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