In 1962 my brother Paul was born with "Down's Syndrome." In that time, assistance for individuals with any form of mental retardation was limited.
Thankfully times have changed and people who are developmentally disabled have the opportunity to become independent, self-sufficient people leading abundant lives. The key to independence is finding the assistance they need in order to prosper and grow within their disabilities.
In the field of education, your local public school must provide special education and training for those who are mentally retarded. Individuals with mild mental retardation, needing minimum personal attention, are able to attend regular classes. Those with a higher level of mental retardation can attend special classes with teachers trained in dealing with retarded children. There are also a number of communities across the United States operating special schools for the intellectually handicapped. These schools teach basic skills according to the abilities of each individual.
The levels of retardation vary in degree in each individual with Down's Syndrome. Visiting a psychologist to evaluate a person with mental retardation can assist family members and caregivers in several ways. Parents in particular may have various concerns, which can be answered after psychological testing. The psychologist may also be able to provide behavior modification guidelines for parents and caregivers after an evaluation.
The Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC) is a wonderful organization offering assistance to parents, individuals and communities. They provide information and services through many resources and published information. They have access to information concerning other programs and grants offered to assist individuals with all forms of mental retardation. The ARC also supports a number of recreational activities, including the "Special Olympics."
Individuals without families or those unable to live at home for a variety of reasons may find housing in the form of group homes or other types of residential facilities. Residential facilities offer individual care by well-trained hosts. This type of residential care may be expensive, so check with the ARC or other local organizations to see if the person seeking housing is eligible for a housing grant. In the case of my brother, living at home with an elderly mother, we found he was financially eligible for a grant to have personal care in his own home for several hours a day to assist him in his daily routine.
Other organizations such as the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation (UCP) offer both residential and Adult Day Care Programs in many parts of the country for not only individuals with Cerebral Palsy, but with many other people with both physical and mental disabilities.
My brother Paul received a second grant to cover his expenses to attend the UCP Adult Daycare Program in our area. At thirty-eight years of age his life has improved dramatically by interacting and socializing with his friends at UCP. By visiting the center often I have discovered a caring group of people who take joy in assisting people with disabilities in every day tasks, entertainment and a variety of enjoyable learning experiences.
You can contact any of the aforementioned organizations by name in your local white pages or in your local yellow page directory under headings such as "Schools--Mentally Retarded Children" or "Homes--Mentally Deficient."
Investigating all the possibilities for a friend or family member with Down's Syndrome can change a life.