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Across North America, the first generation of parents who resisted institutionalization and raised their children with disabilities in the community are now facing their own mortality. These parents face more acutely the haunting concern of every parent who has a child with a disability, “What happens to my son/daughter with a disability when I die?”
A
Good Life is primarily for families, friends and caregivers of people with
disabilities. It offers a step by
step guide to creating a plan for the future which provides for the safety,
security and well being of people with disability.
It leads the reader to look beyond professional human services when
creating a safe and secure future. It
is designed to motivate readers to action.
Based on the successful format of PLAN's
first book, Safe and Secure, this book is organized into Seven Steps:
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Sharing your Vision
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Building Relationships
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Creating a Home
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Making a Contribution
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Ensuring Choice
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Developing Financial Security
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Securing Your Plan
The
book is resplendent with warm, touching stories which illustrate all points.
The style is easy to read, thought provoking and enjoyable.
At times spiritual, at times philosophical, each chapter or step offers
timely, practical suggestions and useful worksheets.
The book taps into the concerns of many families about the limitations
of the human service system and presents a new way of thinking and acting when
considering the well being of people with disabilities.
The
final section, “Stepping Stones” will attract readers who seek and
appreciate inspirational selections of prose, poetry and passages from wise
writers and commentators throughout the ages. The selections are related to the
themes addressed in each step.
Among
the issues covered are:
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creating a special needs trust
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discovering the hidden gifts of people with disabilities
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letting go - the toughest job for parents
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ending the isolation and loneliness of individuals with disabilities
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accumulating and maximizing wealth
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reducing dependence on government assistance
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self determination and individualized funding
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alternatives to formal, legal guardianship
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seeing beyond group homes - creating home as sanctuary and haven
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will and estate planning
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confronting death and other mortal fears