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Families for support, trust and care

Family are the people who know us the best.  They are often the people that we trust and love most.

 

  • We all start out as children in a family.
  • Our family helps us form how we see ourselves.
  • They help with all our needs when we are young.
  • They give us the chance to learn new things.
  • They feel proud with us of things we learn to do.
  • They protect us when we are not yet able to do the things we need.

 

Many people with disabilities live with their family when they get older too. 

 

Some people live with other friends or roommates.

 

Many families help care for their family member with a disability.

 

As we all grow up, we start to learn more and try to do more things on our own.

 

But most of us still need our families for some things at every age.

Once we are an adult, family members can play different roles in our lives.

Some family members can:

  • Be the people we spend time with as social and emotional support.
  • Help with finances when we don’t have enough money.
  • Speak up for us and advocate if we have trouble speaking for ourselves.
  • Help with decision making supports or be our voice for legal needs.
  • Provide care that we need, part-time or full-time.
We can talk and pick with our families what role we offer each other

All families face some stress. 

When a family member has a disability, there can be joys and stresses. 

Family members may need services to keep doing all the things they want to do for each other.

Sometimes it can be hard for family members of people with disabilities to find time to reach out and get supports.

Build family supports to:

  • Improve the quality of life of all family members.
  • Address emotional and physical as well as financial needs of family caregivers.
  • Help families navigate systems of care.
  • Build informed choices about community supports.
  • Give adequate funding and benefits to paid caregivers.
  • Give support and info to siblings for future roles as allies and caregivers.
  • Check the changing needs of aging caregivers.

Read more from the American Association of IDD Position Statement:

Read more on Family Support

Here are some of our favorite supports for families:

  • Indiana Health and Wellness Waiver - Structured Family Caregivers
  • Indiana Family Support Waiver - Personal Assistance and Care