Synopses & Reviews
Letting your child leave the nest is never easy. If you’re the parent of a child with disabilities or special needs, letting go is even harder. You worry about whether he will be able to make it on his own, and most important, get the help he needs if something goes wrong. How will she perform in her first job? Will she be able to make friends? Many parents are tempted to keep their children at home, believing the children will be safer and happier under their care. But adults with special needs deserve the same chance at a happy life as everyone else. As the mother of an adult child with disabilities, Peggy Lou Morgan has years of experience dealing with the challenges you face every day. She believes the most loving thing parents can do is to prepare their children to leave home in a way that works best for them. In Parenting an Adult with Disabilities or Special Needs, she gives you invaluable advice on:
— teaching your adult child to be a self-advocate
— helping your child cope with relationships
— helping your child find a good vocational program
— finding an apartment and a roommate
— understanding government programs that can help children while they become more independent
Compassionate and thorough, this guide will help you make sure that your children leave home with confidence and joy.
“Peggy Lou Morgan has tackled that big question—‘Who will love my child after I am gone?’ She sends a dart through the belief that parents can or should rely on the service system to look after their child. While professionals can be helpful, she reminds us of the critical importance of helping our children to connect with family and the larger community.”
— David Pitonyak, Ph.D., founder, Imagine, www.dimagine.com
“Morgan’s life experience and provocative ideas provide a comprehensive approach to assist parents in achieving the highest quality of life for their child with special needs. While throughout her book she provides practical advice about government benefits and the use of professional services, she remains committed in her belief that the success of any plan to maximize the individual capacities and dreams of a special needs child lies with the parent.”
—Douglas A. Harrison, estate planning attorney, Portland, Oregon
“. . . Peggy gets to the heart of the complexity of the task of planning for the future with compassion, common sense, attention to detail, and deep wisdom.”
—From the foreword by Dr. Beth Mount, co-inventor, Person-Centered Planning
Peggy Lou Morgan has worked with the disabled for more than 35 years, including more than 10 years setting up services and placements for her clients. Morgan adopted a multiply disabled child 24 years ago and is the author of Parenting Your Complex Child. She lives in LaPine, Oregon.
Review
"When you're up to your eyebrows in therapists and IEPs and doctor visits and research, it's hard to imagine a time when you'll have to deal with issues like where your adult child is going to live and work and find friendship. Often, we put those thoughts off -- but that time comes more quickly than you think, and without some advance preparation, it's rough on everyone. Morgan, author of Parenting Your Complex Child, provides a calm, experienced voice to lead you through." --About.com/Parenting Special Needs Children (http://specialchildren.about.com/)
Review
"When you're up to your eyebrows in therapists and IEPs and doctor visits and research, it's hard to imagine a time when you'll have to deal with issues like where your adult child is going to live and work and find friendship. Often, we put those thoughts off -- but that time comes more quickly than you think, and without some advance preparation, it's rough on everyone. Morgan, author of Parenting Your Complex Child, provides a calm, experienced voice to lead you through." --About.com/Parenting Special Needs Children (http://specialchildren.about.com/)
"The million dollar question for parents of children with disabilities is 'What happens to my child once I'm gone?' There is so much to do, so much to prepare, to plan for, to worry about especially concerning a child with complex disabilities and multiple health concerns. These nagging questions are quieted with preparation for his or her future while you are still able to advocate on their behalf. Peggy Lou Morgan makes all of these tasks seem a little more manageable in her clear, comprehensible and incredibly informative book." --Education Review
“…wealth of information, advice, and strategies to help parents provide their son or daughter with a solid foundation for a fulfilling life.” –Education Digest
Review
"The million dollar question for parents of children with disabilities is 'What happens to my child once I'm gone?' There is so much to do, so much to prepare, to plan for, to worry about especially concerning a child with complex disabilities and multiple health concerns. These nagging questions are quieted with preparation for his or her future while you are still able to advocate on their behalf. Peggy Lou Morgan makes all of these tasks seem a little more manageable in her clear, comprehensible and incredibly informative book." --Education Review
Review
“…wealth of information, advice, and strategies to help parents provide their son or daughter with a solid foundation for a fulfilling life.” –Education Digest
Synopsis
Every parent of a child with disabilities knows just how overwhelming and frustrating it can be. When these children enter adulthood, the difficulties can become even greater. Many parents are tempted to keep their children at home, believing that they will be safer and happier under their care. But adults with special needs deserve the same chance at a happy life as everyone else. As the mother of an adult child with disabilities, Peggy Lou Morgan has years of experience dealing with the challenges these adults face every day. She believes that the most loving thing parents can do for their children is to prepare them to leave home in a way that works best for them. In Parenting an Adult with Disabilities or Special Needs, she gives parents invaluable advice on:
teaching their adult child to be a self-advocate • helping their child cope with relationships • helping their child find a good vocational program • finding an apartment and a roommate • understanding government programs that can help their children while they become more independent
Compassionate and thorough, this guide will help readers to ensure that their children leave the nest with confidence and joy.
About the Author
Peggy Lou Morgan (LaPine, OR) has worked with the disabled for nearly 35 years, including more than 10 years setting up services and placements for her clients. Morgan adopted a multiply disabled child 20 years ago and is the author of Parenting Your Complex Child (978-0-8144-7316-0).
Table of Contents
CONTENTS
Foreword by Beth Mount xi
Acknowledgments xv
Introduction 1
CHAPTER 1
The Nest Is Never Empty 11
CHAPTER 2
That Nagging Question 19
CHAPTER 3
Loneliness Is the Only Real Disability 27
CHAPTER 4
Your Child’s Pursuit of Happiness 39
CHAPTER 5
Discovering Your Child’s Dream 49
CHAPTER 6
Researching the Options 63
CHAPTER 7
Drafting a Transitional Plan 73
CHAPTER 8
Setting Goals to Accomplish the Transitional Plan 83
CHAPTER 9
Estate Planning 97
CHAPTER 10
Working with Your Attorney 107
CHAPTER 11
Implementing the Plan a Step at a Time 111
CHAPTER 12
The Nest May Seem Empty, but You Aren’t Done Yet 121
CHAPTER 13
Continuing the Civil Rights Movement for Disability Rights 131
APPENDIXES 139
A. Sample Emergency Backup Plan 141
B. Sample Caregiver’s Manual 145
C. Team-Building Advocacy 173
D. Become Your Own Advocate 177
E. U.S. Government Programs 181
F. For More Information 187
G. Recommended Resources 193
NOTES 195
INDEX 197
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 203