First Day of School

Here are my annual photos of the first day of school. Sean is just glomming onto his brothers' first day of school. His is next week.

Ben and Logan attend different schools but wear similar uniforms - polos with khakis.

I was not successful in getting the school to allow Ben to walk onto the bus without the Convaid Stroller - at least for now. However, they are meeting Ben at the bus with his walker. According to the teacher and by judging how tired Ben is at the end of the day, I think he is spending a fair amount of time in his walker. One night, Ben actually fell asleep at the dinner table.

New school & environment, but familiar people are with Ben throughout the day. The principal and assistant principle know Ben from when they worked as a team at his preschool. And the kicker...we walked into Ben's classroom at Open House and the teacher is a friend and neighbor with whom we lost touch after they moved away ten years ago.

I don't know how it happens, but things have a way of working out for Ben.

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Parenting an Adult Child with Disabilities

"Parenting an Adult Child with Disabilities" is a series on eSpeciallyBen. As Ben approached 18, it was clear our role changed as parents. We needed to help Ben transition into adulthood. These stories are meant to assist other families who face, or will face, some of the same challenges. Talking About the Future Guest Post - Matt Wilson Legal Guardianship, Medicaid and SSI Researching Group Homes Questions to Ask at a Group Home Visit Referral Packet for Group Homes Getting Assistance from a Care Manager From Group Home Placement to Discharge Reaching for Independence

Parenting an Adult Child with Disabilities: From Group Home Placement to Discharge

Last August, we moved Ben into an alternative family living (AFL) placement, about 90 minutes from our home in Charlotte. It was a three-bedroom house and Ben was given the largest bedroom with its own bathroom. A typical AFL in North Carolina operates like this: a person with disabilities, the client, moves in with another family, couple or an individual. The client lives in the family’s home and the family receives payment in return for housing, feeding and caring for the client. Ben’s AFL was unusual: A couple with extensive caregiving experience wanted to run a three-bed group home but needed to apply for the license through the state. They were willing to take Ben as the first resident in a house, separate from the one they lived in. The plan, according to the couple, was to get approval for the group home within a couple of months. We ordered Ben a double bed, headboard, 54-inch television, new sheets, towels and blankets. Friends helped us move him in....

Ben is thriving in his group home in Charlotte. I wrote about what he's been up to in this story in Southpark Magazine: Givers: All together Happy Holidays! Photo Credit Grant Baldwin Photography

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