A special needs trust (sometimes called a supplemental needs trust) is designed to allow individuals with special needs to access additional funds without risking the loss of their government benefits. Many people with special needs face numerous expenses due to their disability or impairment. At the same time, these individuals also often rely on government benefits such as Medicaid benefits …
Tips for Coping with COVID Stress
COVID-19 is upending the lives of every American. Many public health officials remain cautious, anticipating the need to continue prevention efforts for an extended time. For people with disabilities, the impact can be severe, increasing barriers to accessing critical public health information, healthcare and support services. The coronavirus brings new challenges as well such as difficulty engaging in preventative measures …
Sensory-Friendly Home Modifications for Kids with Special Needs
When you have a child or family member on the autism spectrum, creating a safe and functional home environment is an important task. Autism can have a huge impact on an individual’s development, lifestyle, and social connections. People on the spectrum can be particularly sensitive to lights, sounds, and other stimuli. Many crave order and routines to make sense of the world. …
Disability Apartments: Looks and Features You Might Find
There’s a misconception that handicap accessibility for apartments is related to ADA compliance. It’s an easy mistake to make; the ADA applies to public buildings, common areas in apartment buildings, and most units in newer apartment complexes. If you’re looking at older buildings, the ADA doesn’t necessarily apply (Learn more here). That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. Many apartment …
Finding Accessible Apartments
Finding an affordable, livable apartment can take some effort. And it can seem even more difficult when you’re searching for handicap-accessible apartments. But there’s good news. If you know a few things going in — which features you’re looking for, where and how to look, which questions to ask and what to expect from the application process, plus what rights …
Making Special Education Work for Your Child during COVID-19
Even in normal times, parents wrestle with decisions about how best to support their children’s development. Now, however, parents are faced with nearly-unprecedented choices, and problems with no clear solutions: What if in-person schooling is better for emotional health, but remote schooling is better for physical health? How can children foster social skills without typical social interactions? How can parents …
Home Modifications for Seniors and People with Disabilities
According to 2019 U.S. Census population estimates, there are nearly 54 million Americans who are 65 years of age or older, and by 2060, that number will surpass 98 million. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that older Americans experience 29 million falls a year, resulting in 7 million injuries – and states that falls are the leading cause …
Autism and Sleep: Empowering Children with ASD for Better Sleep
Coronavirus has had an enormous impact on all Americans’ sleep habits, but COVID-19 has been especially hard on children with autism who already deal with sleep-related issues. Read more for tips on better sleep.
Cerebral Palsy Support for Parents and Caregivers
Raising and caring for a child with cerebral palsy requires time, effort, empathy and patience. Here is some information that can help make you a successful cerebral palsy caregiver. Read more.
IEP and Moving to a Different State
An IEP is short for an Individualized Education Program. It is a set of special education services intended for children with special needs. Schools across the country use the term IEP, but the rules may differ across different states. So, while there will be no changes should you relocatewithout changing the school district, if you are moving to a different …