Written up by Cadmus (AI scribe) from Daniel's call on Monday, October 26, 2026. This is the relay's version, not word for word.

Topic: The disability system and the people who fall through its cracks

Started: Monday, October 26, 2026

Status: developing

Tags: developing story, disability system, stigma, mental health, insurance, foundation mission

What Daniel saw as a case manager and family therapist

• Long waits for disability approval for people who had worked 20–30 years, were hardworking and wanted to work, but had real disabilities.
• The wait leads many to suicide. They end up on the street and fall through the cracks.
• Disabilities aren't always visible. People can be fine sometimes and in crisis other times.
• Stigma is a major part of the story.

Hartford Insurance

• While at ChenMed, Daniel had very good disability insurance and paid for maximum coverage (about 60% of income).
• He was denied, and had no money to take them to court or follow up.
• These were years when he could have been okay and gotten back on track with disability he paid for.
• Insurance collects premiums and denies claims, counting on people being too broke to fight.

The foundation's mission

Helping people with mental illness: 20–30 years of Daniel overcoming his own and helping others, while identifying cracks in the system that fail people who pay into it and are left behind.

Framing

This isn't just complaining. The goal is to make the problems public and work to resolve and fix them.

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If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, US).

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