Garnett: Needs council will help those with intellectual, developmental disabilities

By RICHARD GARNETT

Special to the Star-Telegram

More than 100,000 children and adults in Tarrant County have intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). In fact, a child is born with autism, mental retardation, cerebral palsy or other intellectual and developmental disabilities every 12 hours in Tarrant County.

They are invisible to much of our community.

Families feel isolated and alone as they grapple with their loved one’s needs. Far too often we leave the families and caregivers of these 100,000 Tarrant County residents to figure things out for themselves with little or no meaningful support, not just from agencies but also from their friends and neighbors.

The parent of a child with disabilities struggles with lost dreams and fears of the future. As the child grows older, the challenges of adulthood and a confusing maze of rules, laws and poorly understood services take their toll.

In Tarrant County, as in many communities across Texas, a person with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their family members often are faced with the dual dilemmas of not knowing what services and supports are available and not knowing what questions to ask to learn about their options.

However, there is hope on the horizon. With the leadership, support and endorsement of Tarrant County Judge B. Glen Whitley and Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief, the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Needs Council of Tarrant County was formed by The Arc of Greater Tarrant County and Mental Health Mental Retardation of Tarrant County. A Monday kickoff luncheon will bring together more than 100 agencies, groups, officials and professionals to mark this historic initiative.

Last Tuesday, Whitley and the Tarrant County Commissioners Court issued a proclamation stating their support and endorsement for the establishment of the IDD Needs Council. The court noted "the community is seeking to establish a vehicle to coordinate supports and services, establish anti-stigma initiatives and fulfill the need for public education and advocacy so as to meet the critical needs of inclusion and involvement for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities."

The proclamation concluded by urging "the citizens of Tarrant County to give their full support to the Council and its efforts toward enabling people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live productive lives and achieve their potential, free of stigma and discrimination in the community."

The establishment of this partnership of individuals, family members, service providers, educators, advocates and policy makers will provide an opportunity for improving efficiency in service delivery and will be a forum for comprehensive community planning. What supports and services do we have and what do we need? How can a coordinated network of providers work smarter, not harder?

Many existing community services (child care, healthcare, leisure activities, etc.) could, with appropriate training and design, be available to children and adults with IDD. Most people with disabilities are looking for opportunities to participate in regular community life.

Solutions are not always dependent on more money. Sometimes creativity, innovation, collaboration and the determination to find solutions is the answer.

This groundbreaking initiative will work to ensure that all persons with IDD have access to services and support. The overarching goal of the IDD Needs Council is to assist in the development of a flexible, dependable, accessible and coordinated network of services and support that will:

Bring stakeholders together so that their efforts will be unified, coordinated, focused and more effective.

Identify community problems and recommend solutions that encompass the council’s vision.

Increase public understanding and acceptance of children and adults with IDD.

Promote opportunities for people with IDD to participate fully in the community

Is this a big challenge? Of course. However, we want to strive for a future when every parent knows that their children can be included in community life. We want to see that people with intellectual or developmental disabilities can access transportation, healthcare and employment as their fellow residents can.

Through getting to know people with intellectual disabilities, our community can discover that all people share similar hopes, dreams and goals.

Richard Garnett is the executive director of The Arc of Greater Tarrant County. richard.garnett@arcgtc.org

Looking for comments?