Should My Child Have Both an ABLE Account And a Special Needs Trust?
Let’s first define “why” you would want either type of account. One of the main reasons families create a Special Needs Trust and open an ABLE account is because these are the only two accounts in which your child with autism can have money in excess of $2,000 and still qualify for government benefits such […]
Continue readingAn Exclusive Look at AUTISM with Nicole Sugrue
Encouragement Speaker Derrick Hayes gives an AUTISM Interview by asking six questions through each letter in the word AUTISM to give readers an insightful perspective from parents, experts, entrepreneurs, and other leaders in the field. Today’s AUTISM Interview is with Nicole Sugrue. She is the co-founder of two nonprofits in Port Washington, New York that […]
Continue readingPoetry Corner: The Day You Ran Away
A family day out; it’s a beautiful day The sun is shining; it’s brisk, not cold You’re running around and laughing That sound never gets old We’re waiting for our table I promise it won’t be long I know you’re getting irritable Please wait; please hold on Then I hear those awful words […]
Continue readingPoetry Corner: Sophie’s Poem
When you see me on the bench, do not feel sad for I am in another land. A land where I am free to do what I want. With wizards and superheroes. With laughter and action and sometimes tears. Outside my world I am quiet and shy. Inside my world it’s a wild ride. Inside […]
Continue readingDad and Son Time: A Game Changer
My son with autism once again changed my life last winter. It was one of those warm winter days where scarves and gloves obscured the short sleeves. On this day, I was to teach my son the grit and speed and skill of a ballplayer on the hallowed grounds of the basketball court. My son […]
Continue readingYou Can Do It – Fighting for Special Needs Rights
You’d think it would have been easier. I live in California, after all, the only state with an entitlement act for developmentally disabled children and adults. Enacted in 1977, a stated purpose of the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act is to provide “…an array of services and supports sufficiently complete to meet the needs and choices […]
Continue readingA Mom’s Look at Autism: What I’d Tell My Younger Self
When I first learned our sweet, beautiful daughter had autism, I felt as if a fierce tsunami had swept me up, taking with it my family’s happiness and peace. Fear rushed through me as I envisioned a future limited to therapies and hardships. Questions flooded my mind. Would our two-and-a-half year old daughter ever be […]
Continue readingForever Love: A Sister of Autism
Having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is usually associated with disabilities, speech delays, motor skill disabilities, behavioral issues, etc. Although it does entail all those characteristics fairly often, ASD can affect individuals in a plethora of ways. Even though ASD is more common in boys than girls, and the cause remains unknown, ASD has become a […]
Continue readingHow TV and Movies Have Helped Me Gain Social Skills
When I was younger, just a child, I used to spend a lot of time in front of the TV. When I became a teenager and discovered the magic of the movies and films, I would try to watch them as much as possible. I didn’t think about this until recently, but watching TV and […]
Continue readingSingle Parenting a Child With Special Needs – You Can Do It
Being a single parent can be challenging and downright scary. But what happens when you are a single parent with a child (or children) on the autism spectrum? I know this topic doesn’t intimately touch everyone, but perhaps you know someone that is on this journey. Maybe you will relate to much of this article […]
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