Deirdre McCaskell is a miracle worker. One of my closest friends became disabled, and is unable to work. She was distraught, wondering how she would survive, how she would keep her home, take care of her pets, as well as herself. She was told of stories of people going through the complicated application process, denials, and appeals for years.

I was driving my friend to her doctors' appointments, and one of the practitioners recommended Deirdre McCaskell as a Disability Representative. We were lost in the bureaucratic paper chase, and feeling helpless. From the very first meeting, Deirdre took charge. She handled everything remotely from her office in Santa Rosa (my friend lives in Oakland), explained and guided her patiently and with compassion through the extremely complicated process, warned us of pitfalls, and best practices.

End result? Less than 6 months later, award of full SSDI disability. And it cost next to nothing, with no cost up front. If you are wandering through the SSDI maze, call Deirdre. She's tough, no nonsense, but will be on your side. I'm a huge fan, and know my friend is, too.

Without Deirdre McCaskell, I would still be in SSDI paperwork hell. After a car accident, that I got a traumatic brain injury in and that left me with both mental and physical disabilities, I tried to file the paperwork on my own and submitted it multiple times.

It was impossible for me to keep up with. Each step took so long in between. I never knew what was going on and honestly I felt like, they are never going to pay me what they owe me. They make it hard.

So after my second refusal, I knew I needed help. I was referred to Deirdre McCaskell by my psychiatrist. I went in to see him and he wrote me a list of things to do. He said call Deirdre McCaskell, not anybody else. Deirdre McCaskell. She will help you. So I did.

I met with her and she said she would take me as a client, if I did 3 things. She wanted me to go to the County and sign up for Med-iCal, which I didn’t want to do, but really NEEDED to do for myself. That one thing helped me immeasurably and is still helping me today.

The next thing she wanted was for me to meet with a Psychologist that she recommended and get a full “psych panel”. I had to be able to pay cash for that because MediCal doesn’t cover it, IF it’s for the purpose of applying for SSDI. So that cost me $1800., which I luckily was able to borrow from my mom. If I couldn’t do that, she wouldn’t have taken me. So basically, she always wins because she will only take legit clients. I don’t blame her at all for that, in fact I respect it, I just feel so sorry for people who are legit that don’t have $1800 and can’t borrow it. So I went and did that and had the results sent to her.

The last thing she wanted, was another thing I really needed to do anyway, and that is she wanted me to see a psychologist regularly. Again, she gave me a couple of names to choose from (all paid for by MediCal, thank goodness because I would not have been able to pay for it after losing my ability to work from my disabilities). Again, this is something that continues to help me to present.

She guides you to doctors that she knows the County trusts and helps you fully document your injuries. At the end of our first meeting she gave me a list of those three things to do. She said do this and come back. Again, I just followed exactly what she told me to do.

She also seemed to understand that I was struggling because of my disabilities even though they aren’t visible. MOST people don’t understand invisible disabilities, they just don’t, but Deirdre somehow does, which is refreshing as hell. She had tolerance and patience and compassion. I know that’s not a requirement, but it helped me feel understood and calm.

It takes time to go through the motions and to get appointments from the County, but Deirdre knows exactly what’s she’s doing at every stage.

I got in front of the judge and she did most of the speaking for me. She had already assembled and submitted all of my complex medical documents to them. The judge asked me a couple of questions and that was it. He pretty much approved me on the spot.

She’s smart, quick, on it, no nonsense, professional and kind. She knows what she’s doing and how to wade through the onslaught of paperwork that is required. She makes things clear. They know her at the County and expect her clients to be legit.

For me, Deirdre McCaskell was my savior. She gave me my ability to survive again with some independence and my dignity. I could never thank her enough. She’s an angel ... a smart as hell, no nonsense angel. Without her guidance and knowledge and tenacity, I couldn’t have done it.

Thank you Deirdre! I am grateful!