One of the reasons parents fight so hard for their children who have special needs is that they want more for their child than simply being alive. If happiness was only about not being dead, then you’d expect the human race to be a lot happier, on average, than they are. If successfully taking care of our children with severe developmental disabilities meant making sure they were fed, clothed, and had enough medicine to not die, then our jobs as parents would be a lot simpler.
But a good life is more than that. One of the wonderful things about being human is that we get to define what a good life looks like to us, and people have defined that in vastly different ways. Those ways range from the person who wants to change the world, to the person who wants to honor the creator, whether Mother Nature, God, or some other divine entity, in everything they do, to those who strive to impact those around them in small but meaningful ways, and to those who simply enjoy their existence for as long as they have it.
Parents fight for their children to have medical care, therapeutic care, education, vocational support, and life supports so that their children can have the opportunity to reach a life that is more than mere existence. Community connection, loving and being loved, enjoying their life in whatever way that looks like for them, are the goals that parents have for their children.
Parker Counsel Legal Services provides guidance and representation to families in Texas, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Our lawyers will help you plan and prepare for guardianships and other supports for your children with special needs, and prepare special needs trusts to provide support for your child until the end of their life. Call or email us for a short phone consult to see how we can help you.
833-RED-BOOT (833-733-2668) or legal@parkercounsel.com