Post by Jackie on Feb 1, 2010 10:02:43 GMT -5
A brief update on Emily...she is so very happy with her new living arrangement. I am having one of those 'waiting for the balloon to burst' moments. Gotta stop doing this. As you know she moved into what is termed in Texas as a companion/foster home. She has a couple and two other disabled women she lives with. As I said before this is a spacious home in a nice and very friendly neighborhood. There seem to be many social occasions with the couple's extended family and the neighbors as well. Emily now has 'sisters' HER AGE pets and a loving environment where things are hoppin' most of the time.
I admit my goal was for her to live on her own 'outside' of a traditional family setting and home...but...she tells people she lives independently which to her is defined as living AWAY from her parents. From talking to Gabby...her housemom...it is obvious to me that she DOES have the skills to probably live on her own but I figure why?
She would be quite isolated and here she is surrounded by love and fun and I know she is home and tucked in safely at night. She has also started attending a workshop (or 'rehab' LOL as she refers to it) on the two days she is not in art. The other two women go there and she has made new friends and is getting some much needed academic tutoring in math. Four days a week she still attends the Arc of the Arts and is painting her little heart out and selling well.
She gets HCS funding so the whole thing is paid for and additional rent comes from her SSI income. We just sort of 'lucked into this but I am so pleased. Her annual review is this week and Katie will be representing her family ...but wouldn't change a thing at this point. She has even started losing weight.
Jackie
I admit my goal was for her to live on her own 'outside' of a traditional family setting and home...but...she tells people she lives independently which to her is defined as living AWAY from her parents. From talking to Gabby...her housemom...it is obvious to me that she DOES have the skills to probably live on her own but I figure why?
She would be quite isolated and here she is surrounded by love and fun and I know she is home and tucked in safely at night. She has also started attending a workshop (or 'rehab' LOL as she refers to it) on the two days she is not in art. The other two women go there and she has made new friends and is getting some much needed academic tutoring in math. Four days a week she still attends the Arc of the Arts and is painting her little heart out and selling well.She gets HCS funding so the whole thing is paid for and additional rent comes from her SSI income. We just sort of 'lucked into this but I am so pleased. Her annual review is this week and Katie will be representing her family ...but wouldn't change a thing at this point. She has even started losing weight.
Jackie
]
