What will happen to my friend?

Question

my friend morgan is disabled (she has cerebral palsy or some other birth defect and she is mentally& physically disabled). she is a senior in high school and she is 19. next year i dont think she'll be coming back to school, but i dont know what shes gonna do after that. do her parents take care of her or does she live in one of those group homes for disabled adults? would it be possible for her to ever live on her own or go to college?

Answer 1

Hopefully she will be able to live somewhat independently.  u must understand that college is not the only destination.  Life holds other challeges for people such as your friend.  I hope u will be her friend no matter what happens in her life

Answer 2

One thing to remember about people with disabilities, is that for the most part they can do whatever.  It will be up to her and her parents to decide if she would rather live with them, on her own or in a group home.  No one has to be put in a group home, it's up to the parents and the person!

Answer 3

Your friend can stay in school until her 22nd birthday.

Usually with these students, the Department of Rehabilitation attends the last few IEP meetings and begins to help the student make plans for work after high school. Ask your friend if this has happened. The school is required to write up a transition plan for after high school. This is a legal requirement.

However, many school districts do not do this without a parent demand. It was found that only 24% of IEP's have the legally required transition plans and that only 4% ever invited Voc Rehab to their meetings. Only 34% of retarded adults end up with jobs after high school. That it is why it is so important that her parents pursue Voc Rehab.

Usually kids end up living with the parents for awhile. Like other kids, it takes awhile to get used to the idea of living apart from the family. Depending on the depth of her retardation, she may live with her parents until they die.

If she is only mildly mentally disabled, she may be able to have a publicly funded apartment and receive visits from a home care worker. Since she will be receiving SSI funds, she will be eligible for this service. It really depends on her desire for independence.

Much of this depends on her level on mental functioning. Many CP kids appear to be retarded and are not. There are some community colleges that do offer classes for disabled folks. Also, every publicly funded college or university is required to have a student disabilities department to assist with the implementation of the high school IEP into college classes.

Answer 4

This will most likely depend on her parents. Is this student verbal at all in her wishes? She may stay home with parents and attend what is called a adult activity center or they could put her into a home. I dont think most parents do that straight out of school.....