i'm a software developer, or have been a software developer, but this disease is making it tough to use the keyboard. everybody suggests voice recognition, but i have doubts about that working well for software development. the tech guy at the als clinic suggested a usb morse code input device. sounds kinda crazy, but interesting and i'll try it. i used to be able to key as fast as i could think, now i'm reduced to hunt and peck with plenty of typos. all my life i've gotten "outstanding" reviews, suddenly i'm being reprimanded for bad attitude. heck yeah i don't have the same attitude. i can still work, but for how long? how can i keep up with the latest developments in my field? if i lose my job, or have to take a pay cut, will that negatively impact my disability when i need it?
i am grateful that i can still bike. its nt been without challenges. i gave up my car seven years ago and have been biking to work, shopping and doing ultra-marathon bike rides since. because of my hands, i've switched to a recumbent bike, and more recently had it modified so all the hand controls are on the right. now my right hand is getting weak. i may have to switch to gear-less and find a way to rig up a foot brake. sure, i could go back to a car--i still have a diver's license--but there's something horribly wrong with a system that says, you're physically compromised, so you should switch to a 2000lb steel vehicle of death & mahem.
anyway...i've worked since i was a teenager...what i really want to know is: when should i go on disability? if i wait until i've been demoted or fired, will i have lost or diminished my benefits?