| The time will come when your child will want | | | | an environment that provides protection and |
| to live independently from your family or | | | | support as well as independence. If you are |
| when you will no longer be able to meet your | | | | unsure about the types of living situations |
| child's needs. For many families, this change | | | | available in your community, talk with a |
| occurs around the time their child turns 18. | | | | social worker at your local hospital to find |
| Although it may be difficult to imagine | | | | out what options your child has. A child with |
| anyone else taking care of your child or your | | | | a physical disability that requires periodic |
| child leaving home and living on his or her | | | | care or one who is mentally disabled may |
| own, it's important to plan for your child's | | | | benefit from a semi-independent living or |
| future. Include your child in the planning as | | | | working arrangement. Group homes are |
| much as you can. As someone once said, if you | | | | residences in which four to six disabled |
| fail to plan, you plan to fail. When it comes | | | | people live together with one or two support |
| to your child it is vital to make a clear and | | | | staff. Group homes offer many of the comforts |
| solid plan about the future. There are | | | | of home while helping the child become |
| several places where can obtain information | | | | self-sufficient. Children who need ongoing |
| that may help in planning ahead for your | | | | care may need to be placed in a long-term |
| child's future. One of the most important | | | | care facility or specialized rehabilitation |
| resources is the internet. There is a vast | | | | center that offers care for an extended |
| amount of information on the internet that | | | | period. If your child needs long-term care, |
| can help you plan for your child's future. It | | | | carefully consider all of the emotional and |
| is important to note that any advice that you | | | | financial implications of placing your child |
| get online is purely based on opinions and | | | | in such a facility. Ask your child's doctor |
| may not be a licensed professional. There it | | | | or a social worker at the hospital where the |
| is important for you do counter check the | | | | doctor has staff privileges to recommend a |
| information that you find by visiting a | | | | qualified long-term care center. Visit the |
| professional with any questions and concerns. | | | | facility before placement so you can feel |
| As your child grows up, prepare him or her | | | | comfortable with the staff and surroundings. |
| for the eventual separation from your family | | | | Don't feel guilty that you have abandoned |
| by involving him or her in recreational | | | | your child after placement. Your child's |
| activities outside the family, such as team | | | | doctor will recommend long-term care only if |
| sports or summer camp. Help your child make | | | | your child needs it. If you have difficulty |
| friends and develop skills in decision-making | | | | coming to terms with your child's placement |
| to ease the transition to community living. | | | | in long-term care, ask the doctor to |
| Show your child how to use public | | | | recommend a therapist you can talk to. |
| transportation and manage money. The ultimate | | | | |
| goal is for your child to live, work, and | | | | Spring Creek Toys offers Blokus, Brainy Baby |
| play within the community, and to have | | | | 123's, Brainy Baby 123's Tab Book. |
| meaningful personal relationships. Look for | | | | |