Synopses & Reviews
A Comprehensive Guide for Parents and Caregivers
As any parent or caregiver of an individual with developmental disabilities can tell you, planning for the future of an adult with intellectual disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, severe autism, or another such condition requires hard work and good advice. While complete independence and self-reliance is out of reach for many adults with developmental disabilities, a productive, stable, and enjoyable life is certainly possible. But government and private support for parents and disabled individuals is scattered and difficult to negotiate. This book is a comprehensive guide to resources you can use to help an adult child or other individual with developmental disabilities for whom you care.
The book begins by assessing the quality of life of the adult with a disability. It offers a wealth of suggestions for making that person's life even better. The book then focuses on long term planning for the individual with a disability and helps answer the question, Who will take care on my child after I'm gone?
Learn effective ways to: Assess a disabled individual's strengths and need for support services Develop a plan to for building a busy and productive life Locate good housing and employment opportunities Gather a supportive team of caregivers Advocate for a disabled individual with community agencies
We all put off making plans sometimes, and it seems the more difficult the situation is, the more likely we have put off creating a plan. This clear and useful book helps families see that it is never too late to plan a better future for an adult with disabilities. Most of all, as a parent, I like the book because it is realistic. I believe many families will find the help they need here.
-Sue Swenson, executive director of the Arc of the United States and former commissioner for developmental disabilities during the Clinton administration
With a host of practical ideas, examples, and creative, do-able steps, Judith Greenbaum has used her experience as a parent and a professional to fashion a resource that is particularly useful for planning for the future. It will help families who too often have been the sole caregivers, but who now need others to know their sons and daughters as they do. Families need others to work in partnership with them in planning and shaping living, working, and caregiving relationships that form the foundation for meaningful lives. Greenbaum respects and honors the needs of everyone involved: parents, siblings, adult children with disabilities, and direct caregivers. She outlines an empowering path to address both the dreams and fears of a future none of us controls.
-Bill Gaventa, M.Div., is associate professor of pediatrics at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School/UMDNJ and director of community and congregational supports at the Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities
For someone with developmental disabilities and for his or her parents, the world changes abruptly once that person graduates from school. Gone are guiding laws and procedures and guaranteed choices. The person with developmental disabilities and the family are essentially on their own, facing a jigsaw puzzle of possible services, with very few guarantees. Greenbaum's book is an enormous help in this venture, and I enthusiastically recommend it, not just for parents, but also for service providers trying to help in these crucial transitions. While Greenbaum is knowledgeable about the latest thinking in the disability field, she is neither biased nor dogmatic; her suggestions accommodate a great variety of family preferences and experiences.
-Martha Ziegler, national autism consultant with Youth Advocate Programs, Inc., and parent of an adult daughter with autism
This is essential reading for parents and siblings of adults with developmental disabilities who are considering their options for long-term planning. Greenbaum offers specific information on the options available to adults with developmental disabilities while also pointing readers to strategies for creating flexible arrangements that best suit the needs of their family member. As the sibling of an adult with developmental disabilities, this book helped me understand the importance of developing a life plan alongside my brother and parents to best ensure a happy, full, productive and sustainable future for us all.
-Emily Bloom, MA, sister of a brother with developmental disabilities who lives an independent life
I wish we had had a guide like this years ago when we were struggling to find resources to help my developmentally disabled son access good services. This book brings realistic and practical suggestions to solve our present problems. It offers ways to plan for the future of our son and other developmentally disabled adults to insure a quality life when we are no longer able to advocate for them.
-Janet A. Birk, registered nurse and parent of a son with severe developmental disabilities
Review
We all put off making plans sometimes, and it seems the more difficult the situation is, the more likely we have put off creating a plan. This clear and useful book helps families see that it is never too late to plan a better future for an adult with disabilities. Most of all, as a parent, I like the book because it is realistic. I believe many families will find the help they need here.
—Sue Swenson, executive director of the Arc of the United States and former commissioner for developmental disabilities during the Clinton administration
Review
With a host of practical ideas, examples, and creative, do-able steps, Judith Greenbaum has used her experience as a parent and a professional to fashion a resource that is particularly useful for planning for the future. It will help families who too often have been the sole caregivers, but who now need others to know their sons and daughters as they do. Families need others to work in partnership with them in planning and shaping living, working, and caregiving relationships that form the foundation for meaningful lives. Greenbaum respects and honors the needs of everyone involved: parents, siblings, adult children with disabilities, and direct caregivers. She outlines an empowering path to address both the dreams and fears of a future none of us controls.
—Bill Gaventa, M.Div., is associate professor of pediatrics at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School/UMDNJ and director of community and congregational supports at the Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities
Review
For someone with developmental disabilities and for his or her parents, the world changes abruptly once that person graduates from school. Gone are guiding laws and procedures and guaranteed choices. The person with developmental disabilities and the family are essentially on their own, facing a jigsaw puzzle of possible services, with very few guarantees. Greenbaum's book is an enormous help in this venture, and I enthusiastically recommend it, not just for parents, but also for service providers trying to help in these crucial transitions. While Greenbaum is knowledgeable about the latest thinking in the disability field, she is neither biased nor dogmatic; her suggestions accommodate a great variety of family preferences and experiences.
—Martha Ziegler, national autism consultant with Youth Advocate Programs, Inc., and parent of an adult daughter with autism
Synopsis
As any parent of a developmentally disabled individual can tell you, planning for the future of a young person with Down's syndrome, fragile X syndrome, severe autism, or another such condition requires hard work and good advice. While complete independence and self-reliance is out of reach for most adults with developmental disabilities, a productive, stable, and enjoyable life is certainly possible. But government and private support for parents and disabled individuals is scattered and difficult to negotiate. This book is a comprehensive guide to resources for the parents and caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities. The book begins with an assessment that helps parents determine the level of independence that is right for the developmentally disabled person in their lives. It then offers a wealth of techniques for fostering confidence and self-reliance in the disabled individual and helping him or her develop strong, positive family and social relationships. The book contains detailed information about practical matters like work, education, transportation, finances, and legal concerns. In all, the book's tone is encouraging, friendly, and warm.
Synopsis
A Comprehensive Guide for Parents and Caregivers
As any parent or caregiver of an individual with developmental disabilities can tell you, planning for the future of an adult with intellectual disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, severe autism, or another such condition requires hard work and good advice. While complete independence and self-reliance is out of reach for many adults with developmental disabilities, a productive, stable, and enjoyable life is certainly possible. But government and private support for parents and disabled individuals is scattered and difficult to negotiate. This book is a comprehensive guide to resources you can use to help an adult child or other individual with developmental disabilities for whom you care.
The book begins by assessing the quality of life of the adult with a disability. It offers a wealth of suggestions for making that person's life even better. The book then focuses on long-term planning for the individual with a disability and helps answer the question, Who will take care of my child after I'm gone?
- Learn effective ways to: Assess a disabled individual's strengths and need for support services
- Develop a plan to for building a busy and productive life
- Locate good housing and employment opportunities
- Gather a supportive team of caregivers Advocate for a disabled individual with community agencies
Synopsis
A much-needed resource for parents, family, and caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities like Down's syndrome, fragile X, and autism, Life Planning for Adults with Developmental Disabilities offers resources and planning tools for helping the developmentally disabled adult build skills in employment, education, relationships, independent living, and finances.
About the Author
Judith Greenbaum, PhD, is the mother of an adult daughter with moderate/severe and mild mental retardation. She currently consults with school districts and families on the development of appropriate educational environments for children with disabilities. She has worked with children and adults with disabilities for 35 years, and has spent much of her educational and professional career as an advocate for people with disabilities and their families.
She has written numerous articles and presented many workshops and seminars for families, educators, social service workers, and mental health professionals on how to access community services, develop effective programs and work with other educational and social services professionals to best care for and support developmentally disabled people. She earned her PhD in Special Education at the University of Michigan.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
A Look at the Past and the Present
Taking Inventory
Making the Most of Your Current Situation
Making Life Better for Your Son or Daughter
Beginning the Planning Process
Finding a Good Place to Live
Building a Busy and Productive Life
Finding Good Caregivers
Working with Community Agencies
Creating a Plan for the Future
Resources
References