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Although living with a disability can be at times difficult, frustrating, and exhausting, with the right assistance, it can also be as fulfilling and well-rounded as anyone else’s life. Support can take many different forms, but it’s most frequently provided by members of the close or extended family.
Families of people with disabilities could be eager to assist, but could at the same time be unsure of how to help. Keep reading to find out how you can aid your family members in making a more smooth transition towards independent life and encourage them to live a fulfilling life with a disability.
Begin gradually with everyday decisions
In order to encourage independence in your family member with a disability, patience is a crucial element. This involves a series of small actions that contribute to a more empowered way of life and give them more options. Since many people with disabilities have grown up in circumstances that were both extremely caring and protective, it was difficult to instill in them the ability to make decisions on their own.
In order to give the person more control over daily life decisions, you should start small. Simple choices, such as what to prepare for dinner, can be made for either straightforward dishes or meals that are more creative, like a vegan chilli. As they gain confidence in their ability to make decisions through routine tasks, they start to apply that confidence in new and more difficult contexts.
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Ask your family member about preferences
Although it can seem too simple, many people fail to understand this basic concept. They seem to forget that someone with a disability is above all a person, with hopes, dreams, and disappointments of their own just like anyone else. As living with a disability frequently requires accepting assistance from others in any way, it can lead to your family member being overly dependent on you even in the most basic things like their own preferences.
Because they don’t know how to say no or express their own opinion on a certain matter, they may accept help that has been offered in a certain way for years. Think about how it would make you feel before moving forward, and make sure to discuss what would be most helpful with the person you’re helping.
Create a reliable support system
Getting more people involved in helping and supporting your loved one is key to fostering independence. It can be challenging to incorporate other family members, friends, or even professional support personnel because family carers are frequently intensely committed to their caring position. As a matter of fact, if you do everything on your own, you run the risk of impeding the growth and advancement of supported independent living.
It can take a while to build a reliable support system since you need to find people who are prepared and willing to help you on this path and whom you and your loved one can trust. That’s where the assistance of qualified carers comes in to help you achieve that goal.
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Find a job for your loved one
No matter if you’re disabled or not, working offers people a feeling of having a direction in life. Providing a disabled person the possibility to work will increase their independence by making them feel like they’re contributing to society.
Having the chance to work or volunteer enhances your social skills and self-confidence. One of the most effective methods to encourage independent living among adults with disabilities is through work, since it helps to foster friendships and make disabled people feel more involved in society.
Make social life a vital component
If you want to feel like a complete person, it’s required of you to have a social life. For someone with a disability, it can be challenging to go out often. People with disabilities frequently feel isolated, but having a social life can greatly help to change that. Being a family member of a person with a disability you can prioritize this aspect and make it a vital component.
You can assist in getting things started by setting up get-togethers with old acquaintances, discovering new hobbies and social gatherings for your family member to join, or even locating an online community for your family member to join.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that you may find it challenging to encourage a family member to live independently because you want to keep them safe, doing so can be beneficial for both you and them. Only if you can accept the uncertainty and make a commitment to help your loved one on this journey, will you make this possible.
About the author: Stella van Lane is a passionate traveler and writer, in love with coffee, interior design, books, and good vibes.
