Depression

This photo was posted on Depression-Guide.com. I believe this photo is relevant to my research question "Should Colorado taxes be increased to abolish the wait list of hundreds of intellectually disabled adults, who are in desperate need for services?", because it shows the stress level of the caretaker and the sadness of the disabled individual. Since the photograph was taken from a "depression" website, the original context was to show the general public what it is like for both a disabled individual and their caregivers. 
I think I have a unique vantage point in viewing this photo. I have been a mother/caretaker to my son for twenty one years. With my perspective, I can see that the caretaker is Mom. The man in the picture is leaning in on the woman trying to receive some comfort. He looks sad, yet comforted by his mother's presence. 
His posture also reflects his gratitude towards Mom for helping him with his meal. I have seen this in many intellectually disabled; they never cease to be grateful for what you will do for them. My own son never forgets to thank me for the meals I serve him. He too not only needs help with the preparation of meals, but he also needs it cut for him.
I can't help but notice the three beverage cans next to the man's plate. This shows me that the man would rather fill up on drinks, and Mom has to encourage food intake. This also is common. My own son can drink over a gallon of fruit juice in one day. I have to constantly try to limit his intake, so that he will consume higher quality calories. 
When I see this picture, I wonder where the rest of the family is. The man is obviously an adult. Have the other siblings grown into adulthood and left the home? Where is Dad? Is Dad out working to provide for them? My guess is that like many other marriages that have disabled children, Mom and Dad are divorced. In my experience, it is not always Mom who ends up being the permanent caretaker; sometimes it is the Dad's. Nonetheless, here is a single caretaker. In this case it is Mom. 
As I view the environment they are in, I can see that they are not at a traditional table. It looks as if they are seated in the living room, on a couch. It is not uncommon for individuals and caretakers to have a hard time utilizing regular dining room tables. I also notice the lack of decoration in the home. The wall is a basic "move-in" color. This suggests that they are not in a financial position to afford decorations and paint. It may also represent that Mom does not have the time to indulge in such frivolous activities. 
Can you see the stress on Mom's face and also the sadness of the son's face? Through her love of her son she is devoted to taking care of her son, but she is weary of the task. I can tell by her look that she does not have the help she needs to adequately care for her son and herself. She looks clean, but she is wearing simple clothing and a "brush and go" hairdo. This also suggests her daily time constraints. The son, although comforted by Mom's presence, looks lonely. How many days do you think this man spends alone with only his mom for company? 
In choosing this picture, my hope is that the general public will see not only the taxing amount of care and time needed to provide for the intellectually disabled, but also how lonely these individuals must be without community. These are the things that are provided by the state once you are taken off of the wait list for services. Once again, I ask why this family and all the other families in this situation have to wait to get the services they so desperately need. What can we do as a community to find the resources necessary to alleviate the waiting list?

Works Cited

Intellectually Disabled with Caretaker. Digital image. Depression-Guide.com. Depression-Guide.com,     2012. Web. 7 July 2013.