Ep50 The Rest of the Story: Unpacking the Complexities of Supporting Adults with Disabilities

Atypical Behavior Analyst

Being an adult is difficult. Being an adult with disabilities is even harder. And being a caregiver (parent, family member, direct care staff) can be overwhelming, discouraging, often times leads to burn out. Many of these dyads (individual and caregiver), will be forced to navigate multiple systems, interact and adhere to professional recommendations and treatments, not to mention long learning and reinforcement histories that can lead to tangled webs of competing, interlocking, and overlapping contingencies. Wahler 1980 discusses the difficulties of the “Insular Mother”- limited reinforcing interactions, demands and advice from all sides. Everything is a priority. Everyone else has the answers. Sadly, over the last 40yrs, not much has changed for these persons. Disabilities are still misunderstood, surrounded by preconceived notions and biases, family and caregiver dynamics overlooked, and there is still too much talking and not enough listening to those in the thick of it. It may seem a compliment to label these caregivers as “resilient”, but the truth of the matter is they are tired, broken, and struggling. Resilience can be costly and can lead to disingenuous consent, placations, and a lack of adherence to treatment and intervention recommendations. It’s tough to stay on top of things when the rest of the world is piling more things on.

Working with adults presents its own unique challenges but utilizing Goldiamond’s Nonlinear Analysis and Constructional Approach can help bridge the gap between the frustrations and unheard cries of these caregiving dynamics and providing beneficial, effective, and successful supports.

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