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Perspectives For Parents:
Advice & Support from Parents & Caregivers
To Medicate or Not to Medicate My Child? A Conversation I’ve Had with Myself
September 10, 2018
Searching online for ’Should I medicate my child?’ yields about 1,880,000 results. If you are like me, you skim the headlines and maybe click on a few, trying to discern what is ‘real’. We want to hear from someone we can relate to, who has similar values. Maybe someone who understands our individual children and…
Read moreWhat is Occupational Therapy?
June 27, 2018
You’ve likely heard lots of new terms at your child’s IEP, 504, or Transition meetings. It is hard to keep them all straight! While many of us think of Occupational Therapists as providing help with handwriting or using scissors, OTs do so much more.Occupational therapy (OT) is a form of therapy that helps people…
Read moreExpanded Access to Independent Evaluations in Massachusetts
May 30, 2018
New regulations increase the amount you can be reimbursed for independent educational evaluations (IEEs).An IEE is a tool parents can use when they disagree with an evaluation the school district has conducted. They can request that a psychologist, therapist, or other provider outside – or independent from – the school district conduct their own…
Read moreWhere to Start: Choosing the Best Supports and Therapies for Your Child
November 20, 2017
Each new stage in life brings developmental changes and opportunity for growth and learning. It also opens new doors to an ever-changing list of possible therapies or community activities. Development is made up of so many key aspects of ourselves. How do we decide which ones to prioritize over the others? “I want to set…
Read more4 Ways to Confidently Communicate with Your Child’s Doctors
May 31, 2017
When our son Jack developed a mysterious illness in November of last year, our world turned upside down. Our once funny, vibrant, energetic boy could hardly get out of bed. Within a few short weeks, he was no longer able to attend school or participate in activities he had once loved. Over the course…
Read moreAbout the Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI) – and How to Get it for Your Child
May 17, 2017
The US Medicaid program requires that all states must screen and treat Medicaid-eligible children for mental health issues. But that wasn’t always the case in Massachusetts.A BRIEF HISTORYIn 2001, a federal class action suit was filed against the Commonwealth of Massachusetts because families of children receiving Medicaid (called MassHealth) claimed the state was not…
Read moreCould Your Child with Special Needs Benefit from Play Therapy?
March 15, 2017
Children are mini social scientists. They look at the world around them and try to make sense of it. But young children with special needs face extra challenges in interpreting this world. When they have trouble understanding what is real and what is pretend or imagined, their thoughts and concerns can be overwhelming. While poor sleep…
Read moreNew Info About In-Home Caregiver Options Covered by MassHealth Added to Exceptional Lives Guides
June 23, 2016
With the help of parents and partner providers, we keep our eyes and ears open for opportunities to make our free Guides even more valuable for families. The latest example: we’ve added new information on paid, in-home caregiver options that you can get through MassHealth. These programs not only can save you money, they can…
Read moreAsk These 10 Questions When Searching for a Quality ABA Provider
May 12, 2016
Trying to find help when your child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is hard. Trying to find good help? For many families, that is even harder.Since the Act Relative to Insurance Coverage for Autism (ARICA) law passed in Massachusetts in 2010, families have been presented with new options for treating ASD. One…
Read moreThinking about Special Education: Getting a Referral for Evaluation
February 23, 2016
You feel your child is struggling in school. You’ve tried to ask your child about school, but they only get upset. When you talk to your child’s teacher about his or her progress, they agree with you that your child is having a hard time in class. Your child’s teacher has suggested that you think…
Read moreChoosing the Right Health Care Combo: Making the Most of Your Coverage
February 17, 2016
Having the right health insurance package can be the key to specialized services. Sometimes you can get everything you need from one plan. Other times there might be more behavioral or medical services that you need for your child with a disability that are not included in your current plan.Many families find that in order to…
Read moreSave Hundreds on Health Insurance with MassHealth as Secondary Coverage
January 21, 2016
Caring for a child with a disability can get expensive. But having the right kind of health insurance can make a big difference. With so many plans out there, it’s hard to know which is the right plan, or if one plan is enough.The good news is that you have options. You may think that including…
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