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 even […]
News & Blog
How Exceptional Lives listened to parents and took action!
On June 1, Exceptional Lives launched the newest version of its free online Guides for parents of children or adult family members with disabilities. In this post, Kim Corwin of Northborough MA, working mother of a child with disability, writes about her experience searching for timely, relevant disability information. As a parent of a child with a […]
Save money for your child without risking their benefits: Open an ABLE account
Many state and federal benefits programs for people with disabilities have income and resource limits. Although these limits aim to ensure that the people who need benefits the most get them, often they end up making those who are able to save money feel like they’re being punished. We want people to make smart choices […]
Exceptional Lives launches new version of its free online Guides
June 1, 2016 – Exceptional Lives launched today a new version of its free online Guides designed for parents of children or adult family members with disabilities. The new release, driven by parent feedback, features improvements including: An interactive checklist that parents can use to track their progress New graphics to fit a variety of learning styles A My Files […]
Good Sports lead to a Good Life
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 health […]
Ask these 10 questions when searching for a quality ABA provider
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 […]
Top 10 Tips: Financial Planning for Families of People with Special Needs
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 […]
The True Meaning of Autism Awareness Month
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 Engaged […]
Do I need to reapply for SSI when my child turns 18?
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 […]
4 Pieces Every IEP Goal Should Have
One question we hear often from parents getting ready for their child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting is “what should the IEP say?” You want advice on what exactly to write in the IEP, what goals to include, and examples of what other parents have written in theirs. It’s a hard question to answer quickly, […]
Exceptional Lives is proud to be a recipient of the International 2018 Zero Project Innovative Practice Awards.