When your life involves a person with a intellectual disability, many serious concerns sit quietly in the back of your mind during the day, only to race forward and make noise at bedtime…

Those nagging, looming worries that start circling around just after your head hits the pillow…larger-than-life questions, such as

• How do I make sure this education program is right for my child?
• What should I be doing to provide for my child’s financial future?
• How do I handle my child’s dating and romantic relationships?
• What can I do to protect my child from exploitation and abuse?
• Where will my child live as an adult?
• What kind of job can my child get and enjoy?
• Who will help my child when I’m gone?

You are not alone. The Arc of Delaware and the University of Delaware Center for Disability Studies would like to know more about the issues that cause frustration, anxiety and fear in families dealing with disabilities. We’d like to provide a safe forum for families to openly share the concerns that are heavy on their minds. And in sharing, we may find ways to help each other effectively meet current needs and plan for those that are emerging.

The Arc of Delaware will schedule an initial discussion group in the fall on issues that keep you up at night. Please watch your email for an invitation, and then RSVP quickly, as space will be limited. We sincerely hope you will join us.

Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”  At The Arc, we know this is true because our members have been changing laws and changing lives for nearly 60 years.  In these difficult financial times your thoughts and commitment are needed more than ever. Working together, we can continue to make a better world for people with intellectual disabilities, and hopefully, we can all get a better night’s sleep.

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