Guest guest Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 - Good for you! It's a great idea to visit the options for adults in your area. We each have to know how our state funds and organizes its services for people with disabilities. In IL, we are still in an institutional model where our residential settings are larger - you know, more economically efficient for the provider rather than focused on the needs of the resident. Not all are that way, but the system is not set up to reward smaller settings. We're working on that. By visiting some options in our communities and learning about the services programs in our states, we can find out if we need to be advocating for change before our kids graduate into adulthood. I know we have a lot of work to do in IL! We have some good programs, but they are so poorly funded that most people are left with little or no supports options. I'm glad you found a good system in place where you live. It's never to early to look ahead and begin paving a good path for our kids. Michele W Aubrie's mom 9 yrs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 Did you go see Cheshire homes? Is that the group home your talking about? They seem really good. Chantelle -- I have 4 eyes, 4 ears, a guide cat and a cat that speaks mouse! - me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 , What a great experience for you! I had the opportunity to visit Lions McInnes House in Brantford and it really impressed me a LOT, the residents each had their own little apartment and it was just a really nice place, seemed to be well-run, seemed to have happy residents (yay!) and a caring staff. > > Hi everyone, I thought I would share an experience I had yesturday > that I've had anxiety about this since before Alissa was born. As > every parents biggest fear is " what's gonna happen to my child when > Im gone, who's gonna take care of them " , I couldn't get the fear out > of me so I deceided to book an appointment for a group locally that > house's adults who are deaf/blind only and assist them in everyday > living. Everyone thought I was nuts cause Alissa is only 2 and Im > about 20 years too early!LOL > Well, I was greeted by a new 18 year old deaf/blind resident who > rushed to the door and grabbed my hand and insisted on taking me for > a tour. He had my heart at hello. He was sooo sweet. The home was > nothing like I expected. It was a 2000 square foot older bungalow > with a huge back yard, a swing set, picnic tables, personalized > rooms. It was soo nice because there was only 3 people who could live > in the home at one time and it truely felt like a home away from > home. Its run by the ministry, and there standards are very high. > You could tell the most important thing to them was making this very > homey for the adults. It was complete freedom, no rules, just > assistance. Sometimes, group homes, organizations, government run > stuff often have these negative titles that come with them. It's not > always the case. Do your research, get familiar with the various > groups..... and worth seeing for yourself. I could tell that the > intervenors that were there assistanting these adults were sooo > dedicated, and passionate, and careing. I was a little nervous > about going at first because I thought...well what if I don't like > what I see??? Then what??? But I sooo didn't feel that way. I can > now sleep easy knowing there are organziations like this close to > home that Alissa would be well taken care of and her brothers could > keep a close eye on her. > I thank God, for giving me the courage, and strength to follow my > heart, and do what's best for my daughter, and every day Im amazed > on the journey he takes me on and how fulfilled my life is! > > > -- " It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. " --Carl Sagan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 Ok, so we need to be able to provide information so that it isn't so hard. There's none for us and Patty continues on that " waiting list. " Because she has abilities it isn't healthy for her to be living in a house with 24 hour support for individuals who have severe disabilities, she can find none. Because she is " too disabled " she can't just get an apartment. Because she's disabled it isn't safe for her to get an apartment in many low income areas. Because she doesn't really have a program behind her advocating for her, she just can't find a way to live on her own. Her latest possibility just fell through, again. She remains on waiting lists. They told us three years ago it would take about three years. We were just informed the waiting list will be ANOTHER three years. It's frustrating. She's like a prisoner who's let out when possible. I think mental illness in adults who have disabilities is either exacerbated or caused by such conditions. What ever happened to the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I hope life changes for you when he get to be an adult. No, I know it will! I KNOW IT. Bonnie, Mom to Kris 23, Patty CHARGE 21 and wife to ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 18, 2007 Report Share Posted May 18, 2007 you are not nuts looking at this age its someting i know mum wishes she had done at that age im 21 it took me at least three ;years to find the apropriate place for nme and we are still struggling at times with the spot i had there was one good thing with us we had the people i did rec and stuff with they had the adult services so we knew we could go with them if we had to b ut they were so far away but we did have to go with them and theyve been the best for me > > Ok, so we need to be able to provide information so that it isn't so > hard. > There's none for us and Patty continues on that " waiting list. " Because > she > has abilities it isn't healthy for her to be living in a house with 24 > hour > support for individuals who have severe disabilities, she can find none. > Because she is " too disabled " she can't just get an apartment. Because > she's > disabled it isn't safe for her to get an apartment in many low income > areas. > Because she doesn't really have a program behind her advocating for her, > she > just can't find a way to live on her own. Her latest possibility just fell > > through, again. > > She remains on waiting lists. They told us three years ago it would take > about three years. We were just informed the waiting list will be ANOTHER > three years. > > It's frustrating. She's like a prisoner who's let out when possible. > > I think mental illness in adults who have disabilities is either > exacerbated > or caused by such conditions. What ever happened to the right to life, > liberty and the pursuit of happiness. > > I hope life changes for you when he get to be an adult. No, I know it > will! > I KNOW IT. > > Bonnie, Mom to Kris 23, Patty CHARGE 21 and wife to > > ************************************** See what's free at > http://www.aol.com. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 18, 2007 Report Share Posted May 18, 2007 I agree with Ellen. I deeply believe that 1) the system needs to know as soon as possible that a client will be enterring the system even if no one will act on the news for years; 2) the more people you get to know over the YEARS, the better off your child will be when the time comes to set things up. For instance, when was finishing Perkins, I'd already gotten to know the local-powers-that be --- no big relationships, but a lot of people knew about 's situation. Andy and I nevertheless didn't know exactly what to do, but we at least had the framework of what was involved and whom to call to start things moving. Good luck and keep looking. It's never too early! Martha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 18, 2007 Report Share Posted May 18, 2007 There is so much value in developing those relationships as soon as possible. Becoming a part of the network in any way can be beneficial. Being a known part of the loop. it just can't be beat. Like you said, then you know who to call and how to navigate your way. Hopefully, you've already developed a positive first impression so people are dealing with you on a somewhat familiar basis already. If they have met your child over the years, they have a sense of who your child is, his/her history, and your family. Michele W _____ From: CHARGE [mailto:CHARGE ] On Behalf Of lewcap@... Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 11:47 AM To: CHARGE Subject: Re: Group Homes I agree with Ellen. I deeply believe that 1) the system needs to know as soon as possible that a client will be enterring the system even if no one will act on the news for years; 2) the more people you get to know over the YEARS, the better off your child will be when the time comes to set things up. For instance, when was finishing Perkins, I'd already gotten to know the local-powers-that be --- no big relationships, but a lot of people knew about 's situation. Andy and I nevertheless didn't know exactly what to do, but we at least had the framework of what was involved and whom to call to start things moving. Good luck and keep looking. It's never too early! Martha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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