Womans-Corner
Articles and Information for Working Women and Family
Special Needs Children

The advice contained within these articles is offered for your consideration by Lisa Simmons. You, as a parent or professional, must decide whether any of the ideas presented here should be implemented in your unique situation. The staff of the Ideal Lives Project encourage all site visitors to always utilize this information in a manner that is respectful and in the best interest of their child, student or loved one.

This year EVERYONE is Participating in the Holidays
by Lisa Simmons

As a case manager (or the parent of an adult child with a disability) you are probably feeling a double whammy of holiday stress and obligations on both the home front and at work. So why not keep things simple -- throw one holiday themed party for the individuals you support and then focus on your own holiday preparations (or just have your adult child attend the party sponsored by their support organization)?

Well the answer lies in what you feel your mission is as a case manager for an individual with a disability. If you are simply the "pusher of the paper" who keeps the services running and the bills paid -- then organizing a single party is probably enough.

HOWEVER, if your mission is to support people in having lives of meaning and purpose then everyone is short-changed by a haphazard approach. My heart-level feeling is that you will find that facilitating the holiday spirit in the lives of others will make your own holiday that much more joyful and meaningful.

Ready to give it a go? Then here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Remember holidays = family

Do everything you can to support and encourage family contact during the holiday season. This may mean:

1. Arranging transportation for a visit
   
2. Helping buy, wrap, and deliver or mail gifts
3. Calling parents to get names and addresses for holiday card sending, or
4. Helping dial the phone for an overdue conversation with a favorite friend or family member.

2. Instill the spirit of the season

Help each individual understand the true meaning of the holidays. By all means, help them decide on a few items they want or need and then share that information with friends, family members, or local community groups that provide gifts during the holidays. But remember that those who spend a lot of time getting -- also need to give.

Try to find ways the individuals you are supporting can give back:

1. Go caroling at a local hospital or nursing home.
2. Buy or make small gifts or treats to take to children awaiting adoption or away from their families in institutions.
3. Help serve holiday meals at a homeless shelter or
4. Buy one small toy to donate to a good cause such as Toys for Tots.

It doesn't have to take a lot of money to create a warm feeling inside.

3. Go ahead & have that party, but . . .

Holidays and parties go hand in hand and your organization may very well want to sponsor a holiday gala for all of their support staff and individuals served. In addition though, talk with the individuals that you personally support and see if they have other people in their lives they would like to socialize with during the holidays.

Consider what type of support they may need to:

1. Attend or even host their own holiday celebration.
2. Do they need to get a new outfit to wear to their office party?
3. Would they like help inviting a few close friends over for snacks or eggnog?
4. Is their worship center or apartment complex holding a holiday event they would like to participate in?

Help them practice and prepare so that whatever they choose to do is a successful experience.

By helping individuals with disabilities access these traditional holiday activities you also help them learn valuable social skills and build their social network making them more independent.

Now that's a holiday gift worth giving & getting!

All My Best,

* Note: If you should discover a broken link within the above article, please contact the Author and inform them of the problem. Thank you.