Many parents have challenges keeping their children occupied over the summer. In March and April they begin feverishly looking for camps, trips, and family members willing to help them get through the summer. That is no different for families taking care of persons with invisible disabilities.

Transportation is an issue. Not knowing whether the intended outing will work out is an issue. Finding support to help your loved one can be an issue. Most importantly, respite is an issue.

What I love about community work is that there is always an organization or an entity willing to help. Working with your city to identify safe spaces for children and working with nonprofits is not a permanent solution, but it is definitely a resource. Candidly, I'm on the board of LiFT Academy. LiFT is an amazing school that serves persons with disabilities and provides them quality opportunities to engage.

Everyone should at some point learn how to be bored, but it should not be a lifetime sentence. Summers are hard - solutions are important!

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Learn more: LiFT Academy

Photo: "Wheel of Colors" by mckinney75402, CC BY 2.0