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Julie said "What is wrong with finding a suitable care facility for your child if you are unable to care for them. Being willing to ask for help when you need it is also a sign of a good parent, whether or not your child is disabled."
Julie - as a mother to a child similar in many ways to Ashley, I know what the cost of care is for a child like her - institutional placement costs my state over $100,000 per year per patient. This is a last resort option. There are no cute little "homes" that care for disabled children -at least in my state. They are warehouse type places, I've visited two of them. And besides, the parents want Ashley with them at home. This is in Ashley's best interest. Does this situation suck? You BET it does, but the parents are doing the best they can in an unbelievably difficult situation.
I would suggest since you are SO vehemently opposed to this, that on Monday morning - you go to your local social service agency and tell them that you want to VOLUNTEER for respite care for a severely disabled, mentally and physically disabled, in a wheel chair adult. No pay - volunteer. You will get an idea of what this is all about. Currently you are talking "parenting" - this is not parenting in any way, shape or form. This is caregiving.
