Jayme >> Good afternoon. My name is Jayme Pendergraft, and I am a member of the Ticket to Work team. Welcome to today's WISE webinar, Exploring a New Career with Ticket to Work. Today I'd like to introduce Ray Cebula, our moderator. Ray has spent over 23 years providing legal services to individuals with disabilities and their interactions with Social Security. He then became part of Cornell University's Work Incentive Support Center and, in 2005, joined the staff of Cornell's Institute on Disability and Employment. He now serves as the program director of YTIOnline, Cornell's Work Incentives credentialing program. And with that, I am happy to turn it over to Ray.

Ray >> Thank you, Jayme. Happy to be here with you today. I'm going to take you through some of the workings of today's session so you can get your computers and phones hooked up to the best experience you can have. So, accessing today's webinar, if you're needing to manage your audio, you can manage your audio by using the audio option at the top of your screen. It looks like a little speaker. In the drop-down menu, you can choose Select Speaker and select the applicable options that appear. Check the one you want to use and get the most use out of. 

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Today's presenters: myself, I'm moderating today's session; Derek Shields with the Ticket to Work Program  team. Nice guy, wonderful presenter, full of great stuff to share. And today's special guest, Rebecca, she's a Ticket Program participant, so we've got a wonderful success story. Hopefully, you'll be encouraged by Rebecca. And the webinar overview, we have a -- we are exploring a new career with the new Ticket to Work. What is Social Security's Ticket to Work Program ? Who can help you achieve your work goals, exploring a new career, and tips for changing your career? And with that, I'm going to turn it over immediately to Derek.

Derek >> Ray, thank you so much. It's great to be working together again. And welcome, everyone, who's joining us today to focus on the Ticket Program and career change and exploring a new career with Ticket to Work. As Ray said, we really have a great agenda here. He went through the overview of the webinar. We're going to go through some program eligibility material, look at helping you to achieve your work goals with the employment team, and then transition and really to the centerpiece, exploring a new career, and I'll be interviewing Rebecca. And then after that, some tips to close out. 

And with that, we're going to dive in because we do have so much content for you today. And we'll start out with the information, as we commonly do, about Social Security's Ticket to Work Program  to make sure we're all on the same page there. You know, to understand Ticket to Work eligibility, we have to understand the Social Security disability programs. So we're going to start with this content and these two different disability benefits programs. 

First, on the left, we have the Social Security Disability Insurance program. We call that one SSDI. And please note that there's the word insurance in there, and it is an insurance program. And this is a program that if you have been working, people are paying into it. So if you have worked, and you've had those things called FICA taxes withheld from your paycheck, that's what's actually being used to fund the disability insurance benefits. And your amount of benefits is going to depend on how long you've worked and potentially, you know, also how much you've earned. So thinking about how long you've worked and how much you've earned, there is a maximum amount to it, and it's really important to note that everybody's amount is going to be different. Sometimes you also have to have that long work history to establish it. 

So this varies with SSDI, but that's the insurance program. It's also important to note that, with SSDI, you know, since you're paying into it, we don't really care about resources. There's no, you know, unearned income that is looked at, you know, considering this program, because it's the insurance program. You pay into it, and then you have access to it when needed. On the right side, we have the other benefit program, Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. Notice this one doesn't say insurance. This is a needs-based program. This is for people who have not worked long enough to be insured through the SSDI benefit or do not have a work history at all. So this one's very different from the disability insurance program, and SSI, with that one, they are going to have a look at resources. So you have to have very low resource amounts and income amounts in order to receive SSI. Social Security obviously administers both of these. And in administering the SSI program, they pay monthly benefits to people with limited income and resources who are either blind or have a qualifying disability. It's important to note that SSI is also available for individuals who are 65 or older. Or for children with disabilities or children who are blind, they may also get SSI as well. 

All right, so we have that information about the disability programs. Now that we've covered that, let's look at the -- how to find out if you're receiving or eligible to receive, you know, disability insurance, or SSI. To do that, you can sign up for a my Social Security account or a my SSA account. And, you know, these are great things. The accounts have to be set up, though, by visiting the Social Security website, and they're going to ask you for some personal information. And in doing that, you can be assured that this is a safe Social Security Administration run website. What will happen when you do create one of these Social Security accounts is you're going to get access to a lot of great information about your work history. It's going to tell you if you are eligible for SSDI, how much you would receive from SSDI, and it will tell you how much your family members would also receive if you have dependents. I tend to look at mine in December every year. Some people might do it, you know, more or less frequently. But I logged into my SSA account right after and during the holidays and read my statement, and it included the projected disability benefits and projected survivor benefits. And they also have something there that's your eligibility for benefits status, which is really important for our conversation today. 

So that's the SSDI side. On the SSI side, the -- this account also clarify that your benefits are SSI and how much those benefits are. So all the information is really good to have available to if you're considering working inside the Ticket Program with -- and considering, you know, a career change through the program. This information is going to help you talk to informed advisors in helping you make the right decisions. So if you don't have one of these accounts yet, we really recommend it. You can sign up for one of those my Social Security accounts by going to ssa.gov/myaccount. You can Google it too. You'll find the SSA website pretty easy. There's a lot of great information there. As we talked about in the Web Links Pod in the bottom-right corner, you also have access to a lot of links that I'll share with you throughout. This is item number eight. There's a link there. You can select that and go to that my Social Security account information. 

All right, so we covered the benefit programs, the disability benefit programs, and I mentioned now how to check, you know, what you might be eligible for or what you're receiving, along with your work history through the my SSA account. So we'll shift gears a little bit now and go towards, you know, why choose work? And in this case, why choose work? And for today's topic, why choose a career change when you do choose to return to work or start to work for the first time, for some of you? We have this answer, and it kind of sounds simple, but it's work works. And you know, we talked about it, Ray, and I, and others. It sounds really straightforward, and it is. Work can assist you in achieving good things. It helps people get out of poverty. It gives people the ability to make choices, to make more choices. And when you have the ability to make more choices for yourself, then you begin to find that one choice will lead to another, and it can improve a few different things, including your financial independence. 

So when you have access to some money through work, importantly, you can pass the amount that you're receiving through the benefits, and that could build up to more flexibility. Earning that living through employment is not something that everyone can do. We understand that. So it could be right for some of you. And for others, it might not be. You know, that's why the disability standard Social Security has is tough, and, you know, so for those of you that are contemplating this, though, we understand that this is a personal choice. But if you're thinking about this, then we really want you to understand that there's a lot of free services and supports that are available through the Ticket Program. And they're going to get you that support and an employment team that will help you find the rewards that are available through work. Some of those are the paychecks, and the other rewards through work are the contributions that we offer by being part of a team or supporting a mission and that those results will outweigh some of the risks that you may have, as you focus on a career change that might help you really choose the new kind of work that you're seeking and all the benefits that come from it. 

So with this in mind, let's explore a little bit more about what is Ticket to Work? The Ticket to Work Program, importantly, is free and voluntary. It is operated by the Social Security Administration. The Ticket Program, you don't have to participate. That's the voluntary part. And then you don't really need a Ticket, even though it's called Ticket, you don't have to have a Ticket to make use of all these services and things called Work Incentives that Social Security has. But when you go to enroll and participate in the program, there's a lot of extra services that you could get access to at no cost, where other people might be paying for those. 

So these services involve important things like career development. And when we're looking at people ages 18 through 64, who are receiving Social Security disability benefits, and you want to work, these free services and career development assistance that you can get are available to you. That requirement at the end, want to work, is really important. If you're considering a career change right now, well, this is a time where we can think about, well, I want to work. I do want to experience a career change. I qualify because I'm age 18 through 64, and I need that employment team to help me think this through. 

So if that sounds like you, you're receiving SSDI or SSI or both, and you want to work, then we have some great career development information today. And with the help of Rebecca, we're going to explore how her career change along with the Ticket Program support services she received positioned her for the success at this point in her life and career she's experiencing. Several ways the Ticket Program can help you are on this slide. Importantly, you know, the Ticket Program connects you with those free employment services, and we tend to categorize them or put them in groups. The first area, it's making that decision, deciding if work, including a career change, and potentially self-employment is right for you. And that's not always an easy decision to make, but the Ticket Program service providers can help. Once you make that determination, they can help you in preparing for that change or preparing for work. Somebody might need some educational preparation. Somebody else might need some rehabilitative preparation. The Ticket Program can do those things. So if you're making the change, and you have to have different skillsets or qualifications, really have the training so you can do those new essential job functions, or the Ticket Program can support you there. Once you are prepared, then the Ticket Program can help you find that paid work opportunity. 

You know, we'll talk about the Employment Networks in a little bit, but it's important to note that those folks have relationships with employers. So if you're looking for paid work, these service providers can help introduce you to employers. And then, you know, once you do find work to help you succeed and retain your position, there's some ongoing supports and services available through the Ticket Program to really help you be successful for the long term after that career change or starting new work. On this side, we have two links here to some resources. 

What is Social Security's Ticket to Work Program? A bit of a fact sheet for you there. And then a second link to an outstanding resource, an online self-guided tutorial that we encourage you to visit. These are in the Web Links Pod at number nine and number 10. If you liked these four things I just talked about, I encourage you to visit that self-guided tutorial to get a longer version of that explanation, and perhaps that will help you determine if you want to participate in the program. 

Okay, next, we have the Ticket to Work Helpline. I know during these sessions; we cover a lot of information. And if you need to talk to a beneficiary support specialist to ask questions. You know, I went to this WISE webinar. I heard about these things, but I'm not sure if this is right for me. Well, this is a great starting point. You can contact the Ticket to Work Helpline, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and we have a couple numbers for you. The telephone number is 1-866-968-7842. And we have a TTY number for TTY users. You can call 1-866-833-2967. The TTY line is a line that's established as a phone number for people who are deaf, or hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities. And those individuals are also using a text telephone to make or receive calls. Go ahead and reach out to the Helpline in the way that you like, and you can get answers, and they'll help you also to connect to the service providers. 

All right, so we've gone through the Ticket Program overview, and now I'm going to talk a little bit about those providers. These folks are positioned to help you achieve your work goals. And with today's topic, theme of career change, they're well-positioned to do that as well. So we asked the question, who can help you achieve your work goals? And as you think about returning to work and possibly changing careers, you're going to have questions and potentially need support to think about this and to plan. I can tell you, I personally have gone through that career change, and I needed a lot of support. I had a service provider. I'm not part of the Ticket Program, but another employment team member, and I had a lot of family I relied on too. So you know, it's important to know that we all go through these things. I left the job after having it for 18 years, and I wasn't one for change. But I thought that I might be able to contribute in another way, and I wanted to explore that. And I know Rebecca's story is similar in some ways, too. So it's important if you're thinking about trying new things and making a change, connecting with a Ticket Program service provider can really help you develop those achievable goals, and establish the steps or the milestones that you can take to find and maintain that employment. And the other area is the providers can help you identify the specifics, the types of careers, careers that you might enjoy, and may qualify for. 

So what skillsets do you have from past experiences? Perhaps that's work experience, or maybe it's coming more from volunteer experience? It can even be from some earlier educational experience where you led a project team, but you have these skills, and they can help you identify, well, how those could transfer into other career types. We'll explore that a little bit later as well. When we think of the Ticket Program service providers, we really have two that we'll focus on today. We're going to look at these Employment Networks, and we're going to also talk about the state Vocational Rehabilitation agencies. We call these ENs and VRs for short. So if you hear that, that's what people are talking about. With the Employment Networks, we'll start there first. These serve every part of the country. Some of them are limited to a geographic area, like a zip code, or a city, or a town. And others cover regions, or some are even covering national territories. So you can really work with one that's either in your backyard or more through a virtual relationship. That's up to you. 

The ENs are -- these are a private or public agency that has an agreement with the Social Security Administration to provide these free employment services. And those are for people who are eligible for those Tickets, remember, ages 18 through 64, receiving a disability benefit and want to work. Those are those criteria. Some of the Employment Networks we call Workforce ENs, they could be state public workforce system entities. You might know those as American Job Centers, and we have many of those that are Workforce ENs as well. You should know that working with these Employment Networks, you don't need to pay for Tickets. You can call the Ticket to Work Helpline that I mentioned before, and they're going to look you up and be able to determine if you -- if you have a Ticket, if you're eligible for the program and to provide a list of these Employment Networks for you to pick from. They'll talk to you a little bit, and they'll help provide a customized list based on how you answer a few questions, and then you could reach out. When you reach out, and, you know, how can working with the EN, you know, help you comes up. 

So, you know, if you're going to enroll, these are the types of things that you would do with these Employment Networks. And we call them services and supports, and they're all designed to take you on a pathway from where you are to a more financial independent positioning through work. It starts with identifying work goals. They're going to help establish your work plan. And in doing so, they're going to create what's called an Individualized Work Plan, and it's going to include specific goals. Once you have that in place, they'll provide some assistance in updating your toolkit. That might be in updating your resume, putting in some key words around those transferable skills, or repositioning the resume from your previous career to the career that you're aiming for with a new objective. After that, they can help with some prep interviews, kind of those mock interviews, getting you ready with preparing some questions. They can assist with identifying how you would ask for a reasonable accommodation based on the job that you have applied for. And at the end, some of these Employment Networks even have benefits counselors on staff. And so as you start to work, they could talk about the impact of work on your benefits. And if they don't have a benefits counselor on staff, they have the ability to, once you start to work, to connect you with the benefits counselor who's going to be able to help you with those questions about how work impacts your benefit so you can more confidently transition through work to off the benefits. 

So there's a lot there, but those are the great supports and services that the Employment Networks offer. The next group we have are the state Vocational Rehabilitation agencies, or those VR agencies. They can provide a lot of in-house planning services and, you know, what we might call one-stop services that could be a great match for you as well. A state agency, like these VR agencies provides a wide variety of services for people with disabilities that are returning to work or perhaps entering that new line of work like we're talking about. They can provide that Vocational Rehabilitation, or training, and education. And when we think about competitively positioning oneself for a new career, well, those two are just invaluable, and they could be available to you, in many, many cases at no cost. So through the Ticket Program, you could be involved with either the VR agencies or through the Employment Networks. So something to keep in mind. They're in every state. Many states divide blind services into their own agency and then other disabilities into another one. You just have to be referred to the agency that meets your specific needs. Working with the VR agencies can help you specifically. You know, I mentioned a couple of broad areas, but they look at, you know, individuals needing more significant or longer-term services. Some states, that can include that intensive training, education, and rehabilitation. So if that sounds like you, remember, state VR agencies is important. And then in the more detail area, career counseling, job placement assistance, as well as counseling about those earnings and how it would affect your disability benefits. So VR agencies can provide helpful services in a lot of different ways. So now we've talked about members of the employment team, and you're like, well, what do I do? How do I find one of these service providers? Because I want to get started. Again, we recommend if you don't know where to start, contact the Ticket to Work Helpline. We have those numbers, 1-866-968-7842 is the telephone number. And a TTY line for deaf, hard of hearing, or individuals with speech disabilities, that's at 1-866-833-2967, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time. That's a great place to start. I know some of you prefer maybe not to talk to somebody right away, so we have the Choose Work Find Help page as well. This is a great option. You could go in there, and you can look at a list of those Employment Networks or the state VR agencies. And we have two ways of searching. You could do a direct search, where you know the type of information or a guided search, where you respond to some questions. But you can look at by zip code, by types of services, by the type of disability, if they have experience with your type of disability, the languages that are available, and then, of course, by the employment team provider type. That Find Help page is a great option, and it's available in the Web Links Pod as well, at number 11. So go ahead and open up the Choose Work Find Help Tool, if that's something that you think is of use. All right, I know I went through a lot of content. I'm going to take a breath. I'm going to bring Ray back, and we're going to stop for a Q&A here before we get back into exploring a new career. Right?

Ray >> Hey, Derek. Thank you for sharing that information. And there was a lot of it, so we have some questions for you. The first question is someone is not sure whether they have SSI or SSDI. How can they find that out?

Derek >> This is Derek. Thanks, Ray, and thanks for the question. There's often uncertainty. I know I'm receiving something, but I don't know what it is. So if you want to find out what you're receiving, there's a few options. One of them is that Ticket to Work Helpline. You know, there's another one too that you can contact. Social Security has a toll-free number that you can call them directly. So I'll say those numbers here. It's an eligibility thing, and it's, you know, am I participating in SSI or SSDI? You can contact Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213. They also have a TTY line for deaf or hard of hearing individuals at 1-800-325-0778. And unlike the Ticket to Work Helpline, this Social Security 
toll-free line is 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, also Eastern Time. So you can contact Social Security. They can look it up. The Ticket to Work Helpline where those beneficiary support specialists are, they can assist you. They'll probably also refer you over to Social Security directly, just to make sure that you're getting the most updated information directly from SSA themselves. 

I also, I'll encourage you, I mentioned the steps to open up a my Social Security account. That's the third option here. Don't pass that one up. If you're a little hesitant to do it online, I can understand that. But for those of you that aren't, go ahead and do it. You'll be glad you did. A long time ago, we used to get these things in the mail from Social Security, these annual statements. Now it's all online. It's secure, and it will tell you which benefit you're receiving. And that's really important information to take to that service provider so they know, as you start work, the impact work will have on the benefit. So there's some options there. Don't hesitate to reach out to somebody. The best thing you could do is know which benefit you're receiving or if you're receiving both, and that will help you prepare for your next step and your reemployment journey.

Ray >> Okay, thank you for that answer, Derek. And I have to second your support for the my Social Security accounts. Somebody's asking, does it matter if I'm on SSI or SSDI if I want to participate in the Ticket Program?

Derek >> Yeah, you know, no, it doesn't. And it's a good question, and it's a simple, direct answer. It doesn't matter if you're on either of them, but the eligibility requirements to repeat it is it's available for Social Security disability beneficiaries, so you have to be receiving one or the other, or both and also be between ages 18 through 64, right? So that's the eligibility requirement. So if you're on one of them, then great. If you're on one of them, and you're between ages 18 through 64 and want to work, then you're eligible.

Ray >> All right. Thank you for that, Derek. I'm not sure if I can work full time. Can I participate in the Ticket Program?

Derek >> Thanks, Ray, that's a super question, folks. This is Derek, again. You do not necessarily have to work full time to start. The objective of the program, though, is full-time employment. So when you do your goal planning, you're working with an employment service provider. They're going to say, well, what are your short-term, midterm, and long-term goals? So you might start out with some type of seasonal work or perhaps part-time work, and you can test your capacity for work through that. And then we'll find out, well, I can do more. So then it would grow towards long-term, full-time employment. So the goal in the program is to reduce and eventually eliminate your reliance on the benefits. And to do that, it would be full-time employment because you'll come out ahead. You'll be earning a paycheck from work versus receiving the benefits, and that model will allow you to make more choices, and that's how the program is designed. To start out, you can start out part time, but the long-term objective would be full time.

Ray >> Thanks again, Derek, and I've got one more for you before I turn it back over to you. I'd like to start working for myself and may go into a new field. Can I use the Ticket to start my own business?

Derek >> This is Derek. Yes, that is possible. So Ticket can be used for a lot of things, and some services and supports are specifically available to help you become self-employed or start your own business, and that means a few different things. That can be serving as a consultant, or an independent contractor, or starting a full-fledged business that's incorporated, or an LLC, some type of small business potentially. If you want that as your employment goal, then -- and you're thinking of a career change that would allow that experience as an entrepreneur, then that would be important to explore when picking out your employment service provider and telling them that during that intake discussion because that would be your goal. Make it be known early in the process. You know, and we actually have done a WISE webinar on that, and in our materials, the Web Links Pod, we have access to WISE On Demand at number seven. You could go in there and find our recording on, really, Ticket to Work for people looking at different types of careers, including self-employment and entrepreneurship. I would encourage you to explore that.

Ray >> Okay, thank you, Derek. That's all we have time for right now, and we realize we're not going to get to everybody's question. But remember, you can reach out and contact that Helpline that Derek mentioned, and they can get you started as well. And with that, thank you for all those answers, Derek. I'm turning it back over to you.

Derek >> Excellent. Thanks, Ray. And appreciate the questions. You can keep them coming in, and we will have a second question set after we have the time to meet Rebecca and also to dive into some of the tips. So one more question set, keep the questions coming in. Now we're going to really get to the heart of the topic today in exploring a new career, so let's jump into that. 

So, I think it's important to kind of what we could say is level-set by asking the question who is making a career change? So if you're thinking about that, well, who else is thinking about that, and to know what's going on in our economy? So we have some data to help with that. And according to the Harvard Business Review, here we have a data point. In 2021, alone, nearly 50 million Americans quit their jobs or changed careers, so we had about 50 million individuals. And of the employed adults, ages 18 to 29, who said that they changed their job in 2021. So I'll say that again. Of the employed adults, ages 18 to 29, who said they changed their job that year, 61% shifted their field of work or occupation, and 45% of those, 30 and over, made the shift. So these are some big numbers. That is nearly half of the workers over the age of 30 made the shift, and over 60% changed their fields to try something new. 

So change is clearly happening with jobs and careers. You likely know people who have made that change and have seen what they were like before, what they were like during the transition, and how they are now. And I think that's what gets even more important here is that people who attempted the career change after the age of 45, they found that not only were 82% of career changes successful, but 87% of those were happy that they made the change. These are significant numbers. It could be stressful to be thinking about trying to make this change. We all understand that. Change sometimes isn't easy to go through. And we know the majority of time, you know, that this is working for people. That just might give you a peace of mind to explore career change for me with the Ticket to Work Program is the right thing to do because I could have that employment team helping me. With this, we do have three resources for you today that are unique to career change. They're in the Web Links Pod items, 12, 13, and 14, Four Steps to Making a Successful Career Change, It's Never Too Late to Make a Career Change, and the last one is called Thinking About a Career Change. If you're interested in looking into kind of what's going on with the trends and helping kind of build some more confidence, go ahead and explore those resources. 
With this all in mind, in speaking of success, it's really our pleasure to turn our spotlight today onto Rebecca. I'll provide a quick introduction, and then we're going to bring Rebecca on, and we'll have a conversation about her career change in the Ticket Program experiences. 

After going into remission from cancer, Rebecca decided it was time to find her new career. At the end of 2018, Rebecca accepted a new job at the American Kennel Club, inspecting kennels around the country to make sure each is compliant with their rules and regulations. When she looks back and reflects on the listening skills that she developed throughout her years as an educator, this would continue to serve her well as she cultivated relationships in her first year in the new industry. It's fascinating to hear the work that Rebecca is doing today, the passion she has for her job, and really appreciate the sense of stability it has restored for her. And with that, we'll now turn to have our conversation with Rebecca, who by the way, is also, again, going to be with us in the Q&A session. So, if you have a question for Rebecca that comes up while we're having this conversation, please know that she'll be there, and you can submit that question to us. 

All right, we have a lot of questions, but before we do that, Rebecca, I'd like to have you come on and welcome you. Thank you so much for joining us as one of our success stories. It's a real pleasure to have you here. Start out by, you know, I gave you a brief introduction, but you've had a long career, a great life, and can you share a little bit more about kind of who you are and what your career has been about?

Rebecca >> Yes, thank you so much for having me here. I'm very happy to help. My work career started as a high school French and vocal music performance teacher, and I owned a private music studio and developed my love of purebred dogs by raising some purebred litters. I have since transitioned into a new career, as you explained, and today I do work for the American Kennel Club, which is the world's largest and oldest of breed dog registry. My official title is executive field agent, which is an inspector, and I travel throughout the state of Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, and Montana to meet with literally hundreds of customers.

Derek >> Thank you so much. It gives us a little bit more context, and I hope while you're doing that travel this time of year that you find some reasonable weather, but it sounds exciting. And we look forward to learning a little bit more of, you know, how that came to be because that's kind of the career change story that we're here. And we have a question, a group of questions for you. And I'm going to go through these, and we'll have a bit of a conversation, but I really would like to start out with because we are the Ticket to Work Program to ask you, in your career change journey, to explain to this -- to us all a little bit about how you encountered the Ticket to Work Program. How'd you find out about it?

Rebecca >> Well, if I could give just a little more background how this all came about, in the spring of 2017, I was diagnosed with a very aggressive stage 3B cancer and genetically diagnosed with Lynch syndrome, which is a hereditary condition I didn't know at that time that increases the risk for several types of cancer. And I underwent surgery and six months of chemo and was told, pretty much from the beginning, that I wouldn't make it. So my family was caring for me for over a year, and I couldn't work. I was single, and it was actually financially devastating because I couldn't financially support myself. But when I received a notification that I was approved for disability benefits, I read some information concerning the Ticket to Work Program. And my theme, even with my customers, is information is free. So, I filled out a questionnaire for more information about the program.

Derek >> Thank you so much for sharing this very personal story with us all today. So you encountered the Ticket to Work Program because of being approved to receive your disability benefits, and that was because you're going through learning about having Lynch syndrome and then this aggressive form of cancer. So obviously, there was a lot going on in your life. And as part of that, you said, well, let me just have my toolkit as full as possible, and that included learning a little bit more about the Ticket Program. So perhaps some of you out there have experienced a similar situation where you went on the benefits, and then you got the Ticket information, but didn't really do anything about it, and then now you're considering a career change. And this is where we'll explore a little bit with Rebecca about your career change. So going from an educator, music and French is my understanding, to now being with the American Kennel Club and doing the work you do, what was the kind of fundamental decision that you made to go after the career change?

Rebecca >> Well, like so many people, my life had been completely upended by a disability. It blindsided me. But when my health improved, in 2018, I actually found it very exciting to consider my career options. It was a little like having a new beginning. And I thought why not explore? There were some things that just wouldn't work financially for me to go back to school, and I already had education that I could work with, but -- and it was scary. Derek, it was scary. I'm not going to say it was completely, you know, easy, but there was a chance to be bold. And when the right opportunity appeared, I knew I would grab it. I also knew that, for me, there was a 100% chance that nothing good would come out of me doing nothing at all. And a family member had suggested that I apply for a teaching position at the community college, which was -- it's about two blocks from my home, within walking distance. And I was offered a position, but it didn't make sense for me financially. And given that I wanted to buy a home and fully support myself and move forward, I didn't take the job. I just felt like something else better was out there.

Derek >> Well, thanks again for that. Obviously, like we have opportunities, and sometimes perhaps the first one could be the easy one. But you had this framing that said I'm going to be bold, and so something was inside of you that was going to challenge that. Let's not go easy, but let's go for really the bigger picture. And I think we'll get into that a little bit more. I want to connect it a little bit now if we can with, you know, the -- you have your career change interest, and you also have the Ticket Program introduction where information was free. So you got the information. Let's connect now. Like you might not be a traditional like linear path from I'm at the Ticket Program, I did my career change, and now I'm working. So let's ask first, though, how did you connect with one of your employment team members, the service provider? Like when did that happen? Who was it? How did it go? And compare that to when you made your career change.

Rebecca >> I think that's so important to point out that not everyone is the same, and my path was different, and that's where ENs come into play and are so important. But I was actually in training for my job with the AKC when a representative from the American Dream Employment Network called me. And then I dragged my heels. I'm telling you, I did. I just didn't understand everything. But I was then referred to Brenda Umholtz, who is a member of ADEN, and she is amazing. She's amazing, an amazing person. And what she did for me was crucial because she helped guide me through, even though I already had a job and a wonderful job, she guided me through Social Security disability, transitioning to work, and how to navigate towards age-related Social Security benefits that she took -- I call it -- she took the mystery out of Social Security, which can be very confusing and very daunting. And I'm sure, to this day, I'm very sure I would have made some very critical missteps if I had not had her guidance, just simply because I didn't know.

Derek >> Thanks for this. This is interesting. So you were training for the job. And when you say that you had started training for the job at the American Kennel Club, just to be clear?

Rebecca >> Right, that's correct. I was actually in Raleigh, North Carolina. I was on a break. And I received the phone -- the initial phone call. So I had already been offered the job. I accepted the job and was going through my first two weeks of training, so that's correct.

Derek >> Okay. Well, with that in mind, let's now go to, you know, so you're singing Brenda's praises. It sounds like she's fantastic at what she does. So when we say how did your service provider help you navigate the career change, sounds like we're really talking about how did Brenda, who's part of the ADEN Employment Network world, how did she help you navigate the career change? Can you go into some more detail there?

Rebecca >> Well, there was -- and I'd like to circle back to a couple of things. But I was already employed at -- when Brenda and I started working together. But there was a period of time. It was when the AKC team that I worked with was laid off for about six months, and Brenda and I looked at different job options. She was wonderful. She had so many resources, but I was eventually brought back to my current job and have been there ever since. I think a lot she just counseled me a lot on Social Security and how to navigate that and make sure that I was on the right path for my situation. And that's what I'd like to stress is that, you know, not everybody is the same. And that's where all the -- those services come into play. A good friend actually told me about my job -- the job opening with AKC, and I happened to know the person who was retiring from the job. And I was also a customer of the AKC for many years. This particular job offered, for me, the benefits and the income necessary for me to live the life that I wanted to live, and it is the job that I was waiting for. So I applied and interviewed and started my new job, and everything fell into place, but that's how Brenda fit into this situation.

Derek >> So specifically for Brenda and that impact, what did she help with? Like it wasn't planning the career change, and it wasn't necessarily the goal setting because she found you when you were training in the new position. So what particularly did she help you navigate that gave you some, I guess, confidence and now retention and lasting power in your position?

Rebecca >> That is such a great question. And I have to say I didn't realize how much really I was relying on her until, you know, I -- we are no longer working directly together. I didn't realize that but a lot of it was basically, because of my age, how to transition because I was already in the workforce at that time, how disability affected me financially versus working, and then to get to the Social Security, age related, you know, when you make that transition to retirement. So that was all very important. And making sure that I had my insurance in place. She was just very good about making sure that I didn't overlook -- I was busy working. You know, I was busy working and living my life, but she helped to put everything together in a package that I understood, the long-term picture of how Social Security works and how would affect me in my retirement.

Derek >> Excellent, something really important that she offered that gave you the ability to focus on your work and probably also on your health, too. So let's switch into more about the career change itself. How did you find the new job? Like was that a personal network or a professional network?

Rebecca >> Yes, I was very, very focused. I'm not much of a sitter. I really had to have a goal to keep going. And I was very -- we only have so many days, right, in life. And I thought I'm not going to sit. I'm not going to waste my time. That's just me. But I was very focused on returning, pardon me, to work. And I was even willing to move to a different state if I needed to. I mean, I'm single, so I had a lot of latitude. But I asked friends and family, keep their ears low to the ground and help me find a job. I was looking at maybe the medical field, but that didn't feel quite right. And as I said previously, a friend of mine told me about the job that I have now. And I applied and went through three phone interviews, and they decided that I was right for the position, and then I was hired.

Derek >> Nice. I feel like we should all clap. It's an exciting story. And to make the career change and then land the position, it's a -- it had to make you feel great. Is there anything in particular on this next question that we have that -- do you think really helped you stand out during the hiring process? You know, you were shifting from a previous occupational area to a new one. Is there something that helped you land the job that you could point to?

Rebecca >> Well, my teaching background is it has been invaluable to a variety of career possibilities, and I've always felt that having a wide range of life experiences has worked in my favor. My mom once said to me when she was alive, she said, "You've had a very interesting life." I think she was being complimentary. I'm going to take it like that. Good timing is crucial. Recognizing and acting on a great opportunity, even if it isn't comfortable, and it's a little scary, that's been very important in helping me to change career paths successfully. And I have to say it's not about me, really. I was very fortunate to have family and friends and Brenda on my team as a vital support system during my recovery and working towards my new job and in my new job. And to this day, I have quite a cheering section.

Derek >> Outstanding. I love that. You have had a very interesting life, and it seems like she's continuing, and I think she means that in a very positive way. And I also like how you mentioned your network, family, friends, and Brenda as an employment service provider. So there's a blend there, and you have a broad team, and you probably lean on different parts of that team at different times. When we think about the skills that are involved here, what skills do you look back on from your previous career in teaching that you were able to transfer into your current position with the American Kennel Club?

Rebecca >> Well, I meet with hundreds of people, I mean, hundreds of people. And success in teaching a classroom of students from different backgrounds has many strong parallels to what I do now in working with different people with different backgrounds. I would say that communication is the most important skillset, a part of my skillset. I've learned to set goals, time management, being organized. And I've always been a bit of a self starter, but I've always loved learning too. And that's probably what drew me to the Ticket to Work Program is that I saw the information and not really knowing what my outcomes would be. I thought it -- no harm, no foul. I'll just find information. So I think everything working together, all my classroom skills and life skills have helped me to be successful again.

Derek >> Nice, and I appreciate that you're also able to can, you know, one of your skills is communication. And so you're able to convey, you know, these points as a self starter. You could use your organization and scheduling skills to make your appointments and be independent in this position at the AKC. But you're also still doing education. Like education can come in many forms. And so you've repackaged it, but at the same kind of route, part of your mission is that you're still educating. And maybe that's kind of the common denominator of your career. Even though the organizational title change, the business card changed, you're still able to help others and learning. Speaking of helping others, our last question for you, and then we have to move into the tips before Q&A. We have a lot of folks listening today that have enjoyed your career change story. I'm sure they're rooting for your continued success. How can you help some others? What advice do you have for those that are listening who are considering making that career change and thinking about using the Ticket Program?

Rebecca >> Well, I don't think that I'm all that wise, but I do have a friend who is 92 years old. And one thing that she has said to me several times, and this is a woman who worked up until she was, I mean, might not full-time, but worked part time until she was into her late 70s. And she said everyone needs a purpose, and I believe that. I think that's very important. I needed hope. I needed a new focus. I needed it to be able to have that purpose, to get up and move, even if I didn't feel the best that day, but keep moving forward. And I just would suggest. I know for myself, it might not seem like it, but I feel reserved so many times. And I had to make myself be bold and step out of my comfort zone and out of a box that we, you know, I know I put myself in sometimes. You know what? You're not alone. Lean into your family and friends. And if you can find an EN or someone to help guide you, that's such a great resource so that you don't feel alone or that you're struggling and trying to find out information. 

I could not imagine trying to find out all the ins and outs of Social Security, the benefits, without someone to guide me. There are people like Brenda who have a wealth of information, and they're there for you. I would not recommend settling for the ordinary. The right job is out there. And even if, you know, even if something doesn't work out, that's okay. It's okay. I think how many very famous and well-known people have failed at things, but they learned, and they picked back up and went forward. It's not about always winning or, you know, everything going your way. It's about learning and moving forward with that knowledge, and you'll be better. But I hope that -- I do hope that that helps somebody to have hope and look into resources and rebuild their life if they're at that stage.

Derek >> Now, Rebecca we're going to have to leave it there, but I -- we know that you're reaching people right now. We're getting lots of thank yous for your participation today and for sharing your story. I've heard here in summary, be bold. Have that interesting or extraordinary life that you want. Step outside of your comfort zone. Find your purpose, and if it feels uncomfortable, keep moving forward. You'll get past the uncomfortable to what is your purpose? So we'll have you back in a little bit, Rebecca, for our Q&A. So just sit tight, and I appreciate all you've shared so far.

Rebecca >> Thank you so much.

Derek >> Okay, we do have some tips for changing your career, and I'm going to go through these, and then we'll get to that Q&A. So we just wanted to emphasize a couple of the things. So if you're like, well, if Rebecca did it with a team member from a Employment Network, maybe I can too. Well, what are my next steps? Well, these are in the slides that we shared, but we'll hit the high notes on them, and then we'll get into the Q&A. 

It's important to identify the why. You know, you could work with your employment service provider to answer some specific career change questions. You know, what are your likes or dislikes about a job that you've had in the past? What are you looking for in that new field that your last position or career path wasn't providing? And then, you know, looking at industries that might allow you to transfer in. And if you do transfer in, what are in-demand industries that you can have transferable skills? Or you might need some training or education. And really taking an inventory. In this inventory, I call it your assets inventory. It's of your interests, your values, and your skills, and helping you starting, you know, to talk about that assets inventory in a way with others. So identifying your why is tip number one. Tip number two is making the plan. You know, failing to plan is planning to fail is a saying that I've heard over my career. So you can work with the Ticket Program provider to develop your Individual Work Plan, and this is going to be that roadmap to take you from where you are through that career change to that destination with purpose. And they'll use SMART goal planning, you know, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-based goals to help you with short, midterm, and long-term achievements. And, you know, whether it's Brenda, and you have the lucky, you know, relationship that she had with Rebecca or another employment service provider, they're all over the country. You can work with one in your backyard, or you can use one through a virtual relationship. 

With that plan, we also talk about building your network. And you know, changing jobs may mean working in a different industry. And unless like you know how to find one, it could take a little time. So if you're applying for a job, and you're waiting for interviews, really networking to find new opportunities and to practice meeting new people and asking questions and learning about the new career sector that you're going to. You know, I heard once from a researcher at Ohio State University is the career -- the success in your career will be based on the person you haven't met yet. Success in your career is based on the person you haven't met yet. So we need to get out of our comfort zone and start talking to other people to learn about other positions. You can do that at career fairs, through colleges, or universities and, you know, reaching out even through platforms like LinkedIn to try to meet new people and have informational interviews. So there's a lot that you can do to build your own network as well. That's the next tip. 

Following that, we have some updates to tools, updating your resume. Here we have the opportunity to look at a collection of tips and tools for updating your resume and, you know, adding keywords to it for the new career sector. You know, maybe it's been a while since you've worked. You could get some assistance in explaining employment gaps on your resume as well and really showcasing those transferable skills. You know, Rebecca called out communication, organization, scheduling, and self-starting skills. These are things that every employer wants, so how are they being showcased on your resume? And when we think about making the resume relevant, we can look at looking, you know, here we have this example of explaining skills and how they could be applied to a new position. And you know, your position titles may not match the traditional path to your new career, but explaining how those skills could be applied to a new position might help you secure that next interview. The story is on your resume. And for example, here we have running an elementary school classroom takes strong, clear communication skills and exposure to different computer programs, while a mechanic understands attention to detail and rapid problem-solving skills, and the nurse can work well under pressure with a wide variety of personality types. So use these examples, use Rebecca's story, and you could think about how to transfer those skills on your resume. You could also have a standout cover letter that's talking about your passion for career change and how you're positioned to assist in that new sector. That's important too. At the end, too, we think about those skills. We have soft skills, and we have the technical skills, and really doing an inventory of those. And how are we representing them on our resume, perhaps on our living portfolio, like a LinkedIn profile? But most importantly in how we describe ourselves and why we're competitively positioned to help that employer fulfill their mission through both the soft skills, and on this side, we have technical skills, things like computers, project management principles, or writing. And you may have them from a previous experience, and they'll be very valued in your next position as well. So you know, with all this, where can you find help, again, identifying your transferable skills? We have some web links, pod item, in there about transferring those skills. It's down in there at number 21. I encourage you to read that tool. And you can also ask your Ticket Program service provider for help, too. So we went through the tips really quickly because we wanted to expand the time we had with Rebecca and also to bring her back for part of our second Q&A, which is scheduled to begin right now. So let's bring back Ray Cebula, our moderator, and check in. Ray, how are the questions going?

Ray >> They are coming in, and we've got a bunch of them for you. The first one is from somebody who was a nurse. Before I started receiving disability benefits, I had a job as a nurse. I can't go back to that job, and I feel like there are no other opportunities out there. What should I do?

Derek >> What should I do? Thanks, Ray. This is Derek, again. I'll start, and then I'll ask kind of a second question over for Rebecca. This is common. So I think the first thing that you should know is you're not unique or alone, and that means employment service providers hear this frequently. And so if you're Ticket Program eligible, we would encourage you to speak to one of those folks out there to help you think about this. You know, a tactic could be doing an inventory, an assets inventory. What are my passions? What are my soft and technical skills? And how do those skillsets potentially align with other needs that employers have? Certainly, as a nurse, you know, we use the one example in the previous slide with a nurse. But as a nurse, you have so many transferable skills. Some nurses work in incredibly fast-paced, stressful environments, where your people skills are exceptional. Some of the kindest people I've met have been nurses, and they're working in highly stressed environments. They're also incredibly timely, very organized, and that doesn't even get into the technical knowledge that you were able to learn in order to obtain your nursing credentials, which means that you have the ability to learn potentially other technical knowledge too. So those are some examples. I think the key on that is a Ticket Program service provider can really help think through how to position those transferable skills and potentially introduce you to employers that might be looking for them. So a second part of that I'd ask Rebecca, when you hear that somebody's out there, they likely were a nurse and then acquired a disability and now are unable to return to that, from your career change and your experience, any advice that you have?

Rebecca >> Many of my family members, my son is a hospitalist. His wife is a nurse practitioner, sister was a nurse, mother was a nurse. They're highly trained. I know. I can't speak to them directly, but as a teacher, and I agree with you, we have -- we're highly trained, and there are positions out there that are looking for people that are professional and have these transferable skills, such as communication and timeliness. And being a professional, I think there are many places of work that are looking for people. And I do think there are probably some positions within the nursing, just like in teaching the profession that don't require maybe the exact same things that you were doing before. And again, I reference back to sometimes we put ourselves into a box that I can only do X, Y, and Z, when you can probably do A through Z with your background.

Derek >> Hey, thanks for that. That's really helpful. This is Derek, again. I think that you've mentioned it before, but sometimes we put ourselves in a box. And, you know, maybe things have changed, and the boxes look different now. So like there are a lot of positions where nurses once were delivering care inside of a medical, you know, building now are doing nurse support services online. So there could be a virtual position where that knowledge could be delivered. So rethinking what the box might look like today is important. Thanks, Rebecca. Appreciate your advice. Ray, another question?

Ray >> Yep, we got another one. I want to change careers because of my disability. What should I say if I'm asked why I want a new career, if an interviewer asks me?

Derek >> This is Derek. This is -- this is cool. So a disability is providing an opportunity to think about a career change, and so I'm just making sure I got the question right. What should I say if I'm asked why I want the career change if like I'm in an interview?

Rebecca >> Exactly, yeah.

Derek >> Okay. Yeah, so thanks for that. I, you know, I think the idea is to start out by thinking about that, you know, your assets inventory. And if you want a career change, what's the root cause of that? You know, when we think of Rebecca's language of I'm moving forward, I'm going towards my new purpose, then you might have a bit of a mantra or your personal mission statement. Can you write down a personal mission statement that says my goal in this career change is to and then fill in the blank and work with your employment service provider on that and practice with family or friends in a kind of mock interview? So if you get into the situation, you have your thinking in place, and you can focus on, well, this is why I'm at this point, and this is what I'm trying to achieve. And if you are comfortable in disclosing your disability and coming from a point of disability pride, then you can disclose your disability and position that I'm going to likely be better in this position, not despite my disability, but because of my disability, and explain why. This would put you at a position of power in the interview that would say disability inclusion would strengthen the employers' capability of you know, putting their services into play. 

And also, you know, Rebecca shared with us her story around this, and she had some goals. And when the interviewer asked, you know, is she able to do these things, you know, what was her answer about transferable skills? So, Rebecca, when you think back to that interview, and, oh, I think you had a set of interviews, if I recall, how did you portray, you know, I'm now in this new position, and I'm ready for it because of my transferable skills?

Rebecca >> Well, I hit on all of the high points, of course. I mean, you have to, at a certain point, self-promote and not in a false way, but just hitting on the high points of why you have a set of skills. And I just don't really know that we have to necessarily justify a change. If you have the skills and desire and the willingness to learn and have a foundation, it seems that they would be attracted to a new employee like that instead of, you know, having to justify whether I want to change a career. I don't think anyone even asked me about why I wanted to change. I was just, I guess, so enthusiastic about moving forward, they probably were afraid to ask. They probably thought I'd have too much to say. But I think it's very important for us to have those goals and those hope and just that excitement about the job and being willing. So I was very excited about it, and I just highlighted my strengths.

Derek >> This is Derek. Thanks, Rebecca, for that. Bring your excitement forward, that energy, and bring your positive framework. One of the things that's so telling about you, Rebecca, is that while life may bring challenges to you, you look at these as really part of life's journey, that your core purpose remains the same, and you bring positive light to what you do. When you brought that into the interview, it was clear they recognized that. That's easier for some people to do than others, but it's something that we could all emulate. So be bold, focus on your purpose, and bring positive energy into that interview. It's less about navigating career change because of disability at that point, but rather of looking forward and going to get what's next. I really like that. Ray, next question.

Ray >> All right, one more, and I think this question is going to apply to a lot of people. How do I explain the gap in my resume that exists because of my disability?

Derek >> This is Derek again, and it is a great question, and there's a gap that's likely been created because of a pause in work. This is something that we hear frequently. The good news, I think, is that there's a lot of different ideas and tactics or things that you could do to help fill the gap. There's a variety of different experiences people have. 

So if you paused with an official career position, but kept doing some things that weren't paid work, then we could explain this way. We could put in volunteer experiences, the essential tasks that were done, and the skills that were used to do that. We could also identify that we stopped work altogether due to an injury or an illness. So you could explain the gap in that regard. And in doing so, you could choose to disclose or not to disclose. So you have a medical issue, you don't have to say exactly what it was, but now I'm ready to get back to work. So it's not disclosure, but it's indicating that there was a pause and break because of a medical issue. We do have a blog on that one, and I think it might be in -- it's on our website. I think it's in the Web Links Pod. It's called Addressing Employment Gaps During a Job Search. We get it all the time. The last thing I'll say before I ask Rebecca on a explanation of a gap in resume is I would say that we have many more employers that are much more used to seeing employment gaps on resumes today than what you might think of the traditional kind of old school employer. There's also gaps because people are making career changes. Remember that data I shared? When somebody makes a change, some folks are actually stopping work and then going to look for the other position, and they have a gap in a resume. So it's more common now as well. So maybe that would support you. Rebecca, did you have an employment gap on your resume?

Rebecca >> I did, and I just faced it straight on if they -- if it were, you know, if -- and I'm very open about everything. But I, if asked, I would just simply say this is what happened in my life because I felt like overcoming something such as a disability, either a health or whatever, to say I met it, and I -- this is what I was doing. And here's where I am, at this point, actually proves a lot more about a person than, for myself, it was my way of facing everything. And so I never -- it was never a negative. You just face it straight on.

Derek >> Well, I appreciate your advice here and being with us to share your success story. It's one of -- with so many levels, success in late diagnosis with your disability, success as a cancer survivor, success with career change, and now success as a Ticket to Work Program presenter. We certainly appreciate everything you've offered to us today. And you know, I love your saying everyone needs a purpose. Keep moving forward, Rebecca. A final thought from you to everyone, as we wrap up?

Rebecca >> Well, I just want to thank you for having me. And I just want to express that I'm very grateful for all the love and the support that has been shown to me and for people to plan their lives. Don't just let it happen and have hope. And just, if your feet are moving, and you're looking forward, life will be much more enjoyable along the way. Thank you for having me.

Derek >> Thanks so much, Rebecca, and thank you all for joining us. Ray, back to you for the wrap-up.

Ray >> Okay, thank you, Derek. And I just want to add my thanks to Rebecca too. She was very helpful, and I hope you enjoyed her stories. 

How to get started? You know, how do you connect with a Ticket to Work, with Employment Networks, anybody out there who can help? And the Social Security's Ticket to Work Program has resources ready to help you get started. You can call that Ticket to Work Helpline at 1-866-965-2842. Or for TTY users, 1-866-833-2967. Visit the Choose Work site. It's a really user-friendly site, and I say I can use it, you can use it. It's at choosework, one word,.ssa.gov, and you can find, by using the Find Help Tool within that website, all the people that you need to connect with that you may want on your employment team. So that Find Help Tool, if you want to go directly to it, is choosework, one word,.ssa.gov/findhelp, one word. It is a really helpful site. I'm on it all the time. And I apparently misspoke when I gave you those phone numbers, so I'm going to tell you the phone numbers for the Helpline again, 1-866-968-7842. And for TTY users, 1-866-833-2967. At least I know where I went wrong that time. 

Okay, how to connect. You know, visit the ChooseWork contact page. Find us on social media and subscribe to the blog. You'll get updated emails. You know, I loved Rebecca saying no harm, no foul. You'll get these pieces if you want to read them and get some information. If you want to follow up, you can do that, but no harm no foul. Opt in to receive text messages by texting Ticket to 1-571-489-5292. Standard messaging rates may apply, and you can opt out at any time. And then email, you know, email us at support@choosework, one word,.ssa.gov. You know, and I want to give that Helpline another shout-out because that's a great place to start. You know, all of these places are friendly places to start. There's no wrong door here. So that Helpline, once again, is 866-968-7842. And for TTY users, 1-866-833-2967. 

Hey, join us for our next webinar. We have another webinar that's going to talk about the five frequently asked questions about working while receiving disability benefits. That's on February 24, 3:00 to 4:30 Eastern Time. You can register online. The registration page is open now, so you can do that right away. Or you can call 1-866-968-7842 or, for TTY users, 1-866-833-2967. 

Okay, you got to remember about that affordable connectivity program. It allows for low-cost Internet connections, and the Affordable Connectivity Program will stop accepting new applications and enrollments on February 7, 2024. So we're getting pretty close to the end date for registering for those services. Consumers must be approved and enrolled with a service provider at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on February 7 in order to receive that Affordable Connectivity Program benefit. After the ACP funding runs out, which is projected in April of 2024, participants will no longer be able to receive those Portable Connectivity discounts. And for more information, please review their website at ACP Wind-Down Fact Sheet. 

And tell us what you think. You know, please remember to take our webinar survey. We pay attention to what you think. We pay attention to what you want to hear. And a link will pop up after the webinar or visit WISE webinar survey. And that I'm seeing is taking us to the end of our session. I want to thank Derek. I want to thank Rebecca over and over again. I want to thank Jayme and Kimberly who are all out in the background making things work for us, and please join us in February. Have a great day, and that concludes our session.