Creating a parent-run, community-based home for my son with disabilities.
On February 22, 2020 L’Arche International released a summary of findings of an independent investigation that identified that Jean Vanier, venerated founder and spiritual leader of L’Arche, had in all probability engaged in non-consensual and coercive sexual activity with six women. In short, he was a serial sexual abuser. I live and work in the …
Continue reading “Vanier, L’Arche, Sexual Abuse, and Intellectual Disability”
In any situation where an adult is unable to make decisions about their personal care, or property and finances, a formal assessment must be completed by a trained assessor to determine capacity. In cases when an adult is incapable an alternate decision maker must be appointed by the courts. So in essence, as Matthew’s mother …
When I learned a small bungalow was for sale around the corner from our home I immediately assumed it wouldn’t work for my son’s wheelchair. Most homes don’t unless they’ve been custom built. But, given the home’s location, it seemed appropriate to at least give it a look-see. So imagine my surprise when I walked …
I wasn’t always on board with this co-housing idea. Two years ago, almost to the day, we entered a shared care model with a group home. We had been exploring co-housing with a few families in our community, but for many reasons it wasn’t the right time. Feeling we had few opportunities for an adult …
When we signed the documents to purchase Littlel’arche (get it, the home is a Little L’Arche) my husband and I simply wrote our names on the offer of sale, and then added ‘in trust’ for our son. For us, that demonstrated that our child was the true owner of the home even though we were …
Continue reading “There’s nothing kinky about a bare trust.”
Like many parents of adult children living with disabilities my husband and I lose a lot of sleep worrying about what will happen to our child if we were killed in a car crash. Truthfully, I probably toss and turn more at night than my husband. His ubiquitious snoring proves that fact. And it isn’t …
