Be Prepared!

...but may it never be needed

Once per month, I travel down from our home in Vermont to Westchester County, NY, where my daughter, Jessica, lives in a group home managed by a great agency, The Arc Westchester. We moved to Vermont from NY a few years ago to be near our son and his growing family. I had naively assumed that all state systems serving those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) were the same. I soon realized that VT’s social supports couldn’t compare, so we let Jessica remain in the group home she enjoyed in NY. With that decision came the need for the monthly commutes, which gives us a chance to spend some time with Jessica at our Vermont home.

I’ve made the eight–hour round trip many times, sometimes solo, sometimes with my wife, and it’s tiring but doable. Usually, Jessica stays with us for three or four days in VT, and then we repeat the trip to NY. On our daily Facetime calls, I solemnly ask Jessica to go to the local post office, find a large carton, and mail herself to us in VT. “No way! Jose!” and a giggle are her responses.

I finally did something on the monthly trip that we completed yesterday. I’ve often thought about this simple task but never got around to it. I typed up a note on my computer that said:

---

ATT: FIRST RESPONDERS:

If I become ill or incapacitated, please call:

(here I inserted the phone numbers for my wife and son)

I am traveling with my daughter, Jessica. She has multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy, and has difficulty communicating. She needs her walker to ambulate.

I am taking Jessica to our house in Vermont for a visit. (here I inserted my VT home address.)

Jessica resides at a group home managed by The Arc Westchester. (here I gave the number for the Arc  Westchester home)

Signed:

Jordan Jankus

---

I placed the note in a prominent position in the driver console.

Special Needs parents always worry about their children, no matter their age, and we’re always preparing for contingencies. This note is just to prepare for the contingency of my becoming incapacitated for some reason during one of my solo trips with Jessica. She wouldn’t be able to easily communicate with the first responders at the scene, so this simple note will hopefully expedite an appropriate response.

Stop worrying, you say. Well, in the spirit of wearing belts and suspenders, I think it’s good to take simple steps that might have big rewards. Besides my personal transportation situation, dozens of vans are operated daily-by-day rehabilitation programs and group homes that bring people with I/DD into the community. I hope they all have taken steps to prepare for unforeseen happenings.

All it takes is a simple piece of paper.