Mentally Slow Young Man Needs Grant Money To Have A Life

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Mentally Slow Young Man Needs Grant Money To Have A Life

by Barbara Pasch
(Mesa, Arizona, USA)

My name is Barbara. For almost eight months I watched a young man come to my place of business without any teeth and who, after talking to him, apparently appears slow.

I watched him walk without any direction back and forth every time he came in the store till finally I started to talk to him.

It appears his parents are incapacitated and homebound. From what I surmised from our conversation, he was not even given any formal education to develop any skills so he wanders aimlessly around the neighborhood every day doing absolutely nothing but watch television with his family.

I cannot stop thinking "What happens to him if his parents die?" They are on disability and it appears they put their son in the same position.

Yet he wants to learn something where he can go to work and maybe have a life. He just went for some teeth since I told him it would help if he wanted to get work.

Slow or not, he said he likes to cook, he is good with bicycles and perhaps, he could even learn gardening or flower arranging, ANYTHING at this point.

He said he did not want to live in the street when his parents die and I could see tears in his eyes because he is so afraid of being alone and helpless.

I need someone to help me help him but do not know who to contact. PLEASE, I saw this letter as a means of helping this young man.

I believe he just turned 24 but looking at him you would think he is only 19 years old because he wears tee shirts and a baseball cap all the time.

If only someone will help him, I would be so grateful.

He is really a very kind and caring person and his future has me so worried even though he is of no relation to me, just someone who needs a hand to guide him.

I am a senior citizen who works as part of a grant for SPECS. I was blessed because this grant became available so I would be able to work even if for 20 hours a week.

But to not have a future because someone has no skills and think one's future is the street, I become ill worrying about him. I wish I had money to help but my funds are so limited as well since my husband died leaving me penniless and living on social security.

Please have a heart and help this young man, PLEASE.

Thank you so much for giving me a place to tell you about him. He needs help with his speech as well because he had no teeth for so long due to illness.

If there is any grant to help him, please notify me immediately and I will help him fill out the forms. He lives in Mesa, Arizona and I will be eternally grateful.

Respectfully yours, Barbara

YES, there are people who care about others that much. That is why I worked for 25 years helping children, animals and the elderly to get bills passed to stop them from being abused. We need to keep caring or we will lose heart. I, too, have tears in my eyes when I worry what will happen to him in the future. Please help, please. Thank you again.

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Mentally Slow Young Man Needs Grant Money To Have A Life

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Mar 12, 2010
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What type of Assistance is needed...
by: Katina

There are a few things that a granting agency would want to know before awarding a grant to an individual. The first thing is to determine what type of services the young man receives now. Have you spoken to his parents to find out what he is being helped with such as: case management, Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, SSDI, and so on.

We can list for you some leads to apply for grants in your area. The problem you may run into is that the man may not be able to write for these grants, or may not want the assistance.

It is admirable you reaching out to the community for assistance for him. I would try asking him what it is that he needs, and if he was appointed a guardianship / legal guardian that are set up to over see his needs and financial income. If a grant is applied for it may be the responsibility of the legal guardian to apply for it, and to help him use it wisely.

My recommendation is to ask him if he has a legal guardian, and if he is receiving social security benefits (on his own, or by a guardianship type of situation).

There are cases where the disabled person has a guardian that is not able to provide the adequate services, or if the parents are disabled themselves and may need help as well.

I'd approach this situation: with care so as not to offend the parents of the young man and to get the facts, prior to doing a fundraising type of activity.

Additional Help?

In most communities, there are guidance counselors that can help a family of a disabled child / and disabled adult with case management, (however) this case management may not be all that is needed, it can provide additional support. The more support the better.

Check back to see the comments listed about your story. Until you dig, you never know what grant opportunities are available for residents in your area. Without more information, it may be hard to determine what grants he is eligible for. The other issue is the worry about losing existing disability benefits.

Too often, a person receiving SSI/SSDA may be hesitant in taking on a part-time job, or to receive outside revenue in fear that they would lose the benefits they tried for years to receive.

One other consideration?

Ask what he wants, and talk to his parents. This activity alone can help you to learn what the needs are and what the challenges to getting them met are.

Mar 11, 2010
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Searching for Help Now...
by: Katina

Thank you for posting your story. You've made an important step in locating resources that may help in your situation. I am searching for information online for grants and other help in your local area. Check back often to see when we add the resource links.

Some things to do (a little homework for you) :)

1. Create a plan. Although this may seem unrealistic, it is often helpful to sit down and put down on paper what it is that you need to better your life. What are some of the goals you have? Getting a new job? Learning a new skill? Becoming more independent? Finding adequate housing? ... Etc

2. List everything you have tried to reach the goals listed.

3. What are some things that you have not tried yet, (if any)?

4. Do you have a support system in place? Counselors, Physicians, Local Hospital Numbers, Social Worker, or Case Management (if needed). Did you know that if you have a guidance counselor for any reason, and have a low income, you might qualify for a membership to the local YWCA?

5. Do you have family support?

6. Do you like to write? I try to tell everyone that I come in contact with who is having a hard time, to write about his or her experience. If writing is difficult, typing a journal entry each day can be extremely beneficial. It is something you can do (just for you). In the process of writing about the problems, solutions are often found.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to read your story. Hang in there, and know we are all here to help you.

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Mentally Slow Young Man Needs Grant Money To Have A Life

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Mentally Slow Young Man Needs Grant Money To Have A Life