Getting The Support You Need

If you are a parent raising a child with a disability, whether a child or adult, combining personal, caregiving, and everyday needs can be challenging, no doubt!  The following are some tips on things that you as the parent/caregiver can do to get the support you need to manage life, and for emotional healing. 

If there was one thing I have learned on my journey as a parent to share with other parents, it would be to establish and maintain a strong support system.

Get Support

• Family members & friends can provide support in a variety of ways and oftentimes want to help. Take them up on it!  Figure out how different folks in your life can provide support to you. Determine if there are big or small things they can do to assist you and your family. 
• Figure out how "Time Outs" and "Breaks" can factor into the household budget. 
• Join a local or online support group. A support group can give you the chance to share information and connect with people who are going through similar experiences. A support group may help combat feeling of isolation and fear you may be experiencing. Some great friendships are made through support groups/networks.  For many parents, it's a comfort zone that is much needed. 
• Seek counseling, even if temporarily, to work through some of your emotions or challenges. There are many Family Counselors, Psychotherapists, Psychologists that are really helpful in providing support, strategies, new perspectives and approaches to things, etc. 
• Take the time out to identify and map out who and what are supports to you in your life, including: family, friends, health care providers, support groups, community services, counselors, houses of worship, etc. 
• Look at the routines in your life that are more challenging for you. Write down how and why they are challenging. Consider alternative ways to approaching those routines, or how others can support you in those routines. 
• Think "outside the box" for supports.  Supports don't only have to come from a service offered through the "disability system". 
• Care.com is a great resource
• It's okay to say "no" sometimes. 
• Don't overload yourself. Pace yourself. Prioritize what really needs to get done and what can wait.