Korben

Greetings!
Getting approved for SSDI can be an aggravating process. Most of the people that apply are rejected, the first time through. It's important not to lose hope!
Here are a couple of tips that might make a difference for you. This is what got me through:
1. Be thorough. List everything they ask for, and then some. Make sure that all of your doctors, all of your tests, and all of your medications are listed.
2. When you are interviewed, be as articulate as you can be, but remember to focus on your disability. Don't be whiny or waste time on complaining, but be specific in describing what you can't do anymore, and how you need assistance with the ADLs (activities of daily living, like brushing your teeth or hair, etc.). Don't talk about what you can do, despite your disability; it doesn't help your case.
3. Be specific in describing why you can't work. Focus on important parts of your job that you are incapable of doing, without help. Tell them why modifications and accomodations haven't worked. Why can't you do some other job that your employer might offer? Be sure you can answer these questions.
4. Follow up on your doctors. Many people get refused simply because their doctors didn't send their records quickly enough. Tell your doctor that you're applying for SSDI, and request their support. When SSDI tells you that they will be requesting data from the doctors, call the doc's office and let them know what's happening, and ask them when the material will be sent. Make sure it happens.
5. Get to know your person at Social Security. Find out who you're supposed to call for assistance and questions, and call them. Call them once every week or two, and follow up on the status of your application, and ask what you need to do to help get things in. Be gracious, not frantic. Never get grumpy: you want that person on your side! Please and thank you are important.
I hope this is helpful.

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Be good to yourself, so that you can be good to others.
Korben