Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival Podcast

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

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 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.

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.