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Reliable families give love, respect, kindness and trust.
Do you know how to pick out the right people to trust? YES NO
Have you chosen which people in your family you can ask for help? YES NO
Do you know what help to get from the people you trust? YES NO
Do you ask for advice and listen to the people you trust? YES NO
Do you tell caregivers that they need breaks from being helpers? YES NO

If you answered no to any questions, you may find some info on this page to help you learn and grow.
Choose your path. Pick reading, videos, worksheets, flipcards and links.

3 brothers, 1 with an intellectual disability, standing on a red carpet,

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 grow.
  • They help with all our needs when we are young.
  • They give us the chance to learn new things.
  • They feel proud with us as we learn new things.
  • They protect us when we need their help.

 

Video

In our own words: See my circle of support

Advice from Special Olympics Indiana athletes and caregivers

How do you decide who to trust. Here are some questions to think about:

  • Who knows me best?
  • Who believes in me?
  • Who shows up when I need them?
  • Who is good at helping me understand things?
  • Who can I talk to about serious things?
  • Who understands my disability and how it affects me?
  • Who helps me feel better when things get hard?

I Decide from Georgia has some more info to help pick people you trust to support you. https://idecidega.org/choosing-supporters/

Family is important.

As we grow up, we learn.

 

We try more things on our own. But most of us still rely on family for some things at every age.

 

When we trust and know each other well, it feels good to get advice from each other.

 

When you want advice, you may try this THINK PLAN DO worksheet. 

 

It is from California Developmental Disabilities. 

Link for Think Plan Do worksheet

Family has a role in our lives.

These roles may change as we become adults. 

 

Some family members have one role. Others have many roles.

 

You may live with your family as an adult. You may live with friends or roommates.

 

Your family may still support you wherever you are. Good families talk honestly. They share quality time and support each other.

 

 

Family Search has a family tree worksheet to list the people in your family. You can print this out and fill it in. You can write names, draw pictures or paste photos onto the tree.

 

Link for Family Tree worksheet

How does your family help?

Families may look different.

You may be close to some and not others in your family.

Who helps you? Your parents, siblings, other family, trusted friends or support staff?

 

Lifecourse Nexus has tools to help families. 

Link for Family Perspective tools

Lifecourse Mapping Relationships handout helps you list the family who care about and care for you.

Link for Mapping Relationships handout

FAMILY ROLES for adults with learning differences

Tap to flip the cards.

one family role is companion.

What is a companion?

A person who shares and enjoys time with you. Sometimes you may spend lots of time together. Sometimes you may have less time together.

one family role is advocate.

What is an advocate?

A person who speaks up for you and acts in ways to help you have a better life.

one family role is decision maker.

What is a decision maker?

A person who makes choices and plans and is responsible for helping you get what you need and want.

one family role is caregiver.

What is a caregiver?

A person who assists you with tasks you cannot easily do for yourself. You may live with your caregiver or your caregiver may visit often to help you.

cartoon image of family support

Families need support too.

All families have joys. But all families have stresses.

Family members may need services to help them support each other in times of stress. We call these Family Supports.

Family members may sometimes need to take a break. We call this Respite. Respite helps families stay ready to do all they want for each other.

Sometimes it is hard for the family of a person with a disability to reach out and get support. Remind your caregivers to take a break and get support services.

adult hands holding child's hands that are holding a heart

Family supports should:

  • Make life better for all family members.
  • Support the needs of caregivers. These include emotional, physical and financial needs.
  • Help families steer in systems of care.
  • Teach families about choices for community support.
  • Give good pay and benefits to paid caregivers.
  • Support siblings as they plan for now and the future as allies and caregivers.
  • Check up on how caregiver needs change with aging.

The American Association of IDD (AAIDD) and The ARC have a Position Statement about Family Support:

AAID Family Support Statement

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