Our Content
Perspectives For Parents:
Advice & Support from Parents & Caregivers
Working 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…
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School’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…
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How 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…
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6 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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National Nutrition Month: Get Food Help from SNAP
March 1, 2016
March is National Nutrition Month, so it’s a great time to remind you that you may be able to get food help from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).SNAP, which used to be known as food stamps, is a U.S. nutrition program that gives families money each month to help pay for groceries. This money is stored…
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 more5 Things I Wish I Knew Then – Tips for “First-timer” Parents
February 10, 2016
The team at Exceptional Lives is out in the community all the time. We’re asking questions and listening to parent feedback, with the goal of making our free online Guides better for parents. One thing we hear often is “I wish I knew [fill in the blank] when I was going through this for the…
Read moreKnow these 3 Basics about Guardianship
January 29, 2016
1. Why is Guardianship important?When a child turns 18 in Massachusetts, parents no longer have the legal right to make decisions for him or her. Yet many children with disabilities need help making decisions after they turn 18. These decisions fall in key areas of life like:EducationHousingHealth careInsuranceSafetyThis is where guardianship comes in.Guardianship means that…
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…
Read moreExceptional Lives team members: only a call or email away
December 17, 2015
Your time is limited! Today’s families juggle jobs, children and often, elderly parents. Caring for a child with a disability is especially time-consuming and stressful. We created Exceptional Lives so that exceptional families can find answers 24 hours a day to some of their most difficult challenges. Our first free online Guides focus on the following topics: How…
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Welcome to Exceptional Lives!
December 7, 2015
Welcome to Exceptional Lives. Our goal is to provide helpful services to you and your exceptional family. Raising children is always complicated, and can be even more so when your child has disabilities. We are parents of children with disabilities, and professionals in this field. We understand the stress and frustration often involved in…
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