Advice about Disabled Family Members
I have an adult (36 year old) sister with a developmental disability.
She will probably be moving to Northern California later this year so
that my husband and I can begin to take more responsibility for her care
as my parents age. She lives independently, drives, and has worked at
entry-level jobs in the past, although she is not working now. Caring
for my sister presents a daunting-- but unavoidable-- challenge for my
immediate family. Does anyone out there have experience caring for an
disabled adult in that "in-between" zone (IQ of 80)? Can you tell me
about your experiences-- with housing, employment, social services? What
has been the impact on your amily and how do you maintain appropriate
boundaries? What should I be asking myself as I plan for this change in
relationship? Are there
web-based or other local community support resources that I should be
aware of? Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
Someone wanted to know about resources for a sister with a developmental disability who was coming to live here in the Bay Area. I wanted to pass along something that is important for this person to know. If the sister has a diagnosis of a developmental disability (onset prior to age 18) she will be eligible for services through the Regional Center of the East Bay. The person should call RCEB at 510-383-1200 to get information and learn about the many services available through the Regional Center.
Thanks. Barbara (June 2002)
The West County Older Adults Clinic (510) 3743629 has a very good
support group for children of aging parents. The social worker provides
information and guidance on where to go to get legal advice when dealing
with elderly parents. I attended the support group for two sessions and
from my experience I can tell you that there is not much you can do
about the situation unless you can convince a judge that your father is
incompetent. They helped me discover that there is only so much I could
do. (April 1999)
Through the Looking Glass (848-1112) and the Center for Independent
Living (841-4776) are excellent resources in Berkeley. TLG is
specifically for parents with disabilities. CIL has a broader
reach. As you may know, Berkeley is a national center for outreach
and support for disabled people. Good luck, and I think you are
doing a wonderful thing.
(April 1999)
The opinions and statements expressed on this page
are those of parents who belong to the
UC Berkeley Parents Network and
should not be taken as a position of or endorsement by the
University of California, Berkeley.