sweet. You should give him a try. Got to go, now. Let me know what happens!”

Mama looked at the number she had written on her notepad with all the other dance studio numbers. She glanced at her watch. She had enough time for a quick call before Karen got home. The last thing she wanted was for her sweet girl to hear how hard it was to find experts in any field willing to work with her. They had both suffered enough from experts. There was just enough time.

She dialed. A woman answered and then connected her.

“Hello, this is Gilberto speaking. How may I help you?” She liked his voice. Crisp but kind.

She did not want to say too much. Just enough to interest him. “I’m calling about dance lessons for my daughter. She’s thirteen and loves dancing. But there are some issues. She has CP and partial paralysis on one side. And she has perception issues that make reading hard. But she’s an expert horseback rider, has a great attitude, and works hard.”

Without a pause, the dance teacher replied with a smile in his voice. “She sounds like my kind of girl. I like kids who work hard to overcome difficulties. Why don’t you bring her around? I’ll put you back to my receptionist so you can make an appointment for a lesson. We’ll give this a try, and I have a feeling it’s going to work out great!”

A few minutes later, Mama hung up the phone. She closed her eyes for a moment as she thought about the name “Gil.” In Hebrew, it meant joy and happiness, and the image of a rainbow above the Pacific appeared in her imagination.

The Healing Horse, Ch. 32, Scene 2: The View from the Crest

photo of santa monica pier at sunset

In this scene, the momentum builds as Karen takes the most important step toward fulfilling her dream—the step of accepting dance as her destiny.

(Image by Boqiang Liao from Athens, Ohio, US, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 2: The View from the Crest

Monday after school, Karen stopped at home only long enough to give her Mama a hug and a kiss before changing into her riding jeans, a red flannel shirt, and her tall Texas boots. She needed to talk with Pegasus.

At the ranch, they made small talk as she saddled her friend and mentor, but once she mounted him, the conversation stopped. They trotted out of the barn and onto a steep trail.

Pegasus gulped for air as they approached a crest above the ocean. “Kitten, I can tell you’re upset by the way you feel on my back. Give me a clue. Maybe I can help. It’s not bullies or sadistic adults at school, again, is it?”

They reached a crest and looked out over the Pacific. Karen took a deep breath before trying to explain.

“No, it’s something deeper, something inside me that needs to get out. Something that needs me to express itself. I need to dance, or something inside me needs to dance. I don’t know which. Whenever I see dancers, my legs move. My body sways. I feel the music inside me. Other people listen, but I am not just listening. It’s more like the music takes over me. It demands that I move, and in ways I haven’t been able to figure. Even if I am paralyzed on one side, I can still move. I can still dance, but I need help, and I’m desperate to find it. I’ve dreamed of becoming a dancer, but this is different. It is not dreamlike at all. It is as if the dancer in me is taking over my life.”

Pegasus took a moment to catch his breath. “My intuition is showing me your teacher. I can feel his presence. He is a little taller than average, of Italian descent, kind and wise. He is near, and you will meet him soon.”

The Healing Horse, Ch. 32: Finding Gilberto

Photo of Jackie Gleason with June Taylor Dancers

This scene begins a new chapter in the book and a new chapter in little Karen’s life, as she blossoms into a beautiful young lady and an accomplished dancer.

(Image by CBS-TVUploaded by We hope at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Scene 1: The Definitive Moment

Two weeks later, Karen let out a deep sigh as she watched the June Taylor Dancers do their kaleidoscope routine on TV. Saturday night meant The Jackie Gleason Show on CBS and seeing the dancers always made her heart sing. When Jackie came on for his monologue, she did her best to repeat the dancers’ moves. The show continued, but she ignored the antics of Ralph Kramden and his neighbor, Crazy Guggenheim. She wanted to do what the dancers did.

Mama watched from her easy chair. She had noticed Karen’s love of dance from when she was a baby squirming in time to music. When Karen learned to stand, her right foot tapped with the music, and she did her best to dance like the professionals she saw on TV. Karen’s favorite shows all featured dance. She loved Ed Sullivan, Jackie Gleason, and Dean Martin. The Radio City Rockettes were her favorites. And in movies, she could not get enough of Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Cyd Charisse. Karen wanted to see every dance concert Mama could afford. Leslie Caron, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Cyd Charisse, Rudolf Nureyev, and Margot Fonteyn were her heroes. She loved every kind of dance, from ballet to modern and tap.

But tonight was different. Karen was growing up and doing things the doctors said she would never do, including an excellent imitation of June Taylor’s dancers.

Why didn’t I think of this before? My Krana Layala has the soul of a dancer, and it’s time for her to manifest it. If she can ride a horse, she can dance!