A narrative of turning challenges into triumphs, Creative Caring tells the story of Stan and Renee Wallace, a family determined to create a caring environment for their son, Ricky, who faced severe intellectual disabilities.
Creative Caring documents the Wallace's journey-faced with bureaucratic hurdles, abuse from the community, and serious economic challenges-in opening the first small, community-based home in Texas to provide lifelong care for people with severe mental retardation and behaviors. Despite being told it was impossible, Renee successfully pursued her dream and began Vita-Living-a caring community for Ricky and hundreds of others diagnosed with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).
This memoir, a reflection on Renee's more than forty years of working with children and adults with intellectual disabilities, calls society to action to consider the welfare of all individuals. It's also the emotional story of how the Wallace family succeeded in creating a more generous and nurturing environment for an entire population who has much to contribute to the world around them.