Judith Greenbaum - Life Planning for Adults with Developmental Disabilities: A Guide for Parents and Family Members

Judith Greenbaum, Ph.D., is the mother of an adult daughter with moderate to severe mental retardation. She currently consults with school districts and families on the development of appropriate educational environments for children with disabilities. She has worked with children and adults with disabilities for 35 years, and has spent much of her educational and professional career as an advocate for people with disabilities and their families. She has written numerous articles and presented many workshops and seminars for families, educators, social service workers, and mental health professionals on how to access community services, develop effective programs, and work with other educational and social services professionals to best care for and support developmentally disabled people. She earned her Ph.D. in Special Education at the University of Michigan.

We all put off making plans sometimes, and it seems the more difficult the situation is, the more likely we have put off creating a plan. This clear and useful book helps families see that it is never too late to plan a better future for an adult with disabilities. Most of all, as a parent, I like the book because it is realistic. I believe many families will find the help they need here.

Sue Swenson, executive director of the Arc of the United States and former commissioner for developmental disabilities during the Clinton administration

With a host of practical ideas, examples, and creative, do-able steps, Judith Greenbaum has used her experience as a parent and a professional to fashion a resource that is particularly useful for planning for the future. It will help families who too often have been the sole caregivers, but who now need others to know their sons and daughters as they do. Families need others to work in partnership with them in planning and shaping living, working, and caregiving relationships that form the foundation for meaningful lives. Greenbaum respects and honors the needs of everyone involved: parents, siblings, adult children with disabilities, and direct caregivers. She outlines an empowering path to address both the dreams and fears of a future none of us controls.

Bill Gaventa, M.Div., is associate professor of pediatrics at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School/UMDNJ and director of community and congregational supports at the Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities

For someone with developmental disabilities and for his or her parents, the world changes abruptly once that person graduates from school. Gone are guiding laws and procedures and guaranteed choices. The person with developmental disabilities and the family are essentially on their own, facing a jigsaw puzzle of possible services, with very few guarantees. Greenbaums book is an enormous help in this venture, and I enthusiastically recommend it, not just for parents, but also for service providers trying to help in these crucial transitions. While Greenbaum is knowledgeable about the latest thinking in the disability field, she is neither biased nor dogmatic; her suggestions accommodate a great variety of family preferences and experiences.

Martha Ziegler, national autism consultant with Youth Advocate Programs, Inc., and parent of an adult daughter with autism

This is essential reading for parents and siblings of adults with developmental disabilities who are considering their options for long-term planning. Greenbaum offers specific information on the options available to adults with developmental disabilities while also pointing readers to strategies for creating flexible arrangements that best suit the needs of their family member. As the sibling of an adult with developmental disabilities, this book helped me understand the importance of developing a life plan alongside my brother and parents to best ensure a happy, full, productive and sustainable future for us all.

Emily Bloom, MA, sister of a brother with developmental disabilities who lives an independent life

I wish we had had a guide like this years ago when we were struggling to find resources to help my developmentally disabled son access good services. This book brings realistic and practical suggestions to solve our present problems. It offers ways to plan for the future of our son and other developmentally disabled adults to insure a quality life when we are no longer able to advocate for them.

Janet A. Birk, registered nurse and parent of a son with severe developmental disabilities

Publishers Note

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books

Copyright 2007 by Judith Greenbaum

New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

5674 Shattuck Avenue

Oakland, CA 94609

www.newharbinger.com

All Rights Reserved

Acquired by Melissa Kirk; Cover design by Amy Shoup;

Edited by Jasmine Star; Text design by Tracy Carlson

epub ISBN: 9781608825776

Library of Congress Cataloging has cataloged the print edition as

Greenbaum, Judith.

Life planning for adults with developmental disabilities : a guide for parents and family members / Judith Greenbaum.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN-13: 978-1-57224-451-1 (alk. paper)

ISBN-10: 1-57224-451-8 (alk. paper)

1. Developmentally disabled--Services for--United States. 2. Developmentally disabled--Family relationships. 3. Parents of children with disabilities--United States. 4. Parent and adult child. I. Title.

HV1570.5.U65G74 2007

362.38--dc22

2007005762

To my children Dan Greenbaum and Alice Beresen Josh Greenbaum and Keren Stronach Sara Greenbaum and Darryl Sherman Susannah (Susie) Greenbaum and To Leonard