Whether you love getting to know and enjoy a lot of people, or you prefer to keep a small circle of close friends, your social connections are important. For many people who live with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, maintaining a social life can be challenging. Indian Creek Foundation has always upheld the value of relationships for the individuals we serve. All of our programs prioritize interpersonal connections so that we fully enjoy the benefits of engaging with one another.
One parent recently shared with us just how important our Day Program is to her son’s well-being. He enjoys a vibrant social life which is matched with compassionate, professional care. Jo-Anne Hyder’s son, John, lives at home with his mom and dad in Montgomery County. He has been a participant in our Day Program for several years and enjoys getting together with his friends.
The Challenges of Moving on From School
Like many individuals who receive services with Indian Creek, John’s diagnosis is not precise. He deals with intellectual disability, verbal limitations, Autism, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Some of John’s symptoms may be due to, or may have been affected by, a childhood illness. Many of his symptoms have become more prominent as he gets older.
John’s parents recognized that after high school, he would not have the same opportunities as his peers. But that did not mean he would have no opportunities. They worked with their social agency to identify programs that would be a good fit for John’s personality and care needs. Jo-Anne and her husband, Chuck, felt that John could remain living at home with them into his adult years. This is a decision that Jo-Anne feels all families should work through carefully. Because John doesn’t need much physical and medical care right now, he can safely live at home under their supervision.
Since he did not need a residential program, the Hyders looked into daytime and companionship programs. John gets together with companions a few days a week who give him one-on-one time, and he comes to the Indian Creek Day Program where he enjoys the group and multi-generational atmosphere. Jo-Anne said that John is very attentive and caring to his ICF friends who are older and who have more physical challenges.
He especially enjoys any activity with movement. He loves Tai-Chi days at Indian Creek, doing yoga, dancing, and gardening. One of his favorite sports is bowling, which he may be able to do regularly very soon! The Director of Day Services, Leslie Fisher, has been working with her team and local bowling alleys to schedule some regular outings.
When John is with one of his companions, they go to the movies, try interesting foods, work in the garden, or visit the mall. John attended the 2024 Roll Stroll & Run event with his companion while his parents volunteered, and Jo-Anne said he had a wonderful time dancing and sampling all the food. Staying busy with other people, whether his companions or his Indian Creek friends and staff, has been essential to John’s happiness and overall health.
Planning for the Future
Like many parents of adults with disabilities, the Hyders are carefully considering how to plan for John’s future. They work closely with his social agencies to make sure he is getting the services he needs while advocating for his own preferences as well.
As everyone gets older, John will begin to need support from people other than his parents. Right now, they are exploring respite care. Respite care is a short-term care arrangement that is common in many long-term caregiving circumstances. This type of care would introduce John to other caregivers temporarily so that the family can get a sense of what will work in the future.
Within the next several years, the Hyders will need to find replacement caregivers for John. This might look like a life sharing agreement, or possibly a residential program. Jo-Anne feels that the Direct Support Professionals at Indian Creek Foundation have always been so in tune with his needs and personality, that transitioning into one of our residential homes would be a wonderful opportunity for John.
Strong Social Networks
Jo-Anne is happy with the social activity that John enjoys at this time in his life. Because he is busy, she is able to spend time volunteering and managing her own social schedule. As John transitions into a different caregiving situation, she looks forward to doing even more volunteering for organizations like Indian Creek and others.
Jo-Anne’s advice to parents who plan to manage caregiving for their young adult with disabilities is to think very realistically about how well you get along with your child, then make decisions that are compatible with that. Every family has its own dynamics, and loving one another doesn’t mean we don’t have conflicts or get under each other’s skin. Also, think about long-term planning from the start. You never know when you might need to shift gears, so be realistic about the contingencies for your child’s care.
We are so glad that Indian Creek Foundation is somewhere that John loves to be. He brings a lot of fun to our Day Program with his energy and smile. He’s a good friend to many, and we can’t wait to see him compete in the bowling lanes!
If your family is exploring care or social opportunities for an adult with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities, contact our Day Services Program at 267-203-1500 ext. 345.