Principal's Award

This year, the new principal at Ben's school started an awards program based on character traits such as hope, courage and citizenship. The award is given monthly to a student on each grade level and one child in the Special Academic Curriculum, in which Ben is a student.

Ben received the award for January's Principal's Award based on the character trait determination. The nomination form read: Ben shows determination in everything he does! Whether he is determined to walk down the hall or to sit in his favorite chair, he perseveres. He also shows determination in his work by choosing answers of his choice and working hard until he is successful.

I am proud of Ben and very glad the school includes the SAC program in these activities. I am even more astonished that I caught this photo at the very moment before Ben tried to rip the certificate out of the assistant teacher's hand. He looks so angelic holding his certificate...but if I had taken subsequent shots, a whole other story would have unraveled.

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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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