Justin
Families deserve clear information before a crisis happens.
Family Story
When a Crisis Happens, Families Need More Than Promises
Justin
After Justin’s mother died unexpectedly, his family discovered how difficult South Carolina’s disability service system can be to navigate during a crisis. His story highlights the need for clear information, consistent communication, and planning before families are faced with an emergency.
IN HIS FAMILY’S WORDS
When Justin’s mom died unexpectedly on October 8, his family was thrown into the kind of crisis no one is ever fully prepared for.
Justin is a Tier 1 disabled adult in South Carolina. His family had always been told that if something happened to his mother, he would qualify for emergency placement.
But when that moment came, they learned the reality was not that simple.
Because Justin had a sibling still living, the emergency placement process did not work the way the family had been led to believe. Calls went unanswered. Messages were not returned. His family spent days trying to get help while also grieving an unexpected loss and trying to figure out what would happen next.
Justin was eventually placed in the Lowcountry on November 14, 2025, with the understanding that he would immediately be placed on the waiting list to move closer to his only living relative. Weeks later, his family learned that had not happened yet.
Today, Justin is living at Charles Lea in Spartanburg, and he is thriving.
His story matters because it shows something families across South Carolina need to know: the disability service system can be incredibly difficult to navigate, especially during a crisis. Some agencies and providers do wonderful, life-changing work. Others may leave families feeling unheard, unsupported, or completely lost.
Families deserve clear information before a crisis happens.
People with disabilities deserve consistent support no matter where they live in South Carolina.
And our state has work to do to make sure families are not left trying to figure everything out alone during the hardest moments of their lives.
We are grateful to Justin’s family for sharing his story and helping shine a light on why planning, communication, and consistency matter so much.
