From the very beginning, we need to share our vision of the future with the professionals working with our sons and daughters with intellectual disabilities. In pre-school and Kindergarten, we can talk to teachers and therapists about how we plan for our children to work in the community and build inclusive lives. And in middle and…
Read More… on Seeing the Destination: Share Your Vision with ProfessionalsThis week was a milestone where Andy signed into the doctor himself for the first time, signed his own medical forms to get some blood work done, and he produced his own insurance card and Medicaid card for payment. We’ve been working hard since he was 14 to gradually prepare him for this transition to…
Read More… on Asking for Directions: Transition to Adult Medical CareAndy finished his shift at the grocery store last week and headed over to the Mexican restaurant in the same strip mall. He was hungry after working about 15 hours that week and decided to treat himself to a meal. Dad was planning on picking him up, so Andy texted him and invited him for…
Read More… on Seeing the Destination: IndependenceBack when Andy was little, it was drilled into us that we should never have assets in name … never, ever, never. Because if we did, he wouldn’t be able to receive necessary supports, such as healthcare benefits through Medicaid—which are often vital to people with disabilities. This put families and individuals with disabilities in…
Read More… on Figuring Out the Guidebooks: ABLE Accounts (A Piece of Cake to Set Up)One of the key important ways to prepare early on for employment is to give chores to our children, including our children with disabilities. When kids learn to do work in the home, they are better prepared for work in the real world. They learn to understand the value of work, as well as the…
Read More… on Preparing for the Trip: ChoresSupplemental Security Income for adults provides financial assistance for daily living to people with disabilities who are 18 and older and who have limited financial resources. These are some of the basic things I’ve learned about SSI: Even though you apply through the social security office, SSI is not Social Security. It’s a financial assistance…
Read More… on Figuring the Trip Budget: First SSI Meeting as an AdultWhen Andy was little, I was so revved up for him to be included all day every day. I had gone to conferences to learn that inclusion was the best model, and everyone loved him. I mean, who wouldn’t want this adorable kid in their class? When we moved from New York to Georgia, we…
Read More… on Preparing for the Trip: First IEP and InclusionWhen Andy was born 18 years ago, I was overwhelmed with worry about his future. Would he go to college? Would he get a job? Would he get married? Would people be kind to him? I realize now how lucky I was that so many people stepped in to show me what the future could…
Read More… on Seeing the Destination: Looking from preschool to the futureYesterday I called the Social Security office to set up our appointment to get evaluated for Supplemental Security Income, and we’ll be heading over to the office in two weeks. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can help people with disabilities over 18 by giving them cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and housing (and children with disabilities under…
Read More… on Guidebook: Setting Up the First Supplemental Security Income (SSI) VisitMy son, Andy, and I love road trips. Our whole family loves road trips. We usually end up somewhere wonderful with family and friends–like Boston, Utah, or Washington DC. And we have lots of fun along the way while lip syncing and eating at hole-in-the-wall dives, but we also deal with bumps in the road,…
Read More… on Join Our Road Trip to Employment
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