Bridget’s Home, Inc., an Alabama Microboard
Bridget is 48 years old. She has cerebral palsy. She can walk short distances with crutch canes, is non-verbal, and functions mentally at 18 months of age. Yet, Bridget lives in her home and exercises choices on how she lives her life. The ability of Bridget to live in her home and exercise her right to make daily activity choices was made possible because of a living arrangement called a Microboard.
Bridget’s history is not unlike most persons with similar conditions. She lived at home with her parents and siblings until the family was no longer able to adequately provide for her needs. At that point, she became a resident of a state institution for the developmentally disabled. While adequately cared for and safe in the institution, like the other residents she became withdrawn. With closure of institutions imminent, the family decided to find an alternative other than the typical three-person community home that suited their desires for Bridget’s living.
For Bridget, the answer was a Microboard. A Microboard is a community home for one—and only one—specific person. The money to operate the home comes from Alabama Medicaid. The manager of the home is a parent or the legal guardian of the person receiving services. A not-for-profit corporation composed of relatives and friends of the person receiving services serves as the governing body of the home.
For Bridget, the Microboard has been a wonderful solution. She is no longer withdrawn, and she is enjoying life. Because she is the only client, every facet of her dialing living is designed to meet her needs and desires. Her father and legal guardian hires and supervises the staff and Bridget’s mother prepares the menus for the home.
With the funds available, Bridget’s father purchases communication and physical therapy from United Cerebral Palsy. Every afternoon, the staff member on duty take Bridget on an outing, and Bridget decides what she wants to do by accepting or rejecting the staff member’s choice of outing destination.
For parents or relatives who desire a highly personalized living arrangement for their relative and who wish to be in full control of the care and those they hire to deliver the care, a Microboard is almost certainly the best solution.
Bridget is 48 years old. She has cerebral palsy. She can walk short distances with crutch canes, is non-verbal, and functions mentally at 18 months of age. Yet, Bridget lives in her home and exercises choices on how she lives her life. The ability of Bridget to live in her home and exercise her right to make daily activity choices was made possible because of a living arrangement called a Microboard.
Bridget’s history is not unlike most persons with similar conditions. She lived at home with her parents and siblings until the family was no longer able to adequately provide for her needs. At that point, she became a resident of a state institution for the developmentally disabled. While adequately cared for and safe in the institution, like the other residents she became withdrawn. With closure of institutions imminent, the family decided to find an alternative other than the typical three-person community home that suited their desires for Bridget’s living.
For Bridget, the answer was a Microboard. A Microboard is a community home for one—and only one—specific person. The money to operate the home comes from Alabama Medicaid. The manager of the home is a parent or the legal guardian of the person receiving services. A not-for-profit corporation composed of relatives and friends of the person receiving services serves as the governing body of the home.
For Bridget, the Microboard has been a wonderful solution. She is no longer withdrawn, and she is enjoying life. Because she is the only client, every facet of her dialing living is designed to meet her needs and desires. Her father and legal guardian hires and supervises the staff and Bridget’s mother prepares the menus for the home.
With the funds available, Bridget’s father purchases communication and physical therapy from United Cerebral Palsy. Every afternoon, the staff member on duty take Bridget on an outing, and Bridget decides what she wants to do by accepting or rejecting the staff member’s choice of outing destination.
For parents or relatives who desire a highly personalized living arrangement for their relative and who wish to be in full control of the care and those they hire to deliver the care, a Microboard is almost certainly the best solution.