Good intentions when guiding your children can sometimes come at the cost of growth.
A Stanford study shows that children who have space to lead can better manage feelings, stay focused, and make smarter decisions on their own.
Independence has many success stories!
In our Mother’s and Father’s Day editions of our monthly newsletter, The Treehouse, we featured some of our residents’ parents in various stories. Since their children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) became adults and moved to Gabriel Homes, many parents shared how proud they were of their children’s journeys toward independence.
Independence came up in conversations about family vacations, activities, and memories. See from our residents’ parents how independence has many shapes and sizes for adults with IDD:
Mark (right):
“John (left) loves his library membership and is on patrol when he’s there. He knows what he wants and checks out on his own. John plays Christmas music every day, so he gets holiday CDs for his music player. He and his housemates also love Disney movies, so he leaves with many DVDs. John’s favorite movies right now are ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘The Lion King.’”
Rick (left):
“Flying feels like a big accomplishment for Chris (right) when he sees me in Memphis. When he gets off the plane, I see his face shining and smiling like crazy! Chris loves the fact that he’s independent at the airport. He checks in, goes through security, gets to his gate, flies, and leaves without breaking a sweat.”
Lee:
“Sara (front) is an academic who loves writing and reading. She’s great at making meaning out of books and having unique interpretations of them. Her reading skills help with other independent tasks like traveling. Sara is flying to Florida through two major airports soon. I’m confident knowing she can read the directions and, if she needs it, ask for help.”
Linda:
“Kari (right) is excited about going out with people her age who have similar interests. On evenings and weekends, she goes out to concerts in Reston, sees friends at adult social club, and visits nearby museums. Many adults get bored tagging along with their parents’ friends, so Kari does everything with her friends like her brother does with his.”
Bob (right) and Joan (second to right):
“Gabe (left) being away from home has been a growing and learning experience for all of us, but the result has been phenomenal. His communication skills have been much clearer since moving to Gabriel Homes. At family reunions, Gabe is more outgoing and likes saying hi to everyone. In large crowds, he’s better at showing us what he needs when he’s overwhelmed, and we’re better at knowing how we can support him.”