Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival Podcast

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.

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.

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.