Share Your Caregiving Story!
MISILC wants to hear from caregivers and people who are being cared for. We’re sharing these stories to help shape a future where caregivers are supported, appreciated, and recognized.
D’s father-in-law Gary in the makeshift bedroom her family set up for him in their living room. He is writing to communicate because he can no longer talk.
“I helped to care for my father-in-law when he had ALS. It was heartbreaking to see this previously strong, independent man who loved hiking in the woods losing his ability to do anything independently.”
Christine and her father dance at her wedding on July 6, 2014. He died on Jan. 1, 2015.
“During those final weeks with my dad there were so many logistics to organize. Medications to keep track of, doctor’s appointments, finances. Logistics became front and center instead of quality time.”
“My sister was in a car accident that left her a para-quadriplegic. One moment, she was a teenager with her whole future ahead of her, the next, she was navigating a world that was not built to support disabled people or the families trying to care for them.”
Caregivers: Tell Your Stories
MISILC wants to bring caregivers to the forefront. We want to share their stories and celebrate them in order to shine a light on people who too often work behind the scenes and don’t receive the recognition they deserve.
MISILC certainly appreciates caregivers, but appreciation isn’t enough. Caregivers need actual support, which includes public policy that addresses an unsustainable caregiving infrastructure that depends on unpaid and underpaid labor. We must do better.
We want to hear from you!
*Submission of a story does not guarantee participation in campaign materials. MISILC will review all entries and reach out to selected individuals for potential inclusion.
About Caregiving
In the disability community, the term “caregiver” often means someone who helps to care for a person with a disability. What that help actually entails depends on the needs of the person being cared for. It could be helping someone bathe, preparing meals, driving to medical appointments, or just being a calming, consistent presence.
For many people with disabilities, caregiving is more than an act of kindness here or there; caregiving is essential to living a fuller, more independent life.
Caregiving can also be very difficult work. This is especially true for people who are caring for a family member in addition to all of their other responsibilities. Caregiver burnout is real. Unfortunately, many caregivers do not receive the support they need to both care for others and care for themselves. This is also true for paid caregivers who often make wages that do not reflect the importance of their work.
About MISILC & Centers for Independent Living
The Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council works in partnership with Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS), Bureau of Services to Blind Persons (BSBP), Disability Network/Michigan, Michigan's statewide network of Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and other partner organizations to prepare the State Plan for Independent Living. Together we are responsible for developing a statewide plan that outlines the goals and objectives to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Michigan.