The Long Run

It is a common scenario. I will be talking to parents of an individual served by Imagine! about a particular challenge or issue they are facing with their child, and I will ask what plans they have for the future of their child. Frequently the answer is some variation of, “we are just trying to get through the next day.”

That response is perfectly understandable. Having a son or daughter with an intellectual disability can be challenging. There can be rewards, yes, but there are costs as well. Financial costs and emotional costs. Sometimes living day to day is the only reasonable way to cope.

I believe firmly that one of our roles in support of families at Imagine! is to provide guidance in preparing parents to plan for the long term needs of their children, especially for those parents who are unable, for whatever reason, to do so themselves. We have the knowledge necessary and the infrastructure in place to help them understand not only what needs to be done now, but what needs to be done moving forward. Imagine! has a responsibility to be there to help parents and families understand how to prepare for whatever is next, be it entering school, transitioning into adulthood, or preparing for needs as soon to be middle-aged adults with developmental disabilities age.

This goes beyond just planning, and making sure that parents and families are aware of what’s coming down the pipeline so they can be prepared on all levels. No one getting services from Imagine! should be surprised at what’s next. That is our responsibility.

At Imagine!, we have an obligation to take a look at the long run for everyone we serve.


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Then again, what do I know?