The special-needs community holds a special place in my heart. My aunt Linda is mentally disabled, and she’s required assisted living for her entire adult life. It wasn’t until she moved in with me, however, that I realized how capable and amazing she truly is, and it made me wonder how many other special-needs people are misunderstood because of their disabilities.
For the majority of my life, Linda lived out of town in a wonderful group home. It was truly a home, with 5-6 women sharing bedrooms and community spaces. Whenever we were in town, we visited Linda, often taking her with us to do things. She spent holidays with either her brother (who lived nearby) or with my parents (her sister and brother-in-law). I enjoyed my time with Linda, but it was always vacation/holiday time—I didn’t understand her day-to-day life.
When Linda was in her early sixties, after nearly thirty years in the group home, my husband and I invited her to live with us. That change opened my eyes to a side of Linda I’d never experienced.
Cognitively, Linda functions at a 6-10-year-old level. But she also has a lifetime of experiences. She can’t read, but she remembers when Elvis died. Her vocabulary is limited, but she makes eggs, bacon, potatoes, and toast for breakfast. She can’t always remember people’s names, but she remembers their situations and will ask about them ten years later to find out how they’re doing. She loves holding babies, coloring pictures for people, and watching Detroit sports. She also discovered creative ways to solve issues that my husband and I never considered.
While Linda lived with me, she introduced me to one of her favorite TV shows: Dancing with the Stars. We spent every Monday night watching together.
When it was time to write my next novel, I decided to honor our time together by including a DWTS-inspired event and the special-needs community in the story. It was easy to find inspiration. A nearby city used to host an annual DWTS-inspired dance competition to fundraise for nonprofits, and one of those nonprofits was an organization that helps special-needs adults. Finally Forever was my opportunity to recognize and celebrate my aunt and people like her.
For those who weren’t blessed to grow up with an Aunt Linda, it can be intimidating to know what to say or how to say it. For those of us who did grow up with an Aunt Linda, that doesn’t mean we fully understand how capable and loving they truly are.
There are so many cognitive and physical disabilities that it would be impossible to include all of them in a romantic comedy, but I hope this glimpse at the fictionalized version of my aunt’s life will inspire others to think about the special-needs community differently and maybe even get involved where the can.
Finally Forever is the story of a ballroom dance champion and a former college football player who come together to raise money for a special-needs nonprofit. The contest unexpectedly opens doors that could help them follow their dreams, but doing so could cost them their hearts.
Finally Forever is available now in paperback and ebook on Amazon.
Author of hopeful fiction with a healthy dose of romance, Karin Beery lives in northern Michigan with her husband and pets. They drink too much (decaf) coffee, put up their Christmas tree the first weekend in November, and do their best to live every day for the Lord.
Find Karin on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.