A few months ago during a visit with my daughter, I made a feeble attempt to describe the benefits that her brother, Dave, depends on to support his ability to live independently. She exclaimed “that’s a blog post!” So, here is the first in a series of posts that will outline the three types of…
Blog Posts
Benefits that Provide Income
Everyone needs income to survive. Dave is no different. He works 20 hours a week, but also depends on several government benefits that provide additional income. These benefits have changed as his situation has evolved. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) One lovely summer evening when Dave was still a young child, maybe 8 years old or…
Benefits that Support Health
Medical insurance is a vital part of the support Dave needs to live independently. We are lucky that Dave is relatively healthy. He has a single daily medication, and a medicated shampoo, for chronic conditions, but he doesn’t get sick very often. He got COVID a few years ago after attending camp and stayed with…
Benefits that Support Independent Living
Dave receives two key benefits that allow him to afford rent and fund his day to day needs. Dave has a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8), which pays a portion of his rent, and a Person/Family Directed Support Waiver, which funds the supports he needs to live day to day. Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section…
What Will He Do with His Time?
When Dave first moved in, we wondered “what will he do with his time?” Is he going to play video games all day? Will he use his free time wisely? This is one of the things parents worry about when our kids live independently. We certainly worried about what Dave would be doing all day…
Creative Projects – Friday the 13th
Dave loves horror movies, especially Friday the 13th, and claims never to get scared. He also enjoys just about any kind of creative project. Imagine his joy when he discovered Youtube videos describing how to re-create the hockey masks from the Friday the 13th movies! Thus began several years of his obsession with creating the…
Giving Up Control and Making Compromises
My son has a specific way that he wants to arrange his life, which is often at odds with my wishes. He and I have made compromises, and I have adjusted my thinking to make things work for both of us.
Getting Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep is a challenge for individuals with disabilities who are living independently.
Trading Card Games are Great Activities
Playing with trading card games, like Yu-Gi-Oh! is a great activity for people with disablities. Dave enjoys playing and strategizing with his cards, finding cognitive challenges in deck-building and gameplay, activities optimal for his free time. Dave’s progress signifies continuous learning, challenging outdated beliefs about the capabilities of individuals with Down syndrome.
Parents Breaking Barriers
Parents are the most ardent advocates for children with disabilities. After my son with Down syndrome was born, I was determined to do everything possible to make his life as good as it could be. Over time I discovered that this would mean breaking barriers that prevented people like my son from reaching their highest…
Step 1: Financial Support for A Place of His Own
My adult son with Down syndrome, Dave, has been living in a place of his own since 2008. Setting him up and supporting his independence has been a roller coaster, though the hills and valleys have become less steep over time. We have overcome obstacles that I thought, back then, would derail this “experiment.” Dave’s…
Step 2: Financial Support for Habilitation Aides
As my post A Place of His Own described, a key part of getting Dave a place of his own was securing a section 8 voucher to help him pay rent. With the voucher in hand, we discovered a new hurdle when I called the county assistance agency that provides support services to adults with…
Step 3: Finding a Place of His Own
Finding an Apartment Now that we had a section 8 voucher, and the funds to support Dave’s independence, it was time to find a place of is own and move in. As with each step in our journey, securing his apartment resulted from a combination of persistence and luck. Finding an apartment wasn’t as easy…
Step 4: Maintaining an Independent Life
Living independently Requires Support As mentioned in my post on Living Independently Requires Financial Support, staff support is needed for maintaining independent living. That support came via a Person/Family Directed Support Waiver (P/FDS) from the County. As mentioned in my other post, we got this support almost by accident. But once we had it, we…