By Benjamin A. Rubin, Esq. When a family member has special needs, siblings grow up fast. Parents sometimes speak of how life changed for them when they began caring for a child with disabilities, but for me, and for many siblings, the special needs household is our only frame of reference. Growing up, even the [...]
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Posted: May 9th, 2012 | 2 Comments »
By Scott C. Suzuki, Esq. I’ve been involved with Special Olympics for over a decade. Although anyone can benefit from sports— building self-confidence and a sense of belonging while improving overall health and fitness, strength and coordination—for individuals with disabilities, there are added dimensions… Changing a Life When I first started coaching, one of the [...]
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Posted: April 24th, 2012 | No Comments »
Service Dogs Can Change a Life By James Caffry, Esq., and Richard A. Courtney, CELA The relationship between canines and humans has been evolving for at least 14,000 years, and service dogs are a prime example of how we’ve benefited. Many people confuse the various types and roles of assistance dogs. According to Assistance Dogs [...]
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Posted: April 10th, 2012 | No Comments »
By Mohan Mehra, President, The Arc Board of Directors, Washington, D.C. The Arc recently completed a national study of over 5,000 parents, siblings and caregivers of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The study, titled FINDS (Family and Individual Needs for Disability Supports), asked about their needs and access to a broad range of supports [...]
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Posted: March 25th, 2012 | 3 Comments »
By Catherine Leas, CELA The arts are a gift to all of us, but for individuals with special needs, they hold special promise. When Willy, who has severe developmental disabilities, plays guitar in a country western band on Friday nights, he becomes another person. Willy (far right) plays with a country western band each week. Willy [...]
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Posted: March 12th, 2012 | No Comments »
By Andrew H. Hook, CELA Federal law stipulates that all children with disabilities are entitled to a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive setting possible. That’s a broad—and vague—directive. As a result, special ed procedures and services vary widely throughout the U.S., sometimes differing markedly throughout a single state. What remains consistent, though, [...]
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Posted: February 27th, 2012 | No Comments »
By R. Shawn Majette, Esq. Advance planning is essential in providing for the well-being of an individual with severe mental illness. The shifting presentation of its symptoms, however, demands an adjustable approach. While even a person with severe mental illness may usually be perfectly competent, modest changes in circumstances can rapidly cause a sharp and [...]
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Posted: February 13th, 2012 | No Comments »
By Carol Battaglia, Esq. Medicaid, jointly funded by the federal government and individual states, is arguably the most important public benefit available to individuals with disabilities. While eligibility guidelines, services and payment rates vary widely, the federal government requires that all state Medicaid programs pay for physician visits, prescriptions, hospitalization, lab work, x-rays and nursing [...]
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Posted: January 30th, 2012 | No Comments »
By Lois M. Zerrer It’s an election year, and budget discussions at all levels of government are threatening decades of progress on behalf of individuals with disabilities. The stakes are high, and campaigning officials will be especially open to conversations with their constituents. If you’ve never before advocated with elected representatives, this is a good [...]
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Posted: January 16th, 2012 | No Comments »
By Brian Rubin, Attorney and Parent of a 31-Year-Old Son with Autism A letter of intent (LOI), also referred to as a letter of guidance, is a roadmap for your child’s “Future Team,” the future trustees, guardians, and caregivers (both family and professional service providers). No one knows and understands your child as you do, [...]
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Posted: January 2nd, 2012 | 1 Comment »