Support Individuals with Disabilities

<div style="text-align: justify;">Support groups help individuals deal with change, personal experience and the grief of everyday emotions. Individuals with disabilities need support therapy in order to learn they are not alone and that the intense feelings they experience are normal. The roles of care givers must be to recognize that individuals with disabilities have the right to exercise the ability to make decisions in every aspect of their lives.<br> <br> However, as in all projects, challenges and obstacles are the norm. Participants may feel uncomfortable with opening up in the group therefore sometimes a staff presence may make the person feel more comfortable. Emotional outbursts, non-compliance, disrespect are all common adjustment factors in support groups. Another adjustment factor is attendance in which a participant may refuse to come to meetings depending on their moods. It is very common that an individual may come to the first meeting then never show up again but it is not anything for the facilitator to become discouraged about. Typically, immediate breakthroughs for any individual may take weeks, months or even a year to confront their issue or find out the approach they were using is wrong. Facilitators must emphasize that support groups are not "cure all" interventions. Like most interventions, effectiveness is measured inside the group and outside in the environment.<br> <br> There are many things a facilitator should expect but in order for the group to be successful, every facet must be consistent. Consistency is a very important part in counseling or behavior therapy techniques. Often times, individuals feel more comfortable with an activity when they are able to look forward to it. There are other things that may be consistent in an individual with disabilities life such as day programming, medical appointments or medication administration. However, support groups are strictly voluntary which can be exciting because it represents a change or a growth in a person's life. It is very important that the support group facilitator remain consistent with the frequency of the meetings to provide positive results.</div>

Support Individuals with Disabilities

Support groups help individuals deal with change, personal experience and the grief of everyday emotions. Individuals with disabilities need...

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