Joey’s Gift and respite: a healthy break for families


Posted by Beth Finke on August 20th, 2007

Tonight’s Engaged and Underage reality TV show on MTV features Michelle Minotti Wright, a volunteer at Easter Seals Volusia and Flagler Counties in Florida. Michelle volunteers in memory of her brother Joey, who had Down syndrome and autism, and received services there.

Joey died after moving into a group home. His dad, Bob Minotti, says if they could have accessed proper respite care and knowledgeable developmental and behavioral support, their family could have gone on caring for Joey and avoided placing him out of the home.

I know exactly what Bob Minotti means. We placed our son Gus, who has severe and profound mental and physical disabilities, in a group home when he was 16. We had hoped to have him live with us until he was at least 21, but without respite it was difficult to care for him 24/7 at home.

Lucky for us, Gus is in a wonderful group home in Wisconsin with a loving, caring staff. We don’t worry about his well-being, but we do miss him.

After Bob and Wendy Minotti lost Joey, they turned their grief and frustration into a beautiful gift for other families. The Minottis have worked with Easter Seals Volusia and Flagler Counties in Florida to create a pilot volunteer respite program called Joey’s Gift.

The program serves children ages 1 through 18, providing free respite services to family members or caregivers.

Michelle’s episode was originally going to be an hour long and include a segment of Michelle visiting Easter Seals Volusia and Flagler Counties. When MTV decided to shorten the show to a half-hour, that visit was cut.

Michelle persevered, however, seeing to it that the credits to the episode include a memorial to Joey: “In Memory of My Brother, Joey, 1992-2002. www joeysgift.com.”

This should help get word out about Joey’s Gift and how the Minottis’ generosity helps families who need a healthy break from the extraordinary demands of ongoing care for a loved one with special needs.

Engaged and Underage airs tonight at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT. The reality show follows couples between the ages of 18 and 22 while they plan their weddings, revealing “just how stressful a life changing event like marriage can be — especially when the bride and groom-to-be are barely out of high school.”

Apparently, all that stress and planning hasn’t kept Michelle from doing the Easter Seals volunteer work she loves, and remembering the brother she still misses.


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4 Responses to “Joey’s Gift and respite: a healthy break for families”

  1. Patricia Wright Says:
    August 28th, 2007 at 8:09 pm

    Respite support is one of the most requested services from families. Finding quality child-care for a typically developing child is difficult – finidng quality child care for a son or daughter with a disability and complex needs is extremely challenging. The committment that the Minotti family and the work Michelle does is truly remarkable. I know that many families are able to benefit from Joey’s Gift.

  2. Rhonda Says:
    October 30th, 2007 at 10:44 pm

    I think it is absolutely wonderful that respite services are being offered. You never know how much is involved caring for a family member that has special needs until you have lived through it. It is my wish that the world realize that people with special needs are people to and have feelings. My brother was mentally and physically handicapped and passed away unexpectedly. My family was fortunate enough to be able to use respite services in our area. For anyone that is not familiar with respite, group homes, or any type of developmental disability please read about it and educate yourself. You never know when someone in your family may end up having special needs.

  3. Beth Finke Says:
    November 1st, 2007 at 10:25 am

    Rhonda, I couldn’t have said it better.

  4. odie Says:
    August 3rd, 2008 at 1:03 am

    we also are looking for respite care our daughter .we need to tour a facility known as BRYAN’S HOUSE in DALLAS,TX.They care for children with disabilities and would even be able to care of youngest daghter .But i don’t like the fact they also care for hiv/aids postive children together.can we talk to social workers for suggestions for help?

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