Parents often carry a heavy weight of shame and self-blame when their children face tough times. It's natural for them to feel responsible, but it's important to remember that not everything is within a parent’s control. By staying present and connecting with themselves, parents can let go of the burden of shame and find a more positive, hopeful way forward.

In this episode of Parenting Impossible, Annette Hines sits down with Celia Landman, a mindfulness educator and author of When the Whole World Tips: Parenting through Crisis with Mindfulness and Balance. They share an honest and heartfelt conversation about the real struggles of parenting during a crisis and how mindfulness and meditation can truly make a difference. Celia opens up about how parents can reconnect with their true selves and face difficult times without carrying the extra weight of blame or shame. By recognizing societal pressures, allowing themselves to feel a range of emotions, and offering compassionate support to one another, parents can find the grace and resilience they need to keep moving forward. This episode is a reminder that even in the toughest moments, there is hope and community. Parenting through a crisis is never easy, but it’s a journey no one has to take alone. 

 

In this episode, you will hear:

• Explore the key differences between mindfulness and meditation.

• How mindfulness and meditation can benefit healing and self-awareness.

• How societal pressures fuel feelings of shame and blame.

• Why being present in someone’s pain is powerful.
  
  

Resources from this Episode:

Website: https://celialandman.com/

LinkedIn: @celia-landman-232185149

Instagram: @celiasacct

Facebook: @celia.landman

Read: When the Whole World Tips: Parenting through Crisis with Mindfulness and Balance

 

Engage with us:

Join our community: Circle of Care

Visit:  https://annettehines.com

Read Butterflies and Second Chances

LinkedIn: @annette-hines-snc 

Instagram: @parentingimpossible

Facebook: @SpecialNeedsCompanies

Twitter: @SpecialNeedsCo

 

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

 

Understanding the administration of special needs trusts can make a world of difference for people with disabilities, providing them with financial stability and peace of mind. These trusts—like third-party and first-party trusts—come with specific rules that trustees must follow to ensure the beneficiary can keep accessing essential public benefits.

In this episode of Parenting Impossible, I talk about the importance of building a solid relationship between trustees and beneficiaries. Understanding the basics of trust administration is valuable for everyone—not just those currently acting as trustees. I also stress how crucial it is to use clear, precise language and to accurately identify beneficiaries in trust documents. These details are essential to ensuring that beneficiaries keep access to the public resources they rely on. If you’re ready to take control of your trust administration knowledge and make a lasting impact, register for my Special Needs Advocacy and Planning Masterclass. This provides the tools and guidance you need to create a comprehensive life plan with confidence.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Learn the difference between third-party and first-party special needs trusts.

• What factors trustees should consider when making distribution decisions within special needs trusts.

• What responsibilities trustees have when managing special needs trusts.

• How trustees can protect the beneficiary's public benefits within special needs trusts.

• Why it is essential for trustees to consult with professionals and understand tax implications.
  
  

Resources from this Episode:

Register for the Special Needs Advocacy and Planning Masterclass

 

Engage with us:

Join our community: Circle of Care

Visit:  https://annettehines.com

Read Butterflies and Second Chances

LinkedIn: @annette-hines-snc 

Instagram: @parentingimpossible

Facebook: @SpecialNeedsCompanies

Twitter: @SpecialNeedsCo

 

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

 

Being a caregiver is a demanding role that requires immense strength, patience, and compassion. Caregivers often face challenges that can be physically, emotionally, and mentally draining. However, being resilient is crucial for caregivers to navigate the ups and downs of their caregiving journey.

In this episode, Annette Hines and Michelle Mercier have an in-depth conversation about what it really means to be resilient as a caregiver. Michelle, a business growth consultant, brings a unique perspective to the table, sharing her thoughts on the tough challenges caregivers face every day. She compares resilience to building a muscle, something that takes consistent effort and practice. As a caregiver, resilience is a powerful tool that can help navigate the challenges and uncertainties of caring for a loved one. By prioritizing self-care, seeking support, and practicing resilience, caregivers can better cope with the demands of their role and continue to provide the best care for their loved ones. 

 

In this episode, you will hear:

• The importance of resilience for caregivers

• How to prioritize time freedom over money freedom

• Why work-life integration is essential for personal well-being

• How to model self-care habits to benefit children's well-being

• What challenges are faced by caregivers of children with medical conditions
  
  

Resources from this Episode:

 

Website: https://www.MichelleAMercier

Facebook: @MichelleAMercier.1

Instagram: @michelle_a_mercier

LinkedIn: @michelle-a-mercier

 

Engage with us:

Join our community: Circle of Care

Visit:  https://annettehines.com

Read Butterflies and Second Chances

LinkedIn: @annette-hines-snc 

Instagram: @parentingimpossible

Facebook: @SpecialNeedsCompanies

Twitter: @SpecialNeedsCo

 

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

 

How does your child's diagnosis affect your family? Where do you find other parents or caregivers facing similar joys and challenges? Kate Swenson writes that autism "affects the whole entire family," and notes that it was nearly impossible for her to find an autism community when her son Cooper was first diagnosed. Parenting Impossible Host Annette Hines talks with Swenson about creating the blog, Finding Cooper's Voice to be a shared space for families like hers that has reached thousands.  This spring, Swenson published her memoir, Forever Boy, about Cooper's world and how she navigates motherhood with four children. Hines and Swenson discuss the challenges of using an online forum to share about autism, and how publishing a book allowed Swenson more control of the narrative of her family's experience to tell the whole story. Swenson's writing creates an authentic, open, and honest space that truly resonates with others.  We are thankful that Swenson is so generous in sharing her stories to be an advocate and create an online space for the autism community through her blog, Facebook, and Instagram, and we highly recommend Forever Boy as your next read.  You can find her book on amazon and learn more about Swenson and her family at www.findingcoopersvoice.com.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

Annette Hines host of Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival Podcast Co-Founder and President Elliot Kallen of A Brighter Day an organization created in memory of Kallen's son who committed suicide have an eye-opening discussion about teen depression, stress, and suicide statistics. A Brighter Day in San Ramon, CA provides resources for teens and their parents to reduce stress and depression and prevent teen suicide.

Kallen's research uncovered shocking facts such as higher suicide rates in more affluent communities and the frightening impact of social media on increasing teen depression. Suicide is preventable. Kallen shares ways that families can support their teens by modeling how to enjoy life, slowing down, eating a daily cell-phone-free family meal, asking probing questions to learn about your teen and what's happening in their life.  Concerning signs to look for include anxious body language, changes in sleeping and eating habits, hopelessness--no idea for tomorrow, concerning websites your teen is visiting and friend activities. Find help and resources as a teen or a parent clicking here: https://abrighterday.org. We would love to hear what you think about this episode. Please leave a comment: https://bit.ly/3yfQsIv

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

Annette Hines, host of Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival Podcast hosts a minisode to address how to combat feelings of being unmotivated or uninterested in life. When you recognize that you're a little off, it's probably time to sit and reflect on your goals and make a list to identify your tolerations.  Ask yourself: "What am I tolerating in my life that I should not be putting up with?"  Tolerations can be simple or complex to resolve. Once you start to identify and categorize your tolerations into themes, you can can create action steps and goals to resolve them for the next 90 days or year. When you start making progress and crossing items off of your list, the emotional benefit is huge.

Please send Annette your tolerations. What are you tolerating in your life? She really wants to hear back from you. Click here: https://specialneedscompanies.com/podcasts/ to submit your comments or email her at: hello@specialneedsfamilyservices.com

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

Annette Hines, host of Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival Podcast starts the podcast talking about her recent live video post in the Circle of Care Facebook private group open to anyone in the disability community in which she asked: "If I could do one thing for you today to make your life better, what would it be? Dream big." Coming from a place of gratitude, Annette shares how important the gift of service is through asking others how we can help. 

Being a servant leader to your family and community is one of the healthy, necessary roles for dads that John Felageller shares based on his experience as a single father raising his son, Christopher who has non-verbal autism.  John explains how essential his faith and social communities were to the development of his role as a dad and learning disability parenting.  His communities foster the response of giving back to others after receiving support ourselves and sharing resources.  John's service to others in the disability community has flourished through almost 20 years in education, serving as teacher, mentor, and director, and author.  He currently serves as Ministry Relations Manager at Joni and Friends Chicago and a Special Education teacher in Chicago and is a regular contributor to Key Ministry’s Special Needs Family blog, as well as other special needs blogs including Hope Anew and The Mighty. You can read John's encouraging messages on his Facebook page: John's Blog for Special Needs Parents and learn more about his work on his website: www.johnfelageller.com

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

Annette Hines host of Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival Podcast starts the podcast reflecting on the role of fathers in the disability community.  With Father's Day approaching, Annette Hines will interview three different guests who are fathers and share unique perspectives from mothers.

Our topic in this episode is about honoring the worth of all people and the universal need to be seen that are fundamental in the lasting values Fred Rogers taught in the Neighborhood. Annette Hines talks with Ryan Rydzewski, co-author of When You Wonder, You’re Learning: Mister Rogers’ Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids about Fred Rogers' enduring legacy and how his lessons continue to serve children and adults alike to ensure we sustain an accepting, curious society. 

Ryan Rydzewski is an award-winning author, reporter, and speechwriter whose science and education stories span everything from schools to space travel to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. His book, When You Wonder, You’re Learning explores the tools Fred Rogers implemented such as curiosity, creativity, and collaboration and ways families can follow his lead.  Fred was intentional every day in practicing kindness, and his values of all humanity and loving your neighbor are so pertinent to the disability community because so often we feel unwelcome, unseen, and other in our neighborhoods. Fred Rogers understood 'other' and he welcomed in everyone and made them feel seen.  We highly recommend the book, and you can learn more about Ryan Rydzewski and his book by clicking here: ryanrydzewski.com.

We would love to hear what you think about this episode. Please leave a comment!

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

 Annette Hines, host of Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival Podcast starts the podcast honoring the memory of disability advocate,  and mom Julie Beckett, who passed at the age of 72. Julie is a champion in the disability community who fought to allow children with disabilities to live at home while receiving care covered by Medicaid. The Katie Beckett Waiver, named after her daughter, has changed so many families’ lives for the better. 

Since our topic in this episode is about changing people’s lives, Annette Hines talks with Lenora Edwards of BetterSpeech.com. about using this innovative virtual speech and language service right in the comfort of your own home! Lenora Edwards is a speech and language pathologist along with over 150 other licensed therapists with an average of 10 years of experience, available nationwide. BetterSpeech.com offers a free 30-minute consultation on how BetterSpeech.com might help you or your loved one. The disability community has been greatly impacted by mask-wearing and working with a speech and language pathologist can bring about progress if you cannot find a pathologist in your area for a young child or elder this can be an incredible resource. Areas they offer help with can include voice disorders, stuttering and fluency, reading readiness, speech sound disorders and learning to create proper facial expressions. In addition, their clients also have access to a “practice library” so adults and little ones can practice on their own what they are learning in the virtual therapy sessions. So if you are interested in getting these services (which can be covered by most health insurances) please click on BetterSpeech.com.

 We would love to hear what you think about this episode. Please leave a comment!

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

Getting ready to retire and have a disabled adult child in your care? In this episode, Annette Hines host of Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival Podcast shares her tips on the 3 Things you should consider before you retire should you have a disabled adult child?  Annette goes into detail on updating your financials, looking at healthcare and health insurance, updating your “Circle of Care” and a bonus tip on estate and special needs planning. Please join Annette as she explores this important topic that affects our kids, families, caregivers, and parents in the disability community. 

We would love to hear what you think about our episode. Please leave a comment!

Attorney, mother, author, advocate and founder of Special Needs Law Group,  Special Needs Family Services,  The Special Needs Companies, and host of Parenting Impossible - The Special Needs Survival Podcast.  Annette Hines, brings personal experience with special needs to her work as the mother of two daughters, one of whom passed away from Mitochondrial disease in November 2013. This deep personal understanding of raising a child with disabilities fuels her passion for quality special needs planning.

Annette Hines knows firsthand just how complex and overwhelming the legal systems and processes are for parents of children with special needs. Amidst the grief of losing her beloved Elizabeth, Annette realized that life was giving her a “second chance” to use her extensive legal expertise to help families who are going through the same challenges she faced. She authored her life story of her and Elizabeth’s powerful journey of hope in her memoir,

 Butterflies and Second Chances.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

 Annette Hines, host of Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival Podcast tackles the world of travel for families with kids with Autism as well as other special needs. Dawn Barclay, book author and writer of travel, shares with us her new book, Traveling Different -Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse. Dawn makes traveling more possible with this encouraging book and the wonderful tips she gives in this episode. Be a more confident parent by following her thoughtfully researched strategies and resources. Predictability is key in setting up a stress-free trip for you and your children. Dawn Barclay suggests introducing the concept of travel by starting small and local, along with an overnight at a friend or relative’s house. Think through each activity’s pacing and preparedness. Use programs like Wings for Autism, TSA Cares and Certified Autism Travel Professionals to help you plan a predictable trip. Dawn talks about so much more including the 16 questions you should ask cruises and tours about how autism friendly they are. Join us to learn how to plan your families upcoming summer vacation! Click on the book title to pre-order her book, Traveling Different - Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse. 

We would love to hear what you think about this episode. Please leave a comment!

Dawn Barclay is an award-winning author with 30 years of working in the travel industry. She worked for her parent’s firm, Barclay Travel Ltd and then began travel trade reporting with senior or contributing editor positions at Travel Agent Magazine, Travel Life, Travel Market Report and recently Travel Report. She also writes fiction as D.M. Barr. She is available for speaking engagements and loves to hear from her readers at dawnbarclayauthor@gmail.com. To pre-order her book Traveling Different - Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse, click on the title of the book. 

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

Does your child have big emotions, which are loud or quiet? Do you as a caregiver or parent have a challenging time with these emotions? In today’s episode  Annette Hines, host of Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival Podcast talks with a Psychologist, Parenting Specialist, host of Your Parenting Long Game podcast, and creator of The Long Game Method, Rachel Bailey, about raising children with big emotions. Rachel works with families to develop a long game parenting plan instead of using band-aid strategies to address kids’ emotions. Annette and Rachel talk about tips on how to regulate yourself in difficult family situations as well as Rachel Bailey’s three pillars of working on your child’s big emotions. So, join us to learn some very useful parenting strategies you can start with right now and how you can get further training on The Long Game Method from Rachel herself!

 We would love to hear what you think about our episode. Please leave a comment!

 

 

Rachel Bailey is a mom of two girls, a Clinical Psychologist, Parenting Specialist, host of Your Parenting Long Game Podcast, and teacher of The Long Game Method. For over the past decade she has taught parents and children the tools for improving behavior, motivation, resilience, and self-esteem. Prior to working with parents, she was an ADHD coach, intensive in-home mentor, and psychotherapist for children, adolescents, and adults. Rachel is a frequent speaker at schools, companies, and community groups. 

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

What are the latest updates and happenings in the World of Disability? Annette Hines host of Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival Podcast gives tips on navigating the Social Security office reopening, the current state of employment and job coaching programs, and the latest in healthcare including the funding of healthcare, research, and institutional bias. Please join Annette as she explores these crucially important topics that affect our kids, families, caregivers, and parents in the disability community. 

We would love to hear what you think about our episode. Please leave a comment!

 

Attorney, mother, author, advocate and founder of Special Needs Law Group,  Special Needs Family Services,  The Special Needs Companies, and host of Parenting Impossible - The Special Needs Survival Podcast.  Annette Hines, brings personal experience with special needs to her work as the mother of two daughters, one of whom passed away from Mitochondrial disease in November 2013. This deep personal understanding of raising a child with disabilities fuels her passion for quality special needs planning.

 

Annette Hines knows firsthand just how complex and overwhelming the legal systems and processes are for parents of children with special needs. Amidst the grief of losing her beloved Elizabeth, Annette realized that life was giving her a “second chance” to use her extensive legal expertise to help families who are going through the same challenges she faced. She authored her life story of her and Elizabeth’s powerful journey of hope in her memoir, Butterflies and Second Chances.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

Navigating the world of IEPs (Individualized Education Programs)  and 504 Plans can be overwhelming for parents and educators alike. Both IEPs and 504 plans provide essential educational support but differ in their goals, services, eligibility, and duration. IEPs offer specialized instruction with specific objectives and progress monitoring from pre-K through high school, while 504 plans ensure access and equity and can extend through college.

 

In this episode, Annette Hines and April Rehrig, the founder of Rise Educational Advocacy and Consulting, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of IEPs and 504 plans. April emphasizes the importance of positive language in IEP meetings, advocating for strength-based approaches, and involving students and parents in the planning process. By focusing on strengths, setting high expectations, and fostering a collaborative environment, parents and educators can help students reach their full potential. Join us for an episode that will change how you approach IEPs and 504 Plans. Learn how to advocate for your child using strength-based approaches and collaborative planning.

 

In this episode, you will hear:

• The difference between an IEP and a 504 plan

• How positive language benefits students in IEP meetings

• Tips for transitioning students from IEPs to college

• Why it is important to focus on a child's strengths in an IEP

• How involving students in the IEP planning process empowers them
  
  

Resources from this Episode:

 

Website: https://www.riseeducationaladvocacy.com/

Facebook, Instagram, & Pinterest: @riseedadvocacy 

LinkedIn: @aprilrehrigspecialeducationadvocate

 

Engage with us:

Join our community: Circle of Care

Visit:  https://annettehines.com

Read Butterflies and Second Chances

LinkedIn: @annette-hines-snc 

Instagram: @parentingimpossible

Facebook: @SpecialNeedsCompanies

Twitter: @SpecialNeedsCo

 

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

 

How do you empower your teen with ASD, ADHD and executive functioning challenges to transfer their video games skills into real life success?  Dr. Randy Kulman, clinical psychologist, author, and founder and president of LearningWorks for Kids joins Annette Hines, host of Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival Podcast to talk about his work with teens using the power of playing video games. Having a healthy balance of play is important in developing personal skills your teen will use in their adult life. Dr. Randy Kulman works with teens to detect their developed skills in video game playing, reflects on those skills and connects the skills for the teen into real world. This person-centered planning strategy helps to find a teen’s natural inclination and teaches them to use it in the real world. What are the types of play and how do you leverage one kind of play with the other? How do you encourage a healthy balance in their play diet? Tune in to find out more and learn about how your teen could benefit from LW4K.com  programs using the coupon code Podcast 04. We would love to hear what you think about our episode. Please leave a comment!

 

Dr. Randy Kulman. is the founder of LearningWorks for Kids an educational technology company that specializes in using video games to teach executive-functioning and academic skills. He conducts neuropsychological evaluations of children with executive functioning and attention difficulties at South County Child and Family Consultants in Rhode Island. His latest project is LW4K.com  a live, online, small-group executive function tutoring program that uses games such as Minecraft and Roblox to practice and improve executive functions. Dr. Randy Kulman is the author of  Train Your Brain for Success: A Teenager's Guide to Executive Function,  Playing Smarter in a Digital World, and  The Gaming Overload Workbook.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

Don’t focus on what you can’t do, but what you CAN do is great advice from Dr. Michelle Hu  on raising a deaf and/or hard of hearing child. Annette Hines, host of Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival Podcast, talks with Dr. Michelle Hu, pediatric audiologist, mom, and hard of hearing herself about her life’s journey and creating  Mama Hu Hears website, and an online course, "My Child Has Hearing Loss, Now What?"  where parents can find guidance and resources to be prepared in supporting their deaf and/or hard of hearing child. With majority of deaf children born to hearing parents, advocating for your child requires experience with school resources, and medical professionals. Dr. Michelle Hu has taken her 39 years of experience and created an online course to save time and worry for parents. What is Michelle’s top three tips to families? Listen in to learn her great advice and inspirational words to those in the deaf and hard of hearing community. We would love to hear what you think about our episode. Please leave a comment!

 

Michelle Hu has been a pediatric audiologist for over 12 years working specifically with the diagnosis, hearing amplification, cochlear implant evaluation, programming, and aural rehabilitation. Something unique about her is that she grew up hard of hearing herself. She was fit with hearing aids at 3 years and now utilizes bilateral cochlear implants. Her personal experience lends to her uncanny ability to relate and be a role model for others with hearing loss and source of strength and hope for parents of children with hearing loss. As a military spouse and mother of three, Michelle strives to balance family life, clinical practice, and entrepreneurship. During maternity leave with her second child, she found herself missing the relationships created in the clinic with patients and parents. Thus, Mama Hu Hears was created as a space where she shares personal and professional experiences with hearing loss and the field of audiology.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

How do you help your child be successful in school? Annette Hines, host of Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival Podcast talks with Jessika Shields, licensed educational psychologist, former teacher, parent of four, owner of a parent mentoring company Stronger Minds, Stronger Youth, and host of Parent Them Successful podcast, about how to utilize your schools best resource, the school psychologist. Inside schools, the educational psychologist plays many roles to support students including educational assessments, one-to-one and group therapy as well as crisis management. Outside of the school, an educational psychologist can provide a clinical diagnosis, offer a neutral voice in an educational assessment, and coach parents on advocating for their child’s needs in school. Listen in on the top three tips Jessika Shields shares with Annette Hines about what parents should do to get the most benefits for their children in working with their in-school psychologist. This episode is full of great information for parents! Please tune in! We would love to hear what you think about our episode. Please leave a comment!

 

Jessika Shields is an educator and licensed educational psychologist with nearly 20 years of experience in education. Her extensive career has been built upon these two principles – educating and helping others achieve more. As a wife and mother of four, she knows all too well the challenges that come with trying to do what is in the best interest of your child while trying to navigate the roadblocks that sometimes get in the way of their success, and this is why she founded Stronger Minds, Stronger Youth , a go-to resource for parent mentoring and parent education. Jessika has a passion for helping you break down barriers that may be holding your child back from succeeding academically, socially, and emotionally. Even several Southern California school districts have contracted with Jessika to bring her expert advice to their parent populations, but her favorite type of work is the direct work she does with individuals like you!

 

In addition, she is the host of the  Parent Them Successful podcast where she continues to share a wealth of knowledge to help parents gain a sense of control over their children’s education, growth, and development.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

This episode goes to the dogs! Whether a service, therapy or emotional support dog that is! Join Annette Hines, host of Parenting Impossible - The Special Needs Survival Podcast, as she talks with Rick Courtney about the world of support animals. Rick Courtney is a special needs and elder law attorney and parent of a special needs daughter and shares his experience and knowledge in owning and working with several types of support dogs. What is the difference between a service, therapy, or emotional support dog? Which type of trained dog has ADA protections in public spaces? Did you know having a service dog can foster independence, increase responsibility, improve speech and self-esteem as well as be an ice breaker in social situations! So, listen in and learn about the world of dogs and how they provide support and companionship to our disability community. We would love to hear what you think about this episode. Please leave a comment!

 

Rick Courtney is a special needs and elder law attorney in Mississippi. He has a special needs daughter who owns a service dog, and their family also has a therapy dog. Rick is a former Director of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) where he serves on the Trusts and Special Needs Law Sections Steering Committees and is a past President and member of the Special Needs Alliance, Inc., a national organization of special needs planning attorneys. He is a Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Rick is named in Best Lawyers in America® in elder law and trusts and estates, and the firm is named in Best Law Firms in America® in elder law. In 2009, Rick was awarded the 15th Annual Theresa Award by the New York-based Theresa Foundation, for community service and professional advocacy on behalf of children and adults with special needs. He is the author of A Lawyer’s Guide to Working with Special Needs Clients published in 2020 by the American Bar Association. 

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

It is tax time! Annette Hines, host of Parenting Impossible-The Special Needs Survival Podcast and her favorite guest, law partner and husband, Mark Worthington tackle the four top questions people ask about tax preparation and tax reporting.

1. Can I claim my adult child as a dependent?
2. If I charge my adult child room and board when they are living with me, is that taxable income to me? And how does this impact their Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
3. Taxation of special needs trust and SECURE Act updates.
4. How are caregiver payments such as Adult Family Care (AFC) and Personal Care Attendant (PCA) taxed to the recipient?

Can you imagine the dinner table conversation at their home!? We are so lucky they love talking about taxes and simplifying what can be complicated information. So please join Annette Hines and Mark Worthington as they answer these important and popular tax questions asked by our disability community.

Annette Hines is the founding partner of Special Needs Law Group of Massachusetts, PC, and has been practicing in the areas of Special Needs, Elder Law, and Estate Planning for over twenty years. Her clients include individuals and families of children with special needs, the elderly, and others in the community. She received her BA from the University of Vermont, her MBA from Suffolk University, and her JD from Howard University School of Law.

Ms. Hines was recently presented the NAELA (National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys) Theresa Award for 2021 by the Theresa Foundation in recognition of her outstanding efforts and advocacy for individuals with special needs. She has been recognized as a Distinguished Citizen by ARC Massachusetts and cited for public service by both the Massachusetts State Senate and House of Representatives for her work on behalf of people with disabilities. Ms. Hines was designated a 2016 Top Women of Law from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and has been named to the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list every year since 2014.

Mark Worthington is Senior Counsel at Special Needs Law Group of Massachusetts, P.C. Mark received his J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law and his LL.M. in Taxation from Boston University School of Law. He is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (as certified by the National Elder Law Foundation (Massachusetts does not recognize legal specialties for certification)) and past President (2007) of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Mark has been named to the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list every year since 2008.

In 2018 he stepped down as full-time Professor of Law and Director of the Graduate (LL.M.) Program in Elder Law and Estate Planning at Western New England University School of Law to practice full-time with Special Needs Law Group. He continues as

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

In the last three episodes of Parenting Impossible, The Special Needs Survival Podcast,  Annette Hines has been telling her story to explain how her journey brought her into the disability community as a mother, caregiver, advocate, and attorney. Now we are going to explore with the help of Shari Foos how stories can provide us with a real human connection. Shari Foos is a therapist, relationship specialist, adjunct professor, and creator of The Narrative Method. The Narrative Method is an award-winning approach to building connections between people through their storytelling.  There are twelve Core Concepts within the Narrative Method. Relational Mindfulness is a core concept that promotes the humanistic practice of relating compassionately to build deeper understanding. Another concept, A.W.E.  is embracing Awareness, Wonder, and Empathy to see the world through someone else’s perspectives. Each concept describes the ways in which we connect with one another. Shari shares with us that telling stories to one another allows us to be invited into belonging with others, creating mutual respect and empathy for each other. So please join us for this very insightful show! Learn more about Shari Foos's The Narrative Method, and the DIY Human Deck of Cards.

Shari Foos is a marriage and family therapist, adjunct professor, and creator of The Narrative Method, a California non-profit organization. Shari also co-founded the Bridge in 1999, a free humanities program for low-income adults at Antioch University Los Angeles. She received an MS in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University and a MA in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles. Ms. Foos serves on the board of the City Kids Foundation and is the recipient of the New Directions for Veterans Community Hero Award (2015) and The Antioch University Los Angeles Lifetime Achievement Award (2016). As a sought-after expert on the subject of relationships, remote group dynamics, and meaningful connection, her writing and commentary have appeared in a range of online and print publications and podcasts, including Real Simple, Huffington Post, Women’s Health, KBLA, Fatherly, Thrive Global, Shondaland, and The LA Weekly.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

In the last episode of Annette Hines's three-part series of Telling Her Story, Annette talks about the relationships in her life. Learn all about Annette’s life story from finishing college to the present. It is all about the relationships and how they have carried her through the turmoil and challenges of her life. If you’d like to learn even more about Annette, check out her personal memoir, Butterflies and Second Chances: A Mom’s Memoir of Love and Loss available in paperback.

Married to her first husband right out of law school, followed by a pregnancy there after, life became difficult very quickly. Elizabeth was born prematurely with medical complications, that lead to a diagnoses of Mitochondrial Disease. Annette and her husband made a move from Virginia to Massachusetts to access better medical care and be near Annette’s family for support. Next came their second child, Caroline, who was, as doctors said “perfect.”  Caroline’s entrance into the family brought about a trying sibling relationship as well as another child to nurture alongside of Elizabeth’s constant healthcare needs. The husband was not coping well with all the responsibilities of family life and Annette was having to care for him too. A mentally and physically exhausted caregiver, Annette decided it was best to end the marriage and became a single parent. 

 

It was time to go back to a professional work life to support the girls. Annette's mom moved in to assist as a caregiver and provide support for her daughter. This was a time of adjustment as their family was not like other traditional families. Not really thinking she would ever find a life partner again; Annette is surprised when she meets Mark at a work event. They immediately connect through similar and shared marriage and family experiences. After dating for a period, they wed in a small and intimate church ceremony a few weeks before Elizabeth’s unfortunate passing. Their relationship is crucial in getting Annette through the mourning and grief over the loss of Elizabeth. Mark provides Annette with unwavering support throughout this challenging time. Annette believes that although they are “flawed” individuals they are extraordinarily strong together. People see Mark as a best supporting husband. Annette believes he is her co-star! So please join Annette and hear her story in detail on this Parenting Impossible episode of Telling Her Story, Part 3. If you would like to learn even more about Annette Hines please check out her book, , Butterflies and Second Chances: A Mom’s Memoir of Love and Loss.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

In the second of a three-part series, Telling Her Story with Annette Hines, Annette shares her trials and tribulations of going back to work while continuing to be a caregiver for Elizabeth and Caroline. As many women head back into the workforce after being a caregiver at home, the obstacles can be difficult to overcome especially when you have a special needs child. Elizabeth required round-the-clock care and with very limited care options to choose from, having work flexibility and family support becomes critical to being successful in your professional job. It is really like having two jobs, one running your business and the other running your home. Moving up through the glass ceiling or as Annette says the “mommy ceiling” can be done if you find other women to lift you up, you work harder than the next person, and you stop judging and comparing yourself to everyone around you. It is not a work, life balance it is an integration of work AND life! We ask you to join us and listen to Annette’s story part two! If you’d like to learn even more about Annette, check out her personal memoir, Butterflies and Second Chances: A Mom's Memoir of Love and Loss available in paperback.

Annette Hines’s journey back into the workforce was full of starts and stops. Balancing a job and care for Caroline and her special needs daughter, Elizabeth was not easy. Lack of workforce flexibility, home care options, Elizabeth’s changing health care needs made it tough for Annette to manage it all at once. In a move to control her own narrative, Annette started her own law firm. “You’ve got to do something you love if it is going to pull you away from your family”. Now Annette was doing something she loved with the authority to make it work with her family life. This is part 2 of Telling Her Story as a caregiver, mom, advocate, attorney, a business owner and the author of Butterflies and Second Chances: A Mom's Memoir of Love and Loss

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

Telling your story, sharing your story with others is a good way to get your thoughts and feelings out, connect with those with similar experiences, and be truly seen. Annette Hines, host of Parenting Impossible takes this opportunity to share her story with new listeners and reconnect with her dedicated Parenting Impossible fans. With one in five peopled impacted by a condition that is disabling whether physically, intellectually, developmentally there are so many of us who can relate. Annette’s entrance into the disability community is an important story that explains her role as a caregiver, mom, advocate, attorney, and author. In fact, she has put her entire story in a book, Butterflies and Second Chances: A Mom's Memoir of Love and Loss. So please join Annette and learn about her journey. We know there are so many shared experiences out there!

Annette Hines was a young mom in her twenties when she got pregnant with Elizabeth. At five months Annette was put on bed rest until her first daughter, Elizabeth was born at twenty-nine weeks weighing in at two pounds. After nine weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Elizabeth was able to go home. As she grew, Elizabeth started to have seizures. It was difficult for Annette to find a team of doctors that would believe her description of the seizures Elizabeth was having. Once Annette found a supportive medical specialist, at age two and a half, Elizabeth was diagnosed with Mitochondrial Disease along with other health issues. This begins Annette’s story as a caregiver, mom, advocate, attorney, and the author of Butterflies and Second Chances: A Mom's Memoir of Love and Loss.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

With record levels of unemployment and underemployment in our disability community how do we find ways to create personal achievement? Our guest, Breon Thomas shares with us his incredible neurodiverse life story of creating his own businesses, Seehim Enterprise (See stands for service, engage and encourage) and  Cargo Vanpreneur . With his business’s growth, Breon is sharing his experience and knowledge with others in disability community on how to be their own entrepreneur. And if that were not enough to take on Breon is running one hundred- and twenty-miles marathon in 24 hours in sandals from Atlanta to Chattanooga, called the 1 in 5 Ultra (which stands for 1 in 5 kids has learning disabilities) on June 25th. His efforts will raise money to support one thousand neurodiverse entrepreneurs. Please check out his Instagram page to support this effort! On the release of Parenting Impossible Breon is releasing his first hip hop video on YouTube YouTube talking about what it is like to be neurodiverse! There is so much achievement here to talk about and celebrate! Please join us as we hear Breon’s inspiring story about struggles, self-discovery and living your truth. 

 

 Breon Thomas began his life in Atlanta Georgia. As he entered school for the first time, he realized he was different when moved from the general class to a special education class. Breon talks about what the social implications of him being divided from his friends and labeled as special needs. Later in his life he moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee where he graduated high school and then went to college. After a few jobs, he enlisted in the Navy. The Navy was a difficult place to work and live as a neurodiverse person because the environment is so structured and limited. Breon left the Navy while awarded the National Medal of Honor. He spent the next phase of his life rediscovering who he was and what his next steps would be. It was during this time that Breon created Seehim.enterprises and Cargo Vanpreneur creating his own path to success as an entrepreneur. He credits the strong women in his life, his mom, aunt, and grandmother for supporting him and telling him he could do anything he put his mind to no matter what type of brain he had. 

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

Are you ready for the new school year? 

Back-to-school season can be both exciting and overwhelming for parents, especially those with children who have special needs or medical requirements. From my experience, preparing for a new school year when your child has special needs involves carefully reviewing their IEPs and healthcare plans. It’s really important to go over these and make sure everything’s up to date, and share any progress from summer activities. I’ve learned that building a good relationship with school staff and service providers makes a huge difference. It helps to start those conversations early, have open communication, and be your child’s biggest advocate. While the process can seem daunting, it's important to remember that supportive teams do exist. Finding these "gems" is key to creating a positive and enriching educational experience for your child.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The importance of reviewing IEP/ISPs, healthcare plans, and progress notes to prepare children with special needs for the new school year.

• How parents can build supportive, collaborative relationships with school staff and service providers.

• Why understanding healthcare protocols and emergency procedures for the safety of children with medical needs at school is crucial.

• How parents can identify positive, supportive teams in educational and adult support programs.

 

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Please join us for our last episode in our Spotlight Series: A Focus on Education. Annette Hines speaks with Cat Weir, Program Director and Debra Hart, Co-Principal Investigator of Think College, a part of ICI, Institute for Community Inclusion. Learning does not stop at age 18 for those with intellectual disabilities and offering those who have entered adulthood an opportunity for growth in over one hundred college programs is what Think College is all about. With the only national database on college programs for those with intellectual disabilities, families can find approved college programs with financial aid that offer person centered planning, additional support services, flexible degree, certificate, and non-degree programs. These inclusive and authentic programs help adults learn life skills like time management, social emotional interaction, trial, and error as well as other growth enhancing skills Think College has reported that these programs have enabled students with positive outcomes in life satisfaction and employment opportunities! So, listen in and learn more about what Think College could offer your young adult. As our guests say “If you don’t know, you don’t go!” 

 

Debra Hart is the director of the Education and Transition team and co-principal investigator of the Think College Network and the National Coordinating Center for the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She has over 30 years of experience working with students with disabilities, their families, and professionals to support youth in becoming valued members of their community via participation in inclusive K-12 education, inclusive higher education, and competitive integrated employment.

 

Cate Weir has spent her career working towards the inclusion and full participation of individuals with intellectual disabilities. She has spent over twenty years working to assure that students with intellectual disabilities can attend college in states throughout the US. She has served as the project coordinator and now the Program Director for the Think College Network and the National Coordinating Center for the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, since its inception in 2010, where she coordinates all project activities, including technical assistance, training, dissemination, and data collection.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

This week Annette interviews returning guest, original Parenting Impossible producer, mentor, popular author, and coach on ADD, Dave Greenwood, to talk about his second book, Burnout. As the pandemic has raged on people have become tired, weary, less patient with one another. When we start despising our life, and the people in it and cynicism sets in we feel disconnected from the people in our life. Is this a sign of burnout? Join us as Annette Hines and Dave Greenwood tackle this very timely subject!

In Dave Greenwood's research for his book, he interviewed over twenty people to understand the signs of burnout and ways to cure it. He initially started his research because he could not find information on how to deal with his own. The way we are living in this time of Covid has caused us to lose our natural breaks in our day, our daily boundaries are blurred and gray. Caregivers, new moms, parents with young children are managing activities and responsibilities all day right from the kitchen table. How have we become co-founders of burnout, locking us into a never-ending cycle of stress? What are the physical and mental signs of burnout? How do we learn to not overcommit? Join us as Annette and Dave discuss how to recognize burnout and tips on how to fix it

Dave Greenwood is an author, entrepreneur and has a passion for helping others stay focused whether they have ADHD or not. His first book, Overcoming Distractions-Thriving with Adult ADHD, explores how those successful in business deal with distractions and put the “gift” of ADHD to beneficial use in their lives. In addition to a book, Dave has owned a Boston restaurant, karate school and started his own public relations firm. His second book, Burnout comes out this year and tackles the questions about our stressed-out hustle culture world.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

Please join us for the second episode of our Spotlight Series: A Focus on Education. We are excited to bring you Alexandra Ullrich, the Program Manager and Co-Creator of the Easter Seals program, College Navigator. Alexandra helped start this program in 2018, and now it has over one hundred clients. The College Navigator provides individualized services in person and virtually to college students with disabilities supporting their goals, strengths, and needs and not necessarily in their subject of study. The most common area of support is executive functioning, students learn to avoid cramming a 20-page paper the night before it is due. Other areas of support include teaching self-advocacy in authoring emails, working on group projects, and speaking with teachers, as well as learning to access numerous services that colleges provide like career services and resources in the local community. 

The transition to college is a momentous time in a young person’s life as they head out on their own for the first time without consistent parental support. We hope you will join us to learn more about the Easter Seal’s College Navigator and how they help prepare and support college students for employment and independent living.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

We are thrilled to bring you our first episode in our spotlight series A Focus on Education with an interview with the dynamic advocate and supporter, Mary Sokolowski, Ph.D. from College Internship Program (CIP).  The College Internship Program (CIP) is a private young adult transition program for individuals 18-26 with autism, ADHD, and other learning differences offering comprehensive and specialized services.   

Mary helps us kick off this series with a conversation about what people with learning challenges can and should have the opportunity to achieve. We talk about the article that Mary wrote a few years ago which is what prompted us to invite her to be on the show.  

Please join us as we head down this path of transition, college and beyond for people with disabilities. Mary gives some great takeaways and ideas for parents, families, and adults with disabilities on how to start to navigate through this period of uncertainty and change.  We talk about how much learning is done outside of the classroom and how programs like CIP really “get” this about students with autism, ADHD and other learning challenges. 

We know that this episode is going to shine a little light on transition and bring important and compassionate information to families and self-advocates.   We can’t wait for you to listen! 

Before joining CIP in 2018, Mary worked for twenty years in the field of post-secondary education as an instructor and administrator. She served as adjunct faculty at several colleges and universities in the northeast. Mary also worked as Director of Federal Relations at SUNY-Binghamton and Director of Community and Government Relations at Salve Regina University. For the past two years, Mary has served as the Admissions Coordinator at CIP’s Berkshire location.

As she joins the National Team at CIP, Mary brings with her a passion for working with students with learning differences and a desire to communicate effectively with diverse individuals and groups.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

This week Annette Hines, host of Parenting Impossible, explores in her introduction a new year, a new look at where we are in our finances, financial planning, and support services in the world of Covid as we move into year three of the pandemic.

The guest interview is a re-broadcast of one of our favorite episodes! Leah Moore, an author, mom, teacher, and advocate raising awareness for cri du chat. Leah’s story of raising three kids, one with Cri du chat syndrome is full of relatable stories of triumph and hardships while navigating the world of disability. Recently Leah released a book sharing her family’s journey, Loving You Big. This book is a memoir celebrating life’s victories and the profound impact of kindness. Please join us for this important and uplifting conversation.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

In this week’s podcast, Annette speaks with Attorney Tracey Ingle and speaker, coach, and Psychologist Dr. Sarah Reiff-Hekking about setting goals for yourself for the new year.  Tracey is the founder of Ingle Law and works with clients to create their estate plans and plan out the future.  Sarah is the founder of True Focus Coaching Inc and works with clients to transform their lives and businesses.

Setting goals can feel overwhelming for some people.  Some may not be able to visualize their goals or be able to think of goals in the long term rather than short term.  The first thing Sarah mentions to people is to NOT do resolutions as they are really only a will power thing and will only get you so far.  You should create a completed vision of your goal – what will it look like when you reach it?  Once you have that in mind, you work backwards to create the steps to get to this goal.  This does not have to be figured out right away.  You will want to break it into smaller pieces and spend at least 5-10 minutes every so often working on some of the details to get you to your goal.

Another important key is to pick only one or two goals and make them realistic.  Most of us including those that are caregivers, are already too stressed and pushed to their limits. Adding a huge list of unrealistic goals to accomplish is a sure way to chip away at your personal energy and motivation levels.  Don’t try to do it all yourself.  Delegate if possible.  You may find someone that would love to do that task for you or maybe someone will have an easier and quicker way to do it.

Tracey uses systems with her clients to keep them on track with their estate plan goals.  There are clear steps as to who does what next and by what date.  Keeping clients on track and moving toward their goals keeps the momentum going.  Tracey even sends out congratulations cards to clients when their estate plan goals are met and are complete.

Annette, Tracey and Sarah all agree that getting support and asking for help is important.  It is human to get stuck and need assistance.  It is not a sign of failure and not a sign that you are not good enough if you can’t do it alone.  Sarah leaves us with the thought that “Success never happens in a vacuum.”

If you would like to contact Attorney Tracey Ingle, you may find her on her website

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

We are now at that time of the year when everyone should sit down and review their current special needs plan.  Time to make sure your planning is correct, in good shape and is planned out for what is best for your family.  This is one of Annette’s favorite podcasts to do and it has become an annual episode to help listeners create checklists to go over their own family’s plans. And what if you don’t already have a special needs plan? Well, this is the best time then to start getting things organized and begin thinking about the details you will need to start planning out the future.

Annette has 6 tips to help you review your current plan or begin creating a new one:

1. Take inventory of your assets. What do your accounts look like?  Have you made any large purchases, bought any real estate?  What does your debt look like?  This may be a good time to consider looking into working with a financial advisor if you don’t already have one.
2. Check out the people in your documents.  Are the people you have chosen to list in your future plans still around, do you need to make changes?  If you don’t already have a plan, start thinking about people you want to name as potential trustees or guardians.
3. Have there been any changes to laws?  Are there any laws that may require you to adjust any parts of your plan or laws that may require you to rewrite something entirely?
4. Have there been any major changes in your family?  Has anyone passed away, gotten married, divorced or had a child?  Your plan will also need to change and grow as your children change and grow.  
5. Write down or update your wishes or your “Letter of Intent.”  What will someone need to know about your family, your special needs child if you were to pass away unexpectedly.  Personal details can be very helpful for those who will take over the care of your child, so they will be able to make decisions as if they were you.
6. Talk to your family about your plan.  This can be an uncomfortable topic within families, but it is important that they understand some details such as where the assets are held, what your healthcare wishes are and is there is an opt in clause to name a few.

It’s important to have some sort of planning in place and to keep it as updated as you can.  Annette recommends checking in with your estate planning attorney every 3-5 years at least unless you have major changes that need updating immediately.  If you are just starting to plan, start small. Create checklists and begin by getting things organized and listed on paper.  Ask for referrals for financial plann

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

As the year winds to an end, we begin to think about the new year and how prepared are we are for the future.  What planning will we need to do, what will we need to change, what worked well, what didn’t work well. For special needs families, the planning can sometimes be a little more challenging when it may include legal decision making regarding guardianship.  In this podcast episode, Annette goes over some of the different types of guardianships (or conservatorships) there are and other important legal documents to have, as well as the importance of making sure the supported person is at the center of the decision making process.

Annette begins by discussing some of the national and local developments that have taken place.  The National Guardianship Network has called for a reform of the guardianship system and has proposed a guardianship bill of rights.  They have proposed limiting guardianships where possible, maintaining person centered planning, right to counsel, supported decision making and better monitoring of guardianships to address abuse.  Congress is also considering funding a national court improvement program. The Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute has brought about many changes in the guardianship process since 2015 including supported decision making.

Annette then discusses the Brittney Spears case and how it brought so much national attention.  Brittney was allowed almost no freedoms and every part of her life was controlled though she was performing and making money.  This brought about the question of what does incapacitated look like?  How can she be working and earning money, yet still need guardianship?

Annette discusses one of the most important parts of this whole process – person centered planning.  When you are planning for your special needs individual, you need to make sure they are at the center of this planning.  You have to figure out first what decisions the individual can make and where they will need supports.  Then review the list of available supporters and who may be preferred.  Annette says, “remember that the supported person is at the center of the team and their voice is the most important one.” They need to have their own voice and be able to participate in their own future. Supported decision making is important – here are two online tools to help:  Supported Decision-Making and Honoring Choices Massachusetts.

Annette closes with the view that families will know what is best for them.  There is no one right answer to the legal d

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

The holiday season can be a stressful time if you have lost a child or a loved one.  As we have seen over the past 2 years now, it can be stressful also when our loved ones are still with us but due to the pandemic and closures and rule changes, we may be separated and not have access to see them or be with them.  In this podcast episode, Annette gives us her tips on how to thrive this holiday season and how to survive the holiday with both sorrow and joy in your heart.  

Annette begins by saying how she feels the world seems so much more unsettled in 2021 than it did in 2020 during the main part of the pandemic.  People seemed so much nicer, more forgiving and accepting in 2020.  In 2021 it seems tempers are flaring, people are angrier, they are lashing out.  We are seeing higher expenses, staff shortages and people are struggling to access goods and services.  There appears to be so much anxiety and frustration out there it is hard for people to relax and find balance and peace.

Annette recently attended a business coaching meeting where they had a monk as a guest speaker.  He mentioned something that resonated with her – how the human heart is amazing that is can hold both sorrow and joy at the same time.  People today are out of balance, they can’t recognize they hold both sorrow and joy.  So many are unhappy that things are not going back to the way they were.  We need to accept the sorrow of the past and embrace the joy of today and what is to come.  Once we get to this point, we can be at peace.

Annette’s mentions her 4 tips to thrive this holiday season:  

1. Food: have a great meal, eat your favorite foods, start new food traditions.  If your loved one is still with us, take them out to dinner or lunch or pack a meal of their favorite foods and take it to them
2. Decorate: decorate a room or a special place and add things that remind you of your loved one.  If you are able to visit a loved one that is still with us, take decorations to share with them.
3. People: celebrate the people you love, the ones that are here as well as the ones you have lost.  If you are able to, bring the celebration to your loved ones.
4. Tell Your Story:  this is Annette’s biggest and best tip, talk about your loved one, share stories, share your experiences with them.  You do not have to have a blog or a podcast or even write a book, just share your stories with your friends and family.  
5. Bonus Tip – Take Care of Yourself:  practic

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The end of a year tends to have people thinking about what they should do to plan for the new year and what changes they may need or want to make.  While fitness and health goals are generally always on that list, so is financial planning for the future.  Financial planning in general can seem to be a daunting task but it becomes a bit more challenging for special needs families and planning for your disabled child’s future.  

 

On this week’s podcast episode, Annette speaks with James “Jim” Grace, the Director of Wealth Management with Silver Pine Capital.  Jim, who has been a financial advisor for over 12 years, has taken on a more “person centered” approach to financial planning and working with special needs families with complex issues.  Jim also has a podcast called The Financially Mindful Podcast, which offers insight into various aspects of financial planning.

 

The financial planning approach Jim takes with his clients is not the traditional sit with an advisor, pay an upfront fee, send over your financial information, and then wait a short time for your financial plan to be created and the report sent to you.  Jim feels this approach does not allow for changes and updates that may need to happen over the next few months/years as your financial situation and goals change.  

 

A More Personalized Family Approach

 

At Silver Pine Capital, their approach is to sit with a client to determine what they are looking to accomplish, determine how much time they will need to spend with the client over the next few months, generate the fee and then divide that by 12 and bill monthly.  This allows them to start with the client’s current financial position, meet on a regular basis at least once a month and build their financial plan over time. Sometimes this is referred to as “financial coaching,” where someone spends more time with you to assist you in your financial plan. 

 

With this more personalized approach, they are able to develop a relationship with a special needs family, find out what is important to them, assist them in getting organized and then offering recommendations as they move along according to where the family is currently and what they hope to get to. They become part of your family’s “team” for financial planning.

 

3 Steps to Begin Your Financial Planning

 

Jim says there are roughly 3 steps you can work on to get your financial planning started.  First, take a breath then get yourself organized.  Pull

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

Parents naturally want to make sure their child with disabilities is well taken care of, both now and in the future. It's not just about meeting the day-to-day needs but also thinking ahead to their long-term financial security. There's a lot to juggle—from managing medical expenses to planning for their financial future. It can feel pretty overwhelming and complicated.

In this episode, host Annette Hines welcomes financial planning expert, James Lange, to discuss the crucial need for specialized financial planning for parents of children with disabilities. James emphasizes the importance of working with advisors who understand the unique financial needs of these families and securing government benefits like SSI or SSDI to ensure long-term support. The conversation covers essential legal documents such as wills and trusts, and James offers a free copy of his book, “Retire Secure for Parents of a Child with a Disability,” packed with strategies for financial planning. Annette and James delve into the practical and emotional aspects of financial security, reflecting on how proactive planning can provide peace of mind and a brighter future for children with disabilities.

 

In this episode, you will hear:

• The importance of collaborating with specialized financial planners and tax advisors for families with children with disabilities

• Key government benefits essential for the financial support of children with disabilities

• The necessity of creating appropriate wills, trusts, and powers of attorney tailored for children with disabilities

• How proper financial planning can alleviate anxiety for parents raising children with disabilities

• Why it is important to involve the child in the financial planning process
  
  

Resources from this Episode:

Free digital copy of Retire Secure for Parents of a Child with a Disability

Website: https://DisabledChildPlanning.com

Facebook:  @RothRevolution

Twitter/X: @rothguy 

LinkedIn:@jameslangecpa

Other Sites:https://PayTaxesLater.com

Engage with us:

Join our community: Circle of Care

Visit:  https://annettehines.com

Read Butterflies and Second Chances

LinkedIn: @annette-hines-snc 

Instagram: @parentingimpossible

Facebook: @SpecialNeedsCompanies

Twitter: @SpecialNeedsCo

 

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Caregivers are often the unseen and overlooked part of special needs care. In this podcast episode, Annette speaks with Jessica Ronne, an author, caregiver advocate, and mom of 8, about caregiver support, her caregiver nonprofit The Lucas Project, her blog “Jess + the Mess” and her 2 books “Sunlight Burning at Midnight” and “Blended with Grit and Grace.”

 

Jess’ family story is one of heart break that leads to happiness. Her second child Lucas was born profoundly disabled due to a stroke in utero.  A few years later, her first husband passed away from brain cancer leaving her a widow at 33 with 4 children under 7, one profoundly disabled.  Jess had been blogging throughout all this as writing to her is a form of release. A chance comment on her blog from one of her followers lead her to her current husband – his wife had passed away from brain cancer around the same time as Jess’ husband.  They have been married now for 11 years and have a blended family of 8 children.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

New child support guidelines recently became effective in Massachusetts on October 4, 2021. We felt it would be a good time to bring back a podcast Annette did last year with husband Mark Worthington in which both attorneys discuss divorce when you have a special needs child. While a majority of these new child support changes affect standard family law matters relating to divorce, a few will affect special needs planning. These changes mainly are regarding Social Security and how these benefits are viewed as income as related to the payor or the recipient.  We recently released a blog on these new Massachusetts child support changes which you can read here.

There have also been a few other Social Security related matters recently introduced, unfortunately many are stuck in Congress. One in particular notes that Social Security rules related to benefit levels are so outdated that it forces disabled and elderly individuals into poverty.  The Social Security system needs and overhaul but they say they can’t afford it.  

Make Your Voice Heard!

This is the time to make your voice heard!  Talk to your policy makers, politicians – tell them what you need, what you want, tell them about your situation.  If you are not sure how to contact or find these people in your area, please reach out to us at Special Needs Companies and we will do our best to assist you with the information.

In this prior episode of Parenting Impossible from 2020, Annette and her husband Mark Worthington discuss what you need to consider during the divorce process as a parent of a special needs child. Mark is Senior Counsel at Special Needs Law Group of Massachusetts and a Professor of Law at Western New England University School of Law. He has also been named to the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list every year since 2008.

Divorce Brings New Challenges For Special Needs Parents

Annette and Mark begin the show with a conversation about the increased number of people filing for divorce during the pandemic. The rise comes as more people have been forced to spend extended periods of time quarantined together. While divorce is a stressful process in general, it co

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

This week is Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week, which is a cause very dear to Annette’s heart.   Annette’s daughter Elizabeth passed away back in 2013 from mitochondrial disease. Every year, during the third week of September the mitochondrial disease community comes together to bring awareness and educate others on this rare genetic disease.  MitoAction is a nonprofit organization which started in 2005 from a New England support group.  During the awareness week, MitoAction encourages others to participate in and organize various events.  For Wednesday, which is the release day of this podcast, they are supporting “Light a Light for Mito” which is held to remember your loved ones lost to mito.  Please be sure to wear your #greenformito, join our Facebook event and share your light and loved one’s photo memory on our event page “discussion” wall.  For other Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week events, please check out MitoAction’s page here.

 

Mito-Mom

 

This week’s podcast episode features another “mito-mom” – Maria Hopfgarten.  Maria was also one of Annette’s first podcast guests back in 2019.  You can listen to that podcast episode here.  Maria is a blogger, author, President of the nonprofit Miracles for Mito, wife and mom to daughter Sarah and Jacob.  Maria just released her first book, “Letters to Jacob: Grieving the Loss of a Child”, which is based on letters she wrote to her son Jacob after he passed away from mitochondrial disease back in 2016.  Annette and Maria speak about coping with grief and how Maria’s blog about her son Jacob eventually became a book.

 

Letters To Jacob 

 

Maria’s blog “Moments with Jacob” started out as a way to keep family and friends advised about Jacob and how he was doing.  Maria also realized that writing was very therapeutic for her and helped her gain a perspective when there were major decisions to be made regarding Jacob’s health.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

This week features a very special back to back, two podcast episode release as Annette speaks with two guests who were interviewed for a recent Today Show Article called “Autism Wars.” Today’s episode features Annette’s interview with Amy S.F. Lutz, an author, vice president of the National Council on Severe Autism (NCSA), and a mom to 5 children,  her oldest son Jonah having severe autism.   Amy also became so interested in the history of autism due to her son’s issues, she went back to school and is currently seeking a doctorate in the history of medicine.  Annette and Amy speak about the “Autism Wars” article, severe autism, and extreme caregiving.

 

Severe Autism 

 

Severe autism looks very different from very mild forms of autism – this is why autism is noted as “Autism Spectrum Disorder.” Autism can be very mild on one end of the spectrum or very severe on the other end, with a wide range of levels in between.  A severely autistic individual will have profound intellectual disabilities, can be very aggressive and exhibit violent behavior, and are often very unstable and can potentially harm themselves as well as others.  Severely autistic individuals also usually require exceptionally trained staff and specific supports and programs due to the challenging behaviors they often have.  While individuals with mild forms of autism are often able to live somewhat typical lives on their own, those with severe autism generally need extra support and specific care for most if not all of their lives.  

 

Autism Wars Article

 

Most parents of severely autistic children use a common-sense position based on their experience with their children.   Unfortunately, as the Today Show article “Autism Wars” conveyed, these parents often face criticism from some autistic adults and some that view their own autism diagnosis more as an identity rather than an illness or impairment.  Some of these autistic adults tend to label parents of severely autistic children as ableists - that these parents don’t really love their children and they are only sharing things about their child to gain attention for themselves.  Some autistic adults also feel that the parents of severely autistic children are violating their children’s rights by sharing items about them publicly on social media or other platforms.  Unfortunately, most severely autistic children do not have the capacity to consen

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

This week features a very special back to back, two podcast episode release as Annette speaks with two guests who were interviewed for a recent Today Show Article called “Autism Wars.” Today’s episode features Annette’s interview with Kerry Magro, who is an award-winning national speaker, a best-selling author and a role model in the disability community.  Annette & Kerry speak about the “Autism Wars” article, disability in the workplace, bullying, unity and inclusion.

 

As a child, Kerry was non-verbal at 2.5 years and diagnosed with autism at age 4.  Kerry was not able to speak in complete sentences until age 7 and went through years of therapy to get where he is today.  Kerry has a doctorate in Educational Technology Leadership and is currently the CEO and founder of KFM Making a Difference which is a non-profit corporation that focuses on disability advocacy and housing.  

 

Autism Wars Article

 

While most people don’t like the “Autism Wars” title of the Today Show article, thinking “war” is too strong, Kerry does feel there has been a divide in the community for quite some time between parents of autistic children and autistic adults.  There are those on the autistic adult side that feel that parents of autistic children share too much and parents who feel that autistic adults don’t share enough to allow them information they feel they need.  There needs to be unity, inclusion – both sides working together rather than separate.  The article did have a positive note for Kerry that many parents reached out to him about finding advocates and building friendships between parents and autistic adults.

 

Social Media Sharing

 

Another portion of this autistic divide is on sharing on social media. Some autistic adults feel that some parents overshare videos and photos on social media of their autistic children, basing this on the child being too young to consent.  Sharing in smaller, local groups for educational purposes can be beneficial but sharing to Facebook in larger groups might not.  Kerry mentions there is toxicity in social media and sometimes it is best to think before you share anything especially if it may cross a privacy line.

 

Disabled in the Workplace

 

Kerry also speaks about the disabled in the workplace.  Statistics say that up to 90% of autistic adults are either unemployed or underemployed.  Kerry notes there should be a better onboarding process for disabled individuals possibly offer

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

The Britney Spears guardianship case has brought the topic of guardianship into the spotlight lately.  People all over the world want to know more about what guardianship is and why it is used.  In this podcast episode, Annette goes over a few of the many guardianship questions she has received from listeners and followers.  Please note that guardianship laws do vary from state to state.  Please check with your state for their specific guardianship laws and procedures before beginning the guardianship process.

A Way to Connect the Disability Community

Annette opens the episode with a little explanation as to why she began this podcast.  Over 20 years ago, as a special needs mom, Annette struggled to find the information she needed for her daughter Elizabeth.  Elizabeth was born with mitochondrial disease, had a profound brain injury and was wheelchair bound.  Annette would constantly find one piece of information she needed in one place, then would have to hunt down another piece somewhere else.  There was no one place to gather all the information she needed.  This podcast was a way to try to help connect resources with families, professionals, and other interested parties in the disability community – to connect everyone together in one way, one group. Annette also created Special Needs Companies and the Facebook group Circle of Care to offer resources and a way to connect the disability community as well.

Terminate a Guardianship

The first guardianship question Annette goes over is how do you terminate a guardianship?  Annette explains this will require a trip back to court and medical documentation.  This medical evidence is needed to prove to the court that the previous incapacity the individual had that necessitated the guardianship before, is now changed and that person is now capable of making decisions for themselves.  A full guardianship may now be able to go to a limited guardianship, or a guardianship may be able to be terminated completely or go to an alternative form of guardianship.  Many states have gone from not having any alternatives to guardianship to now having supported decision making laws.  These allow a person with capacity to have a group of supporters assist in their decision making but the ultimate decision is left to the disabled person rather than left to the guardian in a guardianship situation.  

Right To Counsel

Annette also goes over

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As a child, Erich Shafer did not understand what he was and how he was different.  He knew he had balance issues and had to go to speech therapy every week for a heavy lisp to make himself “better.”  It wasn’t until later in life that he discovered he had Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder) and was on the Autism Spectrum.  In this podcast episode, Annette speaks with Erich about his neurodiverse journey and how he overcame his childhood struggles to create a successful and fulfilling life for himself.

Childhood Years in Therapy

Erich spent many of his childhood years going through what is now known as ABA Therapy.  He felt there was a value placed on the items he had, what he wanted to do and the friends he wanted to see.  Erich felt the value was his behavior, his compliance.  If he did not act a certain way, he was not allowed to watch television, to go outside, to play with his friends, to do the things he wanted to do.  Erich felt his therapy was similar to “clicker training” with dogs – a good behavior was rewarded with a treat.

Moving towards adulthood, Erich felt like he was “playing pretend.” His therapy taught him the technique of “Masking” which is wearing the appropriate mask or behavior for each social situation you go into.  Therapy made him feel like he needed to adapt, he needed to act a certain way, he needed to wear a mask to fit into normal society.  Erich felt his therapy did not allow him to be himself.

Driven To Succeed

After getting a communication degree in college, Erich did a complete behavior shift and got into broadcasting.  He got a radio internship where he was eventually able to open up.  He was in a place where he was thought of as unique, one of the “creative types.”  Over time he also developed what his wife calls “motivated by spite” – if someone told Erich he could not do something, he purposely would turn that around and figure out a way to do it – and then do it!

Erich now has a fantastic life he has worked hard for.  He has been married for almost 10 years to a wonderful women who understands his neurodiversity, his needs and supports him in every way possible. Erich has a full-time job with Work Community Independence, also works as an IT person for Boston Managed IT and even created his own company,

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

Being stopped by or questioned by the police can be stressful for anyone but for those who are mentally ill or developmentally disabled, it can be quite traumatic. Often these traumatic situations can trigger certain responses in a mentally disabled individual which can escalate into violence or other extreme matters, causing them to be unfairly accused/charged or labeled due to their illness or disability. 

   

In this podcast episode, Annette speaks with Attorney Jason Chan, a criminal law attorney and partner in the firm Seed, Chan and Associates in Boston, about how individuals who are mentally ill and developmentally disabled are often treated and charged unfairly within the criminal justice system.

 

The main problem area Attorney Chan notes is usually with law enforcement or first responders as they generally have the first contact with the disabled individual.  There seems to be a lack of training and understanding for first responders as they don’t have specific mental disability instruction.  First responders are often only given very basic information about the situation they are heading into and are generally not aware of how to recognize danger zones and triggers for certain mental illnesses and disabilities.  This can at times lead to very dangerous situations. Training is highly needed for first responders but unfortunately there in no universal training course or guidelines. Difficulties also lie around who would be capable of instructing a training course and with so many different kinds of mental illness and disabilities, how can you train a first responder to recognize all the signs and the care needed for each.

 

Restraining orders can cause issues as well.  Some individuals that have mental illness or developmental disabilities don’t understand or deal with certain social situations well and can be misunderstood by roommates, those they work with or even romantic partners. Restraining orders can be devasting to a mentally disabled individual.  It does not necessarily mean they did something criminally wrong, but now that there is a restraining order tied to their name, it can preclude them from certain disability programs and housing situations once a background check is run.

 

Traffic stops can also lead to stressful situations where a mentally disabled person could panic and either want to flee the scene to the safety of their home or they may want to get out of the vehicle to speak with the police officer.  These types of reactions can escalate an already stressful situation with law enforcement.  Attorney Chan recommends that parents and/or caregivers coach their children ahead of time, in the event they are pulled over by law enforcement at some point.  Make sure the mentally disabled individual understands that police are there to help and likely there is nothi

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

Planning a future can be challenging.   Most people plan their future one step at a time, planning forward, toward their dream or goal. The PATH Process , “Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope”, is a creative planning tool that actually starts with the dream or end goal in mind, and you plan the action steps backwards from that dream.  

 

In this episode, Annette speaks with Teri Steinberg , a disability consultant and mom, about the PATH Process and how using this you can assist the individual and their support network, plan positive futures.  Teri has been building PATH’s for over 16 years now, her first PATH being for her son. 

 

When Teri’s son Bill was diagnosed with Autism over 20 years ago, she immediately quit her job and began to research everything about it.  She began gathering as much information as she could from other parents, support groups, government meetings – anywhere she could find information related to Autism, treatments, services, etc.  Teri created a huge information board, which she would share with other parents and support groups. Teri did not want to be a parent that wallowed in grief about her son’s diagnosis, but rather a parent of action that did everything she possibly could to assist him and other families in the similar situations. 

 

Teri started meeting with a few parent support groups a few hours a week, offering them all the information she had gathered.  She then began working with microboards, which featured a small circle of support people surrounding the disabled focus individual. Unfortunately, Teri felt they focused too much on things the individual would NOT be able to do.  She wanted to speak about the individual’s strengths and abilities and what he was good at.  

 

Teri was taught the PATH Process by David Wetherow, Jack Pearpoint and Lynda Kahn. PATH is a specific tool that allows you to bring together the disabled individual and the support group of people that know and love him.  Everyone sits and discuss the individual’s strengths and everything he can do and is good at, rather than focusing on the negative side and what he is not good at.  The individual’s ideal future dream life is discussed, and then working backwards, the action steps are created to implement a positive life working towards that dream. Everyone in the support group is then enlisted to assist in some part of the individual’s PATH.

 

It is important to note also that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can participate in their life at every level.  They should be included in all decisi

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

In this episode, Annette speaks with Christa Couture, an award-winning recording artist, author, and broadcaster from Toronto, Canada.  Christa, who is also disabled, wrote the book "How to Lose Everything" which is a story of the grief and loss she has suffered in her life.  Christa has also recorded a Walrus Talks (the Canadian Ted Talks) called "Living Better"  where she speaks about accepting your life as different rather than better.  

 

Christa has known her fair share of grief and loss.  At 11 she was diagnosed with bone cancer which was cured by the amputation of her left leg above the knee.  Christa had 2 infant sons who tragically passed away followed by divorce and then a thyroid cancer diagnosis which threatened her speaking and singing careers.  Christa finds that people don’t always want to speak about grief and loss, they are uncomfortable with sorrow.  Most seem to want to fix things quickly and just say, “Things will get better”.  Christa wrote the book “How to Lose Everything” to connect with those that are struggling with their grief, to hopefully allow them to feel less alone.  She also hopes the book will find those who may not be experiencing loss at this time but will allow them to understand and have compassion for someone they may know who is grieving.

 

Christa, who has been an amputee since the age of 13, wears a prosthetic leg.  For many years she kept her leg covered, not keeping it secret just not comfortable with it.  A few years ago, she received a new prosthesis and was feeling good about it and wanted to celebrate it.  Christa had seen a beautiful prosthesis that had been hand painted with flowers and was determined to create one for herself.  Her “flower leg” was then created laminating floral upholstery fabric to her prosthetic leg.  Her prosthesis became a “celebration of her loss”, as this now beautiful thing that she was proud of and wanted to show people.  The conversations about her leg also changed from what happened to you, to - wow that is beautiful, where did you get that, your leg is so cool – her leg became a huge confidence booster.

 

Christa also discusses her view of her disability.  As an amputee, Christa considers herself a disabled person due to the loss of a limb that she had been born with, whereas a person that w

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

The journey of caregiving is a delicate dance of emotions and responsibilities, especially for parents of disabled children who face societal pressures. Home and community care services provide essential support and respite, allowing families to maintain a safe environment and caregivers to recharge. Self-care, such as meditation or exercise, is critical for caregivers to sustain their well-being and continue their responsibilities.

 

In this episode, host Annette Hines sits with Kelley Coleman as she shares her journey of parenting a disabled child, revealing how it led her to write "No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports." Kelley expresses the importance of accessing accurate information and insights directly from individuals with disabilities to combat stigma and misconceptions. Her book serves as a practical guide for caregivers, filled with invaluable checklists, personal stories, and strategies for self-care, effective communication, and advocacy. Kelley and Annette bond over their shared love for practical tools, discussing the significance of job training in caregiving and urging caregivers to establish boundaries and prioritize their well-being. They reflect on their own experiences, the emotional toll of caregiving, and the power of a supportive community.

 

In this episode, you will hear:

• Why it is important to seek insights from individuals with disabilities

• Addressing the challenges faced by parents of disabled children

• How caregivers can prioritize self-care and establish boundaries

• Why it is important to advocate for home and community-based care services

• What resources are available for caregivers of children with disabilities
  
  

Resources from this Episode:

Kelley Coleman: www.kelleycoleman.com 

Facebook:  @kelley.coleman.56

Instagram: @hellokelleycoleman 

 

Engage with us:

Join our community: Circle of Care

Visit:  https://annettehines.com

Read Butterflies and Second Chances

LinkedIn: @annette-hines-snc 

Instagram: @parentingimpossible

Facebook: @SpecialNeedsCompanies

Twitter: @SpecialNeedsCo

 

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

 

June celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride month each year to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising.  Pride Month is a time to recognize the issues, challenges, and discrimination the LGBTQ+ community has faced and to celebrate the triumphs.  In this podcast episode, Annette speaks with Ivylee Martinez and her adult child El Martinez, regarding gender identity issues. 

El Martinez identifies with the pronouns They/Them/Their and at just 19 years old, boasts an impressive activism resume.  El begins by discussing that they had always known something was off with their gender.  In their freshman year of high school, El joined the GSA – Gender and Sexuality Alliance and met LGBTQ+ and trans people which got them thinking about their own gender identity.  El also gives us a breakdown of the various definitions for those not familiar:

(Biological) Sex – assigned to a child at birth, most often based on external anatomy.

Gender Identity – the term(s) someone uses to define their gender, ex: male, non-binary, woman, fluid.

Gender expression – the manifestation of someone’s gender through their appearance.

Transgender – a term used to describe someone who does not identify with the label/biological sex they were assigned at birth.

Cisgender – a term used to describe someone who identifies with the label they were assigned at birth.

El goes over the use of pronouns (He/She/They) and how it can be difficult and challenging for friends, family, teachers, and acquaintances to get pronouns correct.  El mentions the best thing to do if you make a mistake on someone’s pronoun is just to fix the mistake and move on with the conversation.   Too many apologies may begin to alienate the transgender person and make them upset or uncomfortable.  

Annette and El also discuss how those in the disabled community, mainly neurodivergent and autistic, are more likely to be transgender.  Some autistic individuals center their gender identity around their autism and have been key in pushing forward gender acceptance. They also discuss the transgender fear of the healthcare system and the trauma that can occur when they are assigned the wrong gender by their doctors. They feel that sometimes transgender people avoid the treatment they need due to fear of having to explain or correct their gender to their doctor.

El was forced to become their own advocate and activist due to their school system and their lack of support for El.  El was harassed throughout their time in high school and felt the school did not do enough research to support them and other LGBTQ+ people.

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

Resilience is the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult challenges.  Many special needs parents may struggle with this throughout their child’s journey.  The many challenges and difficulties with everyday life, doctors, and getting the proper supports they need can be overwhelming. In this episode, Annette speaks with Dr. Marcia Nathai-Balkissoon, who goes by Marcia NB.   Marcia NB has a PhD in industrial engineering and is the author of the new book “Lighting the Path: Leaning into a Hopeful Future as a Special Needs Parent”  .  Marcia NB quickly faced her challenges with her own daughter Emma and became an advocate to help other families work through their own challenges.  

Marcia NB’s daughter Emma was born in 2012 with heart issues and as the result of a heart surgery mistake, became severely brain damaged at only 8 months old.  While at a rehabilitation facility with Emma, Marcia NB saw many special needs children and families.  After a conversation with one mother that knew nothing about her own son’s disability, Marcia NB decided she needed to advocate for other families that were not getting the information they needed regarding their own children.  Marcia NB became a Parent Skills Master Trainer through the World Health Organization  and Autism Speaks.

Marcia NB also has a YouTube Channel called The Changemaker Series where she interviews people who are making a difference just by being themselves. Marcia NB also features her own talks where she hopes to help people step out of their “overwhelm” state and start taking back joy and fulfillment. 

Marcia NB says, “We all have to come to our own understanding and create our own meaning out of what we are going through as special needs parents.”  To release her own personal tension and stress, Marcia NB wrote.  Marcia NB says the name of the book “Lighting the Path” came to be due to her feeling she was in darkness when the accident happened to Emma.  Marcia NB felt she needed to know this darkness, to become resilient and to help others in similar situations through their own darkness.  Lighting the Path’s final chapter “Celebrating Your Resilience” offers the wish that her expe

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.

Adult ADHD or Attention -Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder where a person has difficulty concentrating, is hyperactive or restless and displays impulsive behaviors.   This previously recorded podcast is one of our favorites and offers some effective ways to manage Adult ADHD.

In this episode, Annette has a conversation with David Greenwood, author of the book, Overcoming Distractions-Thriving with Adult ADHD. The book profiles many entrepreneurs around the country who have ADHD and have created successful businesses.

Annette and Dave talk about how in some cases, a parent of a child can get frustrated and even lose hope when they have to work around or deal with challenging behaviors. And by reading the book that Dave wrote, they can begin to understand that there can be a successful person under all those ADHD challenges.

Annette and Dave also take time out to chat about some of the funnier aspects of having adult ADHD such as forgetfulness and being time blind. While these can get in the way of running a successful business, sometimes we just have to have a little laugh at our own expense.

Annette and Dave talk about some of the more effective ways in which successful adults with ADHD manage and thrive such as regular exercise, proper sleep, nutrition, and the topic of meditation. They chat about managing your time and your environment and best practices about managing procrastination and productivity.

And they chat about the positive aspects of having ADHD such as creativity, risk-taking, energy and having an entrepreneurial mindset.

Learn more about Dave Greenwood, his book and the popular podcast by the same name at: Overcoming Distractions 

For more information on this and other topics, please also check out Special Needs Companies. For legal advice, inspiration and other resources, visit our blog here. Similarly, you can always listen to previous podcast episodes (and be sure to leave us a review), or download our free eBook here. We are always looking for podcast guests as well so please let us know if you or someone you know, has a special needs or disability topic you would like to speak about - Contact Us! 

You can also join our free Facebook community for the disability community, the “Circle of Care,” or watch the webinars and other speaking events on YouTube.  We are also on Facebook,

Have you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.