Great idea...

[Guest guest]

Hi all:

emailed me to share some really intriguing and I think great

ideas...she gave me permission to share them with you...

I agree with her concept of volunteerism and family involvement and I

would love to see a collaboration between families in a Co-op type

model of supports and services, with some federal/state money...I

wonder if anyone ever thought about state and federal income tax

breaks for families who have children with life long

disabilities...that along with SSI, affordable housing and incentives

for providing competitive employment for people with disabilities

would be a good step in the right direction...

Ellen

I think we need to change our Focus.

If Parents and siblings would volunteer some of their time in

transitions, in group home

settings, in their field of expertise maybe things might move a

little faster.

it seems so many parents want something, but what are they willing to

do to help?

some of our proposals must include mandatory volunteer duties!!!

we can't expect something for nothing.

If parents and or family members HAD to spend X amount of hours per

week, in the group home,in the institutions, and we were all part of

an active board team, maybe this

country would not be in the huge mess it seems to be in.

We need to change our mentality. Remember, we've all heard the

stories.....

" when i was young, and a mother had a child " like that " the doctor

just recommended

that the family give them up. " and every one did. but that put the

running of things

and the direction of the need all " on the state " . and now we seem to

be stuck in

the " old pattern " .

I think this newer generation wants things differently. we Want to be

involved.

we want to help. we want some Power in the situation. after all, these

are our

kids, not the states kids. we don't give them up anymore. I believe it

needs to

be privatized and put into the hands of parents and living siblings

and guardians

who care. wouldn't we all sleep better at night?

Me, the lurker, ! 's mom. who sometimes can't sleep at

night. who

has learned to sleep because mostly i don't " go there " in the dark.

but i'd love to " go there " in the day. do what i need to do. change

things. volunteer.

do " WHATEVER " it takes, and i don't think i'm alone in this.