BY MICHELLE BOUDREAU In the US this month, we will be gathering around the table with family and friends for Thanksgiving. This is a time for sharing an abundance of delicious foods, conversation, and sometimes football. It is also a time of reflection and gratitude. Many families celebrate the tradition by encouraging each person to share what they are grateful for. Often, that includes gratitude towards people who have touched our lives in a special […]
BY LAUREN AGORATUS, M.A. Many families have heard about “special needs trusts” (SNTs) for their children with disabilities (see Resources.) SNTs allow parents to save funds yet have it not affect their child’s eligibility for benefits by saving a certain amount. However, some families can’t afford an attorney to set up a SNT. Now the ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act provides an alternative or even supplement for SNTs. HOW DOES AN ABLE ACCOUNT […]
GENETIC ALLIANCE BY BY CLAIRE MENA As the leaves begin to fall, we find ourselves picking out pumpkins, searching for creative costumes, and baking holiday-inspired treats with our little ones. While the temperature declines daily and the holidays lurk right around the corner, there is more than festivities that we should prepare for; we should financially prepare for our children’s healthcare. In a time when a family-centered relationship with your physician is becoming increasingly present, […]
BY ROB WRUBEL CFP®, AIF® A winning team needs to be established. thIs means finding a financial planner, a lawyer and an accountant each of whom understands the unique challenges and planning opportunities available to families like ours. A friend walked in to my office one day. He carried a leather briefcase. He put his heavy brown case on my desk then paused with his fingers over the brass clasps. He smiled and looked at […]
THE FITNESS PRIORITY BY KRISTIN MCNEALUS, DPT, MBA, ATP Exercise can also lower risk for complications associated specifically with spinal cord injury and spina bifida, such as the development of some forms of cancer, respiratory illness, and UTI. Are you an Exceptional Parent of a child with a spinal cord injury, spina bifida, or cerebral palsy? It is important to encourage your child to get a sufficient amount of exercise! Even if it is difficult, […]
