Recently, I came across an articles in the Washington Post (reprinted in the Bend Bulletin), enthusiastically describing a new smartphone app that helps people with disabilities. But how good is it? Here’s my response.
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Dear Editor,
The article by Aaron Leitko “App offers help for people seeking disability benefits” touts the exciting benefits of a phone app that now can predict the likelihood of winning disability benefits for your medical impairments. While smartphone apps attract attention, they are no substitute for expert advice. Just as you wouldn’t (hopefully) self-diagnose a disease by answering questions on an app, the analysis provided in an app as to whether you’ll qualify for disability benefits cannot factor in important considerations such as your local judges and their leanings, your past relevant work and transferable skills, whether you have a treating doctor who believes in you, not to mention your own credibility. Sometimes it just isn’t that easy…and the free advertising you gave to the folks who developed the app is misleading advice for your readers.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Coon