What's the point of caring for adults with extremely severe developmental disabilities?

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Just to clarify, I am not saying we shouldn't care for these people. I'm merely interested in other people's viewpoints on the topic. I work with several adults with developmental disabilities. Most of them are awesome and regardless of their disabilities enjoy a very good quality of life. I even care for a person who is basically a vegetable in a bed with only three senses left, but he experiences happiness in his day to day life because of the people that care for him and their interest in his life. But after working with another person, sure he can move, he can take off his clothes, he can use the restroom. He can't open doors or turn on a faucet. He spends most of his time sitting on a couch. He doesn't show any emotion except anger and pain. He can't communicate in any other way. Yes, me and the other people I work with care about him and take him on outings and whatnot, but hell if we know if he actually likes those activities. He's basically a walking vegetable but he builds up anger and is then angry for about 2 weeks straight, hitting things and himself. It's just that thinking of times like that, I wonder why he isn't in a home. Why bother caring for somebody that doesn't seem to even have any quality of life other than one forced on him? It was just a thought I had... again, I don't think we should put him in a home or anything. I'm just curious what other people's thoughts are on situations like this. Is it worth putting effort into caring for somebody with developmental disabilities so severe that they don't seem to have a real reason for living? I guess who are we to judge whether or not they have a reason for living... but still...
I think your right. That is a smart question but unless someone wants to take his/her own life, we cant really say that they are unhappy.
Personally I would ignore this person's anger and try to treat him like anyone else till he calms down and becomes a little more accepting of his surroundings and others. Once he accepts that his life is going to be different, a little more difficult than the average person, he would let go of this anger and try to find ways to bring happiness into his life.
He is human. He feels anger, a very intense emotion which in my opinion is a very good thing. Where there is most hate, there is most love. One day when you help him reverse that intense feeling of anger, it will turn to a feeling of intense happiness. My point is, don't look at the kind of emotion he is feeling, look at how strongly he is capable of feeling a emotion. That is what makes him human and a potentially very happy person. Good Luck!  (+ info)

i'm trying to open up an adult foster care home for adults with developmental disabilities.?

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has anyone done this and if so what can you tell me to help me out.
I have, but I live in Canada. The laws are different here, I don't know where you are from, but if you want to email me, I can tell you what needs to be done if you are in canada. If in the US i can still give you the basics but may not be able to give you all the info that you need.  (+ info)

Does anyone have good web sites with discussion forums on children with disabilities?

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Specifically, Developmental Delays, Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism, or ADHD.
Due to autism and all kinds of other diagnoses being such a grand epidemic, there are just gobs of websites and forums. My children no longer have autism, etc., although one still has some ADHD left - but still working on that.

My favorite web sites are:

www.heidinotes.com
www.liafoundation.org
www.generationrescue.org
www.autism.com
Yahoo groups on autism biomed  (+ info)

Is there anything that would cause someone to be born totally blind but not have any other disabilities?

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One thing that pops up sometimes is being born without optic nerves, but it seems like most of those children also have developmental disabilities. I haven't found any other cause of being born totally blind. Is being born blind very rare? Most resources for the blind that I've come across deal with loss of vision later in life; there is very little information on being blind since birth.
There are children born without eye formation.
There are others that are born blind due to congenital disease such as mumps, measles, etc...  (+ info)

Is it possible for a child to have a developmental disability and be epileptic?

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Or is epilepsy a developmental disability on its own?
I have epilepsy and NO developmental disabilities. However, children can, and some DO, have both. You just have to keep an open line of communication with your doctors.  (+ info)

I have to do a report on a developmental disability of my choice for an intro class, any suggestions?

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The class is Introduction to Mental Retardation, I have to do a 6 page report on any disability of my choice, and I can't decide. I was wondering if anyone has some suggestions.
Thanks everyone, I'm getting lots of choices, now I just have to decide...
I need developmental disorders, some people are suggesting psychological disorders.
Bipolar disorder and schitzophrenia are psychological disorders and are not connected. They are totally different disorders.
What about Cerebral Palsy?

It's an interesting case because you can be born with it or develop it later. You can also get around the disability through physical therapy and medication. I used to have classes at uni with a student who had cerebral palsy. There were actually a few of these students at my uni, one was studying sociology, one was doing biomedical science, and another was doing history. They were all in wheelchairs and some needed to type into a thing that talked, in order communicate.

Certainly a good example of a developmental disability that can affect the body but not the rational mind.... Which differs greatly from what people thought about Cerebral Palsy 10 or 20 years ago.  (+ info)

My 8 year old daughter has developmental delays?

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Hi my 8 year old daughter has major developmental delays she asks more like a 4 year old she is not interested in things kids her age. She plays like a toddler, I've observed kids her age and she is far behind. I don't know what to do or what type of doctor I should go to that would be helpful. She does have a learning disability. Please help.
Take her and get tested. I don't know what state you are in but can get help from state agencies.
I have a brother who has autism and another who is very "different" and probably has some form of autism as well and is going to be tested soon.
You need to get help as soon as you can because early intervention is vital to future success and development. If the school has noticed and you get them to say she needs the testing, they have to pay for it.
A psychologist or psychiastrist who specializes in pediatrics will be the best. One who is familiar with all kinds of developmental delays so they can narrow it down with some certainty.
If you have the money go straight to the psychologist/psychiastrist and they can help you test her. If you don't, go to the school and talk to them and if they recommend testing they will send her to a psychologist or psychiastrist and pick up the tab.
You have to do this soon.  (+ info)

Mothers of adult with developmental disability, how do you cope?

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It does not get easier with time.
hi hon

i don't know if you tried, but perhaps there are forums, chats or helpful websites on ADULTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES, OR COPING WITH ADULTS WITH LD?

it's worth a try.

you're a special person hugs  (+ info)

What are some developmental activities to do with a 7 month old?

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I have a 7 month old who is a little behind, what are some developmental activities to do with her?
peekaboo!!!
its a major one and babies love to play
also using her hands to clap out pat a cake

talk to her when you do things such as changing her clothes tell her what your doing as you go through the motions my little man loves that

and always when your leaving a room tell her bye bye

she'll love it  (+ info)

What are the normal developmental stages of a 20 month old boy?

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I recently found out I'm pregnant with my second and im so excited. My first is 11 months old now so he will be about 20 months when the new baby comes. Im wondering what my son will be like when he is that age, when did your baby start talking (saying real words) Will he be at the age where he will understand what I am saying to him (like, "please hand me the diaper"), Ive just never been around a 20 month old to know where they are developmental wise.
My son is 18 months, and he understands most stuff-when I tell him to go to his room, he goes; or if I tell him to get his shoes-he will go get them. Recently he's been adding words that he's saying more frequently also.  (+ info)

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