Photo Credit: Stoonn at www.freedigitalphotos.net

What does a caregiver support team have to do with mountain climber Don Bennett? More than you might think according to Mike Woods at Special Needs Ministry. The support team put together by Don Bennett, who lost a leg in a boating accident, made it possible for him to climb Mt. Rainier in 1982. After completing the feat, he said the most important lesson he learned was this. You can’t do it on your own.

5 Essential Ingredients for a Caregiver Support Team

Neither can parents of kids with special needs. That’s why they need a caregiver support team with these 5 essential ingredients:

1. Family and friends to provide emotional support and help get things done.
2. A general practitioner (GP) who understands your care-receiver’s specific special needs and is genuinely compassionate about your loved one’s condition.
3. Training and support from a variety of resource organizations that provide educational materials, listings of support groups, caregiver resources, and more.
4. A welcoming community of faith that provides support in a number of areas and shows God’s unconditional love to all people.
5. Online support communities like Not Alone at SpecialNeedsParenting.net and A Different Dream for My Child’s Facebook page.

You can read more about Don Bennett climbing Mt. Rainier and more of Mike’s thoughts about the importance of a Caregiver Support Team at Five Ingredients You Need for a Great Support Team.

What Essential Caregiver Support Team Ingredients Do You Recommend?

Now that you’ve heard the ingredients Mike considers essential for a caregiver support team, which ones are most important to you? Would you add something to his list? Leave a comment in the box below or give a shout out to the people who are on your caregiver support team.  Or add a link to other supportive special needs online communities you’ve discovered. The more support the better!

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