Lisa is now 55 years old. She has been living with Marsha and Cindy for the past several years. Lisa enjoys her part-time job at a local grocery store, and she has been working there for 12 years. Lisa is content. She has an understanding that there is something wrong with Cindy, and she knows that her Marsha is sad a lot of the time. She vaguely remembers attending her father's funeral many years ago, but she does remember that she hasn't seen him in so long - she's almost forgotten what he looked like.
Marsha tells Lisa that Cindy has cancer, and she is preparing for the two to deal with Cindy's death. Cindy's cancer is non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of the disease that has a low rate of cure. The doctors detected the cancer at a fairly late stage. For Cindy, she knows that Marsha and Lisa will be OK in the house, and that is at least some comfort for her. Marsha is getting up in years as well, and she worries about Lisa if something should happen to her.
Lisa started to notice that she cannot see things as clearly as she used to, and she recently got a pair of eyeglasses to aid her reading.
Lisa doesn't know how she will live without Cindy, a woman she has known for most of her life as a caregiver and parent. She is scared and has no idea what will happen.
* If Marsha were to die, what options are there for Lisa? Is it legally possible for Marsha to determine what she would like to happen if Lisa is unable to live on her own (which is unlikely)?
* Describe the developmental milestones of middle adulthood. What kinds of changes is Lisa likely to have experienced? How are these typical developmental changes mediated by her disability?
* When is Lisa eligible for Medicare? What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Week 8
Lisa is now 29 years of age and has been participating in programs through the Department of Rehabilitative Services for several years. She works at a local store through a program which helps supervise her employment there. She has come to be well-liked by the staff and owners even if she often has "idiosyncratic" relationships with customers from time to time.
Lisa lives with her mother and her mother's partner. The two decided that it would be best for their relationship and Lisa if they were all one family. Although Lisa was unsure at first, she now welcomes Cindy as a parent. The death of Lisa's brother in Afghanistan was a shock to Cindy and Marsha, but Lisa had a difficult time understanding exactly what happened. She still asks about him.
Lisa rarely talks about her dad and sees him even less. There are rumors about him getting involved in drugs and being a part of some nefarious activities in the next town. Marsha doesn't know and doesn't want to know. Lisa has been able to maintain appropriate boundaries with men after alot of coaching and careful monitoring by those around her. She will likely continue to live at home.
* What is the time period for early adulthood? What are the physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional changes that typically take placed during this period?
* How might someone like Lisa understand and cope with loss? She has lost both her brother and her father. What effect might this have on her given her limitations?
* Given Marsha and Cindy's development as middle adults (the period of middle adulthood), what are the stresses that might result from having Lisa at home?
Lisa lives with her mother and her mother's partner. The two decided that it would be best for their relationship and Lisa if they were all one family. Although Lisa was unsure at first, she now welcomes Cindy as a parent. The death of Lisa's brother in Afghanistan was a shock to Cindy and Marsha, but Lisa had a difficult time understanding exactly what happened. She still asks about him.
Lisa rarely talks about her dad and sees him even less. There are rumors about him getting involved in drugs and being a part of some nefarious activities in the next town. Marsha doesn't know and doesn't want to know. Lisa has been able to maintain appropriate boundaries with men after alot of coaching and careful monitoring by those around her. She will likely continue to live at home.
* What is the time period for early adulthood? What are the physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional changes that typically take placed during this period?
* How might someone like Lisa understand and cope with loss? She has lost both her brother and her father. What effect might this have on her given her limitations?
* Given Marsha and Cindy's development as middle adults (the period of middle adulthood), what are the stresses that might result from having Lisa at home?
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Week 7
Lisa is a 19 year old young woman who has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder for a number of years. Her transition goals in her IEP have helped her to be more socially independent, and she is able to make some forays outside of the home without supervision.
Lisa's parents finally divorced last year, and Lisa's brother went into the Army, and it seemed Scott and Marsha could not find anything outside of the kids the keep them together. Lisa misses seeing her dad and often asked when she will get to see him again. It is hard for her to understand why her parents don't live together any longer. It makes her sad and sometimes angry.
Lisa is able to have some supported employment at a local hardware store, and she continues to attend the local school close to Marsha's house. When Scott moved out, he moved to a town nearby and is said to be working odd jobs to pay the bills. Marsha is now working in a local pediatrician's office. The hours are somewhat flexible, and the practice has given her the ability to be with Lisa when needed. It is good that Marsha has close friends who are also able to help with Lisa. She's particularly close to Cindy and has been for the last several years. Cindy is always around, picking up Lisa at her job, taking her home and making sure she has eaten. Cindy would really like to be with Marsha and can see a future for them. Marsha really never thought of herself as bisexual, but not that Scott is finally gone, she has begun to be attracted to Cindy. They have even talked about moving in together.
Lisa loves to be with other young adults at the Clubhouse, a community-based space where people with special needs "hang out." There is a man, Raymond, at the Clubhouse who is a few years older than she, and he keeps trying to get her to do things that make her uncomfortable. He's always touching her on her shoulder and back, and he is often "in her space." She's not sure how to say it or who to say it to, but there's just something especially strange about him. Lisa doesn't like the way the man treats her.
* Find out information about Summit House in Harrisonburg. Who goes there? Why? What are the requirements for attendance?
* Describe typical developmental milestones for a 19 year old.
* Given Lisa's need for adult supervision most of the time, what are the future possibilities for employment for her? Assume that her IQ is 74.
* Given Lisa's atypical development, how might she understand inappropriate physical contact such as that that comes from Raymond?
DECISION POINTS:
Does Lisa find a way to communicate her needs to someone "in charge" at the Clubhouse?
Do Marsha and Cindy move in together?
Lisa's parents finally divorced last year, and Lisa's brother went into the Army, and it seemed Scott and Marsha could not find anything outside of the kids the keep them together. Lisa misses seeing her dad and often asked when she will get to see him again. It is hard for her to understand why her parents don't live together any longer. It makes her sad and sometimes angry.
Lisa is able to have some supported employment at a local hardware store, and she continues to attend the local school close to Marsha's house. When Scott moved out, he moved to a town nearby and is said to be working odd jobs to pay the bills. Marsha is now working in a local pediatrician's office. The hours are somewhat flexible, and the practice has given her the ability to be with Lisa when needed. It is good that Marsha has close friends who are also able to help with Lisa. She's particularly close to Cindy and has been for the last several years. Cindy is always around, picking up Lisa at her job, taking her home and making sure she has eaten. Cindy would really like to be with Marsha and can see a future for them. Marsha really never thought of herself as bisexual, but not that Scott is finally gone, she has begun to be attracted to Cindy. They have even talked about moving in together.
Lisa loves to be with other young adults at the Clubhouse, a community-based space where people with special needs "hang out." There is a man, Raymond, at the Clubhouse who is a few years older than she, and he keeps trying to get her to do things that make her uncomfortable. He's always touching her on her shoulder and back, and he is often "in her space." She's not sure how to say it or who to say it to, but there's just something especially strange about him. Lisa doesn't like the way the man treats her.
* Find out information about Summit House in Harrisonburg. Who goes there? Why? What are the requirements for attendance?
* Describe typical developmental milestones for a 19 year old.
* Given Lisa's need for adult supervision most of the time, what are the future possibilities for employment for her? Assume that her IQ is 74.
* Given Lisa's atypical development, how might she understand inappropriate physical contact such as that that comes from Raymond?
DECISION POINTS:
Does Lisa find a way to communicate her needs to someone "in charge" at the Clubhouse?
Do Marsha and Cindy move in together?
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