We get an extra whopping dose of worry, for sure, in the disability community, with several unique concerns about our adults-to-be.
We also want what all good parents want for their children!
Top Priorities:*
1) I want my adult child to be healthy, fit, and able to take care of herself.
2) I want my adult child to have an enjoyable and productive life, with a clear sense of purpose and as much independence as possible.
3) I want my adult child to belong to a community that will accept him as he is, with a meaningful social life. Daytime programming for adults with disabilities is needed, please!
4) I want my adult child to have gainful employement and financial stability, with trusted oversight of her finances.
5) I want my adult child to have healthy relationships with family, siblings, and romantic partners. I am hopeful that my adult child's siblings will participate in his care.
6) I am concerned about my adult child being abused, neglected, or taken advantage of. People can be mean. (These concerns are even greater for parents whose children are non-verbal.)
7) I worry about who will take care of my adult child when I am gone (ex. guardianship, power of attorney, daily living). I wonder how my child
will cope, emotionally, with my death and in my absence. With all that, as my daughter who has Down syndrome would say: No deep panicking! We keep control of our minds and we use our resources. The list is definitely hard to see on paper but we are EXTRA good at making things work... one brand new day at a time.
* Per my Facebook Parent Survey in March 2022.
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