By now, you have probably heard of Paul Daugherty and his 25 year old daughter, Jillian. Like any proud father of the bride, Paul was full of emotion and he penned a special letter to his daughter to share his hopes for her on her wedding day. However, Jillian is considered an unusual bride, not because she is famous or chose an outrageous wedding, but because Jillian has Down syndrome.
People With Disabilities are People, Not a Diagnosis
In Paul’s letter to his daughter, he talks about all the things that “experts” said she would never be able to do, and then he describes his pride when she surmounted each of those hurdles. He describes how his hopes and fears changed when she was born, and worrying that she would find acceptance in the world. Paul’s fears resonate with any parent of a child with special needs. So often, the world seems to focus on a person’s differences, that people overlook that every single one of us is a human being with hopes and wishes, dreams and fears. By focusing on differences, people can isolate those who have disabilities, instead of including them in a community. The loss is two-fold. Obviously, there is pain and sadness for those families who feel isolated because of a disability, but there is also a loss for the community, because it misses out on the contributions that these individuals can make.
Mt. Bethel Village is One Way for Families to Help Their Hopes and Wishes Come True
With the wide range of disabilities that can impact individuals and make fully independent living impossible, there is no one-shot scenario that will work for every individual. However, Mt. Bethel Village, a special needs community from Chelsea Senior Living, offers one option for families with a member with special needs, who are hoping to help that person live in a more independent environment. By offering assisted living for adults living with special needs, Mt. Bethel Village can serve as a transition from a home environment to fully independent living, serve as a long-term residence, or simply offer respite care. In addition, the social activities at Mt. Bethel Village, which are available to residents and non-residents, provide an opportunity for people to meet and befriend others who are handling similar challenges.
At Mt. Bethel Village, we understand that a disability does not change one’s ultimate goals in life: happiness, independence, strong-relationships, and love. It may, however, change the paths one follows to get to those goals, and we are proud to offer a great path with our Mt. Bethel Village Community.
