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Follow on Google News | Starting Over at Age 55: It's PossibleBy: Trish Thorpe As young college graduates enter and dominate the workforce, middle-aged job candidates aren't seriously considered for job openings. They just aren't. If they are called in for an interview, it's nothing more than a formality. I've watched Trish get her hopes up time and time again, thinking that she finally found a job, only to be disappointed yet again when the hiring manager and/or recruiter doesn't return her phone calls. Yes the issue of gender and age discrimination in the workforce is technically illegal, but it most definitely exists. Now factor-in younger and more gender-correct job candidates, place the equation into the undeniable hotspots of technology innovation (San Francisco and Silicon Valley), and the chances for middle-aged women to land a job in the tech industry is close to zero. Unless you're already entrenched in the executive management tier of an established company, find another way to earn a living. Your time has come and gone. As single Mom, Trish spent the year after she was laid off settling her son in college, selling her house, and spending her retirement savings. With no family to rely on while she looked for work, she connected with old college friends who helped her find places where she could sleep on couches, in basements, and in cheap motels. Undaunted by her inability to find work and the embarrassment of homelessness, Trish continues to remain upbeat and think of new ways to earn income. Diagnosed with Asymmetrical Cerebellar Ataxia shortly after she was laid off as an Internet Manager at Hewlett-Packard for 17 years, Trish applied for social security disability insurance only to be rejected for being "not impaired enough." The most common symptoms of Ataxia sufferers and the ones that effect Trish’s job prospects are poor balance and frequent falls. "My Mom's refusal to give up and her determination to try new things to help herself get back on her feet astounds me every time she does it. I am rooting for her always!" - Ty Thorpe (son), May 2015 Despite her disability and the prejudices she has faced as a 50+ female in the high-tech job sector, Trish refuses to give up. Thanks to the widespread appeal of the Internet, it's now possible for someone like Trish to earn a living while seated in front of a computer. Trish hopes to start a freelance business designing and building websites. To get started however, she needs the basics: an apartment, a desk, a chair, and a computer. Please help Trish get back on her feet, avoid sleeping in her car, retain her possessions, and restart her life at age 55. http://www.gofundme.com/ End
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