Special Needs

Articles

...around without relying on others to carry them. A communication device gives a non-verbal person a way to express their thoughts and needs. Being able to do...the kitchen, tools like jar openers and large-handled utensils help with food prep. Adjustable beds and lift chairs aid with mobility. Specialized computer...

...Modifying the consistency of liquids or changing to a non-oral route of nutrition to prevent aspirating may...be recommended. How your child sits while eating food or receiving tube feedings is also a factor that...reflux. This condition can be difficult for the non-verbal child to express so the parent must identify...

...individuals with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity can...even from the smallest bite of food containing gluten. For those...from absorbing nutrients from food. It often results in extreme...bloating, diarrhea, or constipation. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or...be tricky for kids because of food provided at school or parties,...

...look like after high school, in education, employment, and independent living. Your child should be in this meeting, not just discussed in it. Even non-verbal students can communicate preferences through a team member who knows their communication style. If the school hasn't invited your child by 14,...

...contains only CBD, with THC removed through additional processing. Broad-spectrum contains multiple cannabis compounds but has THC removed or reduced to non-detectable levels. Full-spectrum contains the complete range of compounds naturally found in the plant, including THC up to that 0.3% legal limit. Companies...

...a week of bad sleep. When the immediate pressure eases, stress eases with it. Rest helps. A weekend away makes a difference. Burnout is systemic and non-responsive. It doesn't lift when the crisis passes because it's rooted in chronic depletion that's been building for months or years. Rest doesn't fix...

...pools in your area, call three places, and get the same response: "We have steps into the shallow end." That works for most kids. For yours, it's a non-starter. Finding a pool that's accessible requires knowing what to ask for and where to look. What Makes a Pool Accessible. Accessibility starts with...

...What Makes a Climbing Gym Adaptive. An adaptive climbing gym operates on three components: specialized harnesses, trained staff belayers who can manage non-standard movement patterns, and modified scheduling that reduces sensory load. All three have to function together. A gym with adaptive harnesses but...

...how and when the trustee can make distributions. Does it still reflect what your child needs? If the trust was drafted when your child was young and non-verbal, but they're now a working adult with partial independence, the original language may be too restrictive or not restrictive enough. Remainder...

...same beneficiary. This matters because ABLE accounts are designed specifically for disability-related expenses, and unlike 529 withdrawals used for non-education purposes, rollovers aren't taxed or penalized. What the SECURE 2.0 Act Changed. Before 2024, withdrawing 529 funds for anything other than...

...assets. But when parents are divorced, coordination failures create three common disqualification scenarios. Scenario one: direct inheritance from the non-custodial parent. If your ex-spouse dies without a will or leaves assets directly to your child, SSI counts those assets immediately. Your child loses...

...invisibly when you use a wheelchair, have a visible limb difference, or carry a white cane. The interviewer sees your disability before you say a word. Non-disclosure isn't an option. That doesn't mean you've lost control. When visibility removes the choice of whether to disclose, you still control who speaks...