The stress, emotion, and confusion that accompany a diagnosis for your child can be overwhelming. We are excited to share an article by Ricki Meyer, Exceptional Lives’ Former Director of Policy and Legal Operations, that discusses how our free resources can help parents and caregivers navigate the disability systems and range of emotions they experience when they get a new diagnosis for their child.
From the article:
“You’ve just received your child’s diagnosis: autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, or visual impairment. Sifting through websites, you start thinking of many questions. How will you find occupational therapists for your child? How will you learn what occupational therapy is? Will your child ever live on his own? Will she have a job?
What about your other children — how will you support them while caring for your child who is going to need extra resources?
As you become immersed in trying to understand what this means for your child and family, you hear many new terms: Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Individualized Education Program (IEP), Medicaid, special education. You have started to explore government websites but there is too much text and the quantity of information is overwhelming.”
Read the full article, and please share with family, friends, and coworkers who can benefit from our resources.
Find resources for children and families with disabilities
If you are a caregiver to a child with disabilities, or if you teach or provide services to children with disabilities, we have resources for you. Here are some good places to get started:
Services for children with disabilities (and their families too)
Financial help for families of children with disabilities
Louisiana Disability Services Finder (English/Spanish)
Massachusetts Disability Services Finder (English/Spanish)
