My Grandmother was not physically able to do all she needed to be done around her house and small farm when she reached 70 or so. Oliver Davis was a good man about my father's age...20 or so years younger but he had a learning disability. He could not read or even dial a telephone. Oliver could cut the grass, feed the farm animals and do other physical projects around the house and farm with a little direction. My Grandmother could manage the household. Because of their complementary abilities, they lived independently for many years.
Most of you Guys deal with differing levels of Paralysis but have other abilities. My younger son has a learning disability but he is in pretty good shape physically. Think complementary abilities. John reads, drives, bags groceries for a local grocery and loves to help people. Sometimes, however, he seems depressed. From some of his comments, I suspect a lot of it is because he would love to live independently like his brother. He is not a nurse but he could make life a lot easier for someone with less severe disabilities, has a job and needs some assistance around the house. My Grandmother and Oliver did it so I know it can be done.
I contacted the Emory University and Georgia Tech ADAPT departments hoping to contact a person in college but they were not much help. Do any of you have any suggestions as to how I can find the right person? They need to live in Georgia...preferably around the Gainesville / Atlanta area. They would have to meet my son and decide he is the right person. If so, they would have to talk John into moving in with them. I will not risk making John think I want to get rid of him...quite the contrary. We love John very much and he is also quite a bit of help around our small farm. He would be missed a lot in all ways.
Much money and time has been spent on assistive technology and trained animals to help people with disabilities but I have been unable to find anyone supporting this resource and it would be essentially free. I would like to encourage any of you Guys that just need a little support to at least consider trying to find someone with a minor learning disability in your area to help. Perhaps Special Olympics could help. It could be very beneficial to both of you. Keep in mind that this would be kind of like a business partnership and that some of them fail. Even if it fails, hopefully both of you will learn what qualities each of you need in a partner and might be able to find someone else that does work. If you find the right partner, it can be great. I am sure there were some issues but it worked well for my Grandmother. I wish all of you the best.
Mike McConnell - mcconn746@gmail.com
