Living-Residential Options

Children are expected to gradually gain independence from their parents. This happens in two ways:

1. Gaining self-care skills in childhood, including feeding, dressing, and cleaning.
2. Moving out of the parental home and establishing one's own household. This generally happens in in the late teens and early 20's.

Parents of children with significant physical and/or profound mental disabilities early on face hard choices about needing to meet the physical needs of children who are unable to care for themselves.

Even when basic self-care skills are present, parents of children with almost any significant disability or chronic mental illness need to consider whether they have the skills necessary to function independently in our society. If not, parents either become caregivers themselves or need to consider living arrangements outside the family home with suitable caregivers provided.

This page explores living options, particularly for adults with disabilities and mental illness who need assistance in daily living, but also noting options for children as appropriate. These include traditional institutions, group homes, and other community living arrangements.

The issue of respite for caregivers is also considered on this page.

Some historical perspective is helpful for persons who are new as well as general information.

A collection of links to organizations with residential services will be built up over time. Feel free to send me additional links.

General information on caregiving and respite services has been moved to its own page. Much of the material on caregiving focuses on the common scenario of caring for a spouse or parent disabled due to aging.

Related pages include work and vocational options, life planning that includes financial planning and general pages on disabilities and mental illness.

For those with particular concerns about approaches that emphasize community and non-violence, check out our page with the best models and the page on Gentle Teaching.

History

History of Disabilities
A fascinating collection of materials from a National Public Radio series on disabilities. Includes some audio clips and background material not included in the radio version.

General Information

From Institutionalization To Community:
How Far Have We Come?
The past century has seen significant progress from cold sterile institutions to community living arrangements for persons with special needs. However, what has professionalization of services done in the process? Have we simply created institutions without walls. Audrey King asks probing questions in this 8-page essay from from the Journal of Leisurability

In Response to Deinstitutionalization:
Farm Communities as a Housing Alternative for Individuals with Autism
In this article from the Journal of Leisurability Margaret A. Schneider examines both the strengths and weaknesses of farm communities such as Bittersweet Farms in Ohio as an alternative to group homes for persons with autism. Historical background to this movement is helpful.

Residential Services

Bethphage

Friendship Community
Friendship Community is a ministry supporting people with developmental disabilities by responding to families and individuals seeking a Christian program. Friendship Community provides residential programs in group homes, apartments and other supported living arrangements in Lancaster and Lebanon counties in Pennsylvania. Support services include: family support groups, recreational programs, respite care, and worship.

Trinity Services Inc.
Trinity Services Inc., a nonprofit, non-sectarian organization, was founded in 1950 as the Trinity School in Joliet, Illinois, by a group of parents of children with developmental disabilities.