Creating healthy relationships during transitions

I began this blog thinking I would put some information out there about how to create friendships during this time. I think friendship both platonic and not is extremely important for healthy development and support for all. However, after I began thinking and researching I realized there are MANY more relationships than just friendship to be concerned about during this time!

The first one I thought of was parents and teachers/school personal. In addition, the students relationship with their parents and school personal. This is huge because these are supporters and encourages of their education and/or new endeavors they are embarking upon. Also, relationships are very important when it comes to friends and even romantic interests. Individuals with disabilities, especially at this time in their life, want to feel as independent as possible and have their needs fulfilled too. Almost anyone will say they have a great time socializing, going out with friends, and especially when they have someone to love and someone to love them. It is important to provide outlets in which these individuals are able to seek these types of relationships out and have opportunities to meet new people.

Most importantly, however; these relationships need to be safe, healthy, and be life giving to these individuals. Providing social activities (as discussed in earlier blogs) are key to socializing for these individuals. In addition, work can provide these relationships, church, support system such as counseling centers, and much more!

Finally, relationship among family members such as siblings are vital to the success of a fulfilling life and positive transition. Siblings, cousins, and other members of the family provide a kind of support that often goes further than a friendship can. A families approval and help can touch a heart and can understand the person more than many. Encourage these relationships and the positive ones should be treasured for a lifetime.

Resources:

http://www.brooklondon.org/youngdisabledpeople/relationships_intro.html
- This is a great resource to provide to an individual with disabilities dealing with a large transition in their life. It is a website geared at the viewpoints of young disabled individuals and their opinions on relationships with a little information added about safety, recommendations, etc.

http://www.fodac.org/
- Friends of Disabled Adults and Children is an amazing organization based out of Georgia that provides a wealth of resources to these individuals, and truly care about their well-being and independence! They have events held in addition that provide even more opportunity to network and create healthy relationships. They are statewide and nationwide as well providing home health care equipment which benefits greatly.

http://www.tsbvi.edu/Outreach/seehear/archive/twelve.html
- I love this article! It is such a great little beginner tool for parents who have children with disabilities to have, I would love to see this created into a brochure. "Twelve Things you can do to Plan for Your Child's Future Today" by Kate Moss provides great information about creating these relationships early and it begins with the parents! She also gives a lot of other helpful information in other areas of transition that will come up.