Advice from a Sibling to Parents (Developmental Disabilities)

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Advice from a Sibling to Parents (Developmental Disabilities)

Posted by kate fialkowski on November 26, 2010

A friend of mine asked me what I thought about a residential placement

option he saw. He's thinking of the future for his children with

Developmental Disabilities. After a very long-winded response email, I

decided " Hey I should put this to perspective to greater use. " How bout a

little advice from " the other side. " Honestly, let's put it out there. Your

number one worry is " what will happen to my child with developmental

disabilities after I'm gone? " And the follow-up " how can I ensure their

safety. " Yeah, many of you talk about big dreams for children but really, in

your guts, you think " safety. " ( Some of you, secretly are going one step

further and you're thinking " surrogate. " After all, no one can love them

like you do, right? How can you find a place that will care enough?) As a

sibling after 15 years I can tell you that I wonder " what if I should die

before my brother? " And " how can I ensure his safety? "

From the vantage point of 16 years AD (after death). Knowing what I know

now, here's what I wish I could have told my parents. Mom, Dad, there are

certain rules of nature that you simply have to acknowledge. I know it's

hard because of the implications. But they're real, let's talk about them.

The rules of nature

1.There is no permanency. Whatever solution you find - residential, day

program, employment, etc - it cannot be permanent.

2.There are no guarantees. However much you plan, the unexpected will

emerge.

3.Walls do not protect. They hide.

4.Even children with the most severe disabilities will have to cut the cord.

Ultimately they will leave the nest.

5.Risk exists for everyone. There is no way to eliminate all risk for your

child. You have to get comfortable that there is a level of risk you must

take.

6.I am a sibling. Stop worrying about giving me an " obligation " or a

" burden. " You have given me a brother. Family takes care of family.

7.Given these rules of nature I cannot promise you that I will keep

everything just the way you set it up. I'm sorry. I'll keep it that way as

long as possible but then at a certain point I am going to have to make

changes. I promise to be mindful of your values and 's needs and

desires.

Given all of the above.. As parents, its expecting to much of yourself to

find the " golden solution. " It's not feasible. So, let's go with you're

finding the best solution today. What is the most important thing to do?

Develop a " circle. " Develop a multi-generational social circle surrounding

your child. Ensure that you are not the only person in your child's life who

is not paid to be there.

Take it from me. It took me 15 years to understand this simple point.

Inclusion isn't about a house or a trip to the park. It is not about how

many times you " get into " the neighborhood. Its not something I can write 5

goals for on an IDT plan. It simply means that an individual is not alone.

That they have their own " community/ies " (friends, family, people with

shared interests and goals). These people are not paid to be part of the

community. To be disenfranchised? To be on the outside of communities

versus on the inside? This is what makes a person invisible. Being invisible

makes a person vulnerable.

Surely, as a parent, you can understand this. You're worried about who could

possibly replace you? NO ONE CAN REPLACE YOU. It will take a village of

people to care as much as you care. To replace the eyes on the back of your

head. The one thing you can do (do early, do often, never stop doing) is

build the village. If your child grows up living within the village you

build, they will always be a valued member of the community and a derivative

fact is they will be less at risk, more fulfilled, and reach their full

potential.

What parent wouldn't want that? Start building now.

[Guest guest]

That was awesome. Thanks, Nagla!