The holiday season is officially upon us, and our calendars are even busier than normal (which is hard to believe!). I know that the holiday season brings a great deal of joy, happiness, family time, and stress. It can also bring with it a time for reflection, reflection on the year that has passed, and… Continue Reading
As families plan for the secure future of a loved one with autism, it is commonplace that the plan is updated due to changes in the family situation or in the life of the individual with the diagnosis. For example: If your loved one begins working, the new income will need to be factored into… Continue Reading
Nothing ever seems to change unless people force the change to occur. An advocate is a person who speaks, writes, or pleads for his/herself or on behalf of another. We have seen fierce advocacy in the special needs community throughout history, and this advocacy began with families fighting for the civil rights of their loved… Continue Reading
I am trying to decide on a trustee for my son’s Special Needs Trust. What should I be thinking about? —Madison I commend you on thinking about who will be your best choice as trustee. I find that so many families just choose the closest relative or closest friend without much thought as to the… Continue Reading
Anthony asks: My son with autism is 14 years old and has a 10-year-old sister. We are thinking of setting up a Special Needs Trust, and would like to make our daughter the trustee. Is that possible? Thank you for your question. It is very common to design a trust with the trustee being a… Continue Reading
In our last issue, we discussed the continued rise in technology that will support individuals with autism as they live and work in their communities in the most independent manner possible. However, in order to take advantage of these growing opportunities, individuals with autism must be financially prepared to do so. At A Special Needs… Continue Reading
Transportation for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) seems to pose a challenge and can sometimes hold people back from living and working in the community. So many adults with autism do not have a driver’s license and are therefore forced to use public transportation (if they can manage that system) in order to hold… Continue Reading
I was fortunate enough to join a contingent with The Arc of North Carolina and attend the 2017 Disability Policy Seminar in Washington, DC in March. It was an incredible learning experience, as I came to better understand the inner workings of our political system and the impact our legislators have on the government benefit… Continue Reading
We are considering moving our family to another school district in the hopes of improving the in-school experience and services for our daughter. What should we be considering? —James As you know, moving your family is a big decision. It may change many aspects of your family life including the commute time for Mom and/or… Continue Reading
In our previous Autism Parenting Magazine column, we discussed government benefits and how to access those benefits. One item we learned was that in order to access the array of services, your child will have to be eligible, which means he/she cannot have countable assets of more than $2,000 in his/her name—and to remain eligible,… Continue Reading