Between joy and sorrow: Being a Parent of a Child With Developmental Disability." This article explored the study of parents who have children with significant developmental disability and their experiences. Parents experienced anguish and sorrow. The parents also spoke of hope, love, strength and joy. The parents confronted difficulties but were said to be managed with optimism and numerous resources.

The purpose of study is to investigate placement among families of children with disabilities in Alberta. This was a three-year study. 1300 family’s parent – carers were part of study. 84% never considered out of home care for their child. One in ten families with a special need’s child 13 to 18 years were seriously considered out of home placement. One in four families exhibit fiscal difficulties. All families face difficulties in feeling normal routine but families with children with disabilities find it hard to balance work, family and regular life instances. Study found families who are “doing their best” have more kinds of resources. These resources are shared parental responsibilities, flexible work hours, childcare arrangements. government funded support programs differ across countries, states, and provinces

This resource is called Vancouver Coastal Health Services. This service helps people with Developmental Disabilities with their mental health needs. They do assessments on well being and behavior. They support clients on one on one or at hospitals for people in crisis, together with case management. 

DDA's History. (2020, October 26). Retrieved November 15, 2020, from https://www.develop.bc.ca/about-us/ddas-history/

DDA is an organization that supports and gives resources for people with disabilities. This organization was formed in 1952 when a group of families with kids with diverse abilities. They wanted to get public schools to be more inclusive to students that are different or unique. When the 90s hit, the group of parents, called the Vancouver-Richmond Association for Mentally Handicapped People, had become Canada’s largest charitable society of its kind west of Toronto. They eventually changed the name to DDA. The first priority of the group was to create resources for education. The organization slowly grew to other service needs over time. 

 How much do you know about intellectual disabilities? | Matthew Williams | TEDxVancouver [Video file]. (2015, December 9). Retrieved November 17, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BURbLmQL1BE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BURbLmQL1BE 

He has played basketball and other sports on an international level, through the special Olympics. He is worried that his intellectual disability would change the way people think of him. The world still doesn't see people with intellectual disabilities. People don't notice that special Olympics games even happen. The Special Olympics transforms the athletes' lives. He has a history of feeling left out, and people with intellectual disabilities were hidden away. They were not valued. The opportunity to participate had many shown benefits. The lack of opportunity to participate affected the fitness levels of people with IDD. Many people still had their doubts about the benefits sports can bring. The athletes kept proving the studies right 4.5 million times over. Before he joined the Special Olympics he was shy, lonely, and without many friends.  Everyone was supportive and accepting. He made it to the summer games in LA for basketball. The people of special Olympics also provide education on health and well being and health screening. The support given increased the athlete’s confidence. Half of the adults in the US don't know a single person with an intellectual disability. The people who don't have the connection are less accepting. Matthew goes on to talk about how people need to stop using the R-word due to how hurtful it is. Special Olympics teaches the world that people with IDD need respect and inclusion. 

Many families living with a child with a disability “tend to experience higher levels of stress, illness and strain on their relationships”.  81.7% of parents who have a child with a severe disability reported experiencing the aforementioned difficulties and 46.2% of parents with a child who has a less severe disability reported the same.  These families also face struggles of managing their time, with 38.4% of parents reducing their hours of work and 21.6% quitting work altogether.  There is a “very high risk of separation and divorce” among parents with children who have disabilities.  76% of parents “reported that their child’s disability had led to their separation or divorce”, this percentage is higher if their child had a severe disability.