With our middle son, autistic since birth, nearing the age of 18, but still needing 2 more years of school before completing his high school diploma, it occurs to me to ask what happens to him and countless others who have been guided, taught, and educationally nurtured throughout most of their lives. What do they do? Who helps them and are we prepared as a society for an influx of adult-aged special learners?
I read with interest, a little shock, and emotional disparity an article about the American playwright, Arthur Miller, known for Death of a Salesman, and The Crucible, and his Down Syndrome son, Daniel. (http://www.vanityfair.com/fame/features/2007/09/miller200709?printable=true¤tPage=all)
It is a dramatic story of a public figure (Arthur Miller was once married to Marilyn Monroe) who rejected his son, sent him to an institution where he was mistreated, shuffled around, and finally adopted by a family he calls his own, never checked on him, and only near the end of the playwright's life, sought an opportunity to meet him. Ironically, in Miller's will, he made Daniel a rightful heir to his sizable fortune. It is also a historical, cultural study of the 60s, when parents did not know what should be done or could be done for their children with special problems. A prominent, well-known intellect, immensely respected for two long-running plays, in a moment of fear, or maybe anger, or lack of compassion, or maybe even misguided wisdom, sent his son to what he perhaps thought would be a better life for himself and the infant, who was projected to have a shortened lifespan. Perhaps most dramatically, this is testimony to the strength, joys, challenges, and boundless optimism found in children with disabilities. Incidentally, it must be noted that after the birth of Daniel, and subsequent rejection, Arthur Miller did not produce any great works of consequence.
In some ways, society has grown out of the prejudice and confusion of how to deal with children who have learning disabilities and physical anomalies, at least we are more sympathetic and understanding of these children and have dedicated more education money to the learning process. With this emphasis has come a greater commitment on the part of parents to keep their children in the home, avoid the institutions, and battle the learning challenges on several fronts. This idea comes at a good time in our culture with a stunning rise in children with autism and learning disabilities. Texas public schools are close to 12% in children enrolled in special education, and it is difficult to determine how many children are being served in private education or various non state supported institutions.
And with this knowledge, I come back to the question at hand, what will happen to these children when they become adults? Are these children, many with great problems, many with few, a drain on society without enough redeeming qualities to become contributing citizens? Or are there are enough programs to help these children when they become adults, adults with job needs, transportation needs, food and clothing, independent living as much as possible. And of course there is the age-old question, should the government even be involved in the helping the disadvantaged? Private charity and family responsibility are the primary methods for reaching out to the adults in our community desperately in need, but somehow I suspect many are not finding these sources. In the case of Daniel Miller, Arthur Miller's son, the state assumed responsibility but did an inadequate job at the time. Eventually, however, Daniel found a home and a loving family. How many are not as fortunate?
I believe there are indeed state-funded programs to help these adults, and I also want to believe that families are taking on more responsibility for their care. In our case, we have researched and sought legal council for ways to help Joel as he enters adulthood, and have decided to take advantage of the MHMR support system for helping Joel, plus have decided after much thought and prayer to assume responsibility for his care by keeping him with us at home until such a time that we are no longer able. There are still many questions we have regarding our son, such as a job, transportation, staying by himself, relationships, food, but overall we are confident in Joel's future.
Yet, I wonder what kind of societal responsibility we have or what state resources are available or how much family dedication there is for all those children not only with autism (some are estimating 1 of 165 children), but also with other learning disabilities, who will in the not so distant future become adults. This is not a question merely for those of us with children who qualify but ultimately is a question for everyone. At the same time, there is hope in this regard, for I was encouraged, in visiting with MHMR, to discover the diligent effort being made to identify adults in need of care. I look forward to this practice continuing.
1 comment:
Very interesting thoughts on the way our society responds to special needs people.
I think that there are so many things I still do not understand about how these people may be best regarded and assisted, especially as they reach adulthood.
My cousin is 35 and has cerebral palsy. He lives in his own little trailor home next door to my grandmother, who helps care for him. He still needs to be reminded to do simple tasks, such as brush his teeth and change his underwear. But he is not a child anymore, and he knows it. Therefore he can often become stubborn and rebellious towards instruction.
Anyway, I enjoyed the read.
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