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Perspectives For Parents:
Advice & Support from Parents & Caregivers
Single Mom Designs Glasses That Work for People with Down Syndrome
September 26, 2016
Many physical characteristics associated with Down's Syndrome make it difficult for those diagnosed to wear traditional eyeglasses. Even though more than half of the 6,000 children born with Down's in the U.S. will need glasses, most available eyeglasses for this group do not fit well. What's more—they're usually unattractive.When Maria Dellapina, a past frame buyer and optician,…
Read more5 Tips for Finding a Babysitter for your Child with Special Needs
September 26, 2016
Finding a babysitter for your child with special needs can be nerve-racking. I know, I’ve been there! I also know how empowering it can be for you and your child to be able to spend time on your own and bring someone into your home that you trust. Over the past three years I…
Read morePerson with Autism Shares Advice on IEP Meetings
September 23, 2016
Feeling anxious about your child's IEP meeting?If there's one thing that's certain, you're not the only one feeling that way. Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings will determine the way your child will learn, so of course you feel uneasy.This letter from Kerry Magro, a young adult with autism, offers encouragement and advice on how to keep…
Read moreStaying Positive During Hospital Stays
September 20, 2016
As a parent with a child with special needs stuck in the hospital, there is usually only so much you can do to make them feel better. But small gestures have the potential to make all the difference.Check out this list of tips written by someone who went through three hospitalizations in the past few…
Read moreRomper’s “11 Children’s Books to Understand Learning Disabilities”
September 12, 2016
Understanding diversity can be a tough concept for kids, especially if they have not met many other kids that are different. Romper.com, a news and motherhood site, recently shared their list of "11 Children's Books That Help Kids Understand Learning Disabilities". Reading these books with your children - whether they have a disability or not - can…
Read moreProgram Helps Children with Disabilities Feel More Comfortable with Flying
September 12, 2016
For many of us, flying on a plane can be a scary thing. For children with disabilities, it can be a difficult and unpredictable experience.To help make children with disabilities feel better about flying, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is launching a new program called "Wings for All". This program lets kids practice everything needed to…
Read moreA Closer Look at Transportation Obstacles for People with Disabilities
August 30, 2016
Researchers at the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) at San Jose State University in California recently wrote an article titled “Improving Pathways to Transit for Persons with Disabilities”. They took a look at how people with disabilities travel in five different states: Florida, New Jersey, Tennessee, Oregon, and Washington.The goal of their research is to…
Read moreMassHealth Children’s Autism Medicaid Waiver: Open Enrollment is Coming!
August 16, 2016
The open enrollment period for the Children’s Autism Medicaid Waiver is taking place from October 17-31, 2016. A waiver is a type of support that helps people get services in their home or community.What is the Children’s Autism Medicaid Waiver?This waiver covers extra services that are meant to help children diagnosed with an autism spectrum…
Read moreRethink Discipline: Behavioral Supports for Students with Disabilities
August 9, 2016
With another school year right around the corner, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) recently put out advice to help schools make sure they’re giving students with disabilities the behavioral supports they need.The guidelines remind everyone that under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), schools should try to keep a student in the classroom…
Read moreCivil Rights for Students with ADHD
August 2, 2016
Last week the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) put out rules for schools to follow to make sure that students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) get an equal education. This guidance is in response to the thousands of complaints OCR received over the past 5 years about students with ADHD being…
Read moreWorking on SSI: Social Security’s PASS Program
July 12, 2016
This week’s blog is part of a Q&A series with Kristen Alberino, veteran public affairs specialist with the Social Security Administration (SSA) in Quincy. They're based on actual parent questions about SSI (Supplemental Security Income) we’ve fielded at Exceptional Lives.Q: "Right now my daughter with a disability receives SSI. She just finished high school…
Read moreSchool’s Out: Assessing This Year’s IEP
June 29, 2016
Another school year is behind you. You’ve been scrambling to attend end-of-the-year activities. Your child is bursting at the seams to be done with school. Now, school’s out and summer’s here!With all the excitement of summer vacation, you can quickly get too busy to set aside time and reflect on the school year gone…
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 moreGood Sports Lead to a Good Life
May 26, 2016
At Special Olympics Massachusetts, we believe in the power of sports. We see how playing on a team has a positive impact on athletes with intellectual disabilities. Whether through a Special Olympics program, town recreation league or the local YMCA, we highly recommend team sports as part of an active lifestyle – for both physical…
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 moreTop 10 Tips: Financial Planning for Families of People with Special Needs
April 28, 2016
The financial planning process for families caring for children or adults with disabilities may seem overwhelming. We have been there both personally and professionally. To make the process easier, we break it down into what we call the Five Factors of Special Needs Financial Planning™: financial, government benefits, legal, family & support, and emotional.Touching on…
Read moreThe True Meaning of Autism Awareness Month
April 19, 2016
Autism Awareness Month marks an important time for individuals, families and communities to honor and unite for many reasons. At the Autism Program at Boston Medical Center, we work with hundreds of families each year through direct patient support, family navigation and community-wide initiatives, such as our Parent Leadership in Autism Network (PLAN), Teens…
Read moreDo I need to reapply for SSI when my child turns 18?
April 12, 2016
April 4-13, 2016 is “My Social Security Week.” To mark it, here is the first in a regular series of Q&As with Kristen Alberino, veteran public affairs specialist with the Social Security Administration (SSA) in Quincy. They're based on actual parent questions about SSI (Supplemental Security Income) we’ve fielded at Exceptional Lives.Q. My 17-year old…
Read moreHow Can Social Workers Help Me? National Social Work Month
March 22, 2016
March is National Social Work Month, and their motto this year is “Forging Solutions Out of Challenges.” This is something parents of children with disabilities have to do all the time. You’re faced with a challenge, and you work hard to solve it.As a social worker myself, I’ve worked with many parents to try and help…
Read more6 Sets of Questions to Help You Decide About Guardianship
March 11, 2016
Your child with a developmental disability is approaching 18. In Massachusetts this is called the ‘age of majority.’ It’s when he or she becomes a decision-making adult in the eyes of the law.You need to decide if some type of guardianship or shared decision-making is right for them as they enter adulthood. But how…
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