My husband and I were looking forward to being empty nesters. Then my brother with Down syndrome asked if he could move in.

"The week before my husband and I were supposed to become empty nesters, piles of laundry, bedding, suitcases, pink sparkly boots, Oregon Ducks hats, and shirts crowded the living room of our small cottage. Some of the piles belonged to our daughter, on her way to a university residence hall. Some belonged to my 50-year-old brother Mark, who has Down syndrome, and asked in August if he could move in with us."

"My brother was born without any health issues, a robust, blond-haired baby, in 1975. "He'll never be able to walk or talk," doctors told my parents and suggested he should be institutionalized. Instead, my mother brought him home, enrolled him in pediatric physical therapy, and treated him just as she treated me. We camped, hiked, baked cookies, and did arts and crafts. Mark and I became friends and allies, particularly after our parents' bitter divorce."

"When Mom died seven years ago, he moved to a group home, but I felt he could do better living with me. My family discussed the pros and cons of inviting him to move in with us, just as we would if one of my husband's siblings wanted to become our housemate. In the end, we welcomed him with delight."

"I'm a former job coach for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I know how few employers take a chance on hiring someone with a condition they don't understand. My brother wants to work, to feel of use in the world, and I'm eager to help with the job search, but it's going to take some time. In the meantime, he needs to stay busy."

My 50-year-old brother Mark, who has Down syndrome, moved into my home after asking to in August. He and I were close growing up; our mother raised him with the same expectations as me despite doctors' early predictions that he would be unable to walk or talk. After our mother died, he lived in a group home, but the family agreed he might thrive living with us. He wants to work and feel useful, and my background as a job coach informs efforts to help him find employment. In the meantime, I am helping with classes, activities, transportation, and daily routines to keep him engaged.

Read at Business Insider