For Now, We Wait

For Now, We Wait

Clarence F. unexpectedly had a stroke at the age of 51. Clarence and his wife, Kim, submitted his application for Home Services in May of 2018. In June 2018, extremely distraught and worried about Clarence, Kim called me, Tabitha Boshears, Personal Assistant Coordinator at the Disability Resource Center. He endured months of medical treatment, rehab, and therapy to be able to return home. None of the medical professionals or social workers in the handful of treatment centers along the way ever mentioned the in-home care available to them. Coming home was a dream come true for the couple. Unfortunately, without supports in place, their dream mutated into a nightmare. Kim was not physically or emotionally prepared for the challenges caring for Clarence at home presented. The time she needed to take off work was effecting their ability to thrive as well as her job performance. The progress her husband had painstakingly made slowly faded. Clarence and Kim were in every way possible desperate for help.

I advocated for Clarence’s case in our local Department of Rehabilitation. I pleaded for his Home Services Program application to be escalated. I contacted supervisors of supervisors. I reached out to Springfield. I communicated with other Centers for Independent Living in Illinois only to hear stories just like this. I talked to Kim several times a week only to tell her I was trying my best and that it was out of my hands. I listened to her weep, felt her heartbreak and her fear for her Clarence, and did everything I could possibly do.

After months of talking regularly, Kim and I slowly lost contact. We both felt helpless and our calls were almost scripted, “Hear anything?”, “No, you?”, “No.” Maybe next week, maybe next month, until it was an entirely new year.

Now, in February 2019, the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) has finally scheduled Clarence’s interview and evaluation. For now, we continue to wait. Wait for staffing, wait for funding, wait for people with disabilities to become a priority.

Institutional Diversion is part of the transition services Centers For Independent Living (CILs) are contracted to provide. However, without the staff, the funding, or the partnerships with our DRS offices, CILs fail. Not only do we fail, we have never been offered the opportunity to succeed.