And they are flourishing at a time when advocates are pressing places of worship to move beyond accommodating people with disabilities to welcoming and valuing them. The most important accommodation we can offer them is the gift of friendship. The parents and workers at Friday NITE Friends agree. And for them to have an adult caregiver just take over for a little while is very expensive. Ms. Prestwood tells tale after tale of initially hesitant parents who, when they finally admit that they need time away from their children, cry with relief.
Some couples eat dinner and catch a movie.
Others go shopping. They return home for a nap or, in the case of one mother, a bubble bath. The parents take a pager with them when they leave Custer Road at 6 p.m. and can call to check in. Most return before the 10 p.m. pick-up time, but even a few hours can make a big difference. Will is mentally retarded and visually impaired.