Among the many challenges for families is making sure there will always be enough money to provide lifetime care for their special needs children. The costs are daunting: therapies, housing, medical care, and education, to name just a few. One…
In 1989, the average rent was a little more than $400 a month and you could buy a dozen eggs for less than a dollar. That same year, Congress raised the amount of money that recipients of Supplemental Security Income…
By Matthew S. Keister, Esq. With summer winding down, back to school preparations are in full swing. For parents and caregivers of children who are candidates for (or are already on) an Individualized Education Program (IEP) plan (for instance, due to intellectual, speech/language,…
It’s a scene familiar to many grandparents: small children in footie pajamas seated around the Christmas tree, tearing open one brightly festooned package after another and greeting the contents with whoops of joy over the model train set or Astronaut…
The Police & Your Disabled Child A few years ago, we started scheduling regular visits for my daughter, Katarina, with the local fire department. The purpose of the visits were twofold: I’ve tried to teach my daughter to feel comfortable…
It is with gratitude and humility that I’d like to share some news with you – I’ve been elected to serve as one of the 11 District-level Delegates representing Vermont at the Democratic National Convention. I sought this role for…
Free IEP Review Day Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016 Montpelier, VT The Free IEP Review Day will provide parents/guardians an opportunity for a free, one-on-one review of their disabled child’s IEP/504 plan with a special education attorney and a special…
While much of the advocacy behind helping a child on an IEP is done at in-person meetings, it is important for parents to know that there is also a paper file on record that may be used in the event…
One of the most difficult decisions that parents have to decide is who should take over as a legal guardian when the parents themselves are no longer able to make decisions for their children, or provide the needed care to…
“My name isn’t Mom” Has the rest of the team taken the time to remember you by name? As the parent, you are the only permanent member of the IEP team and the only member of the IEP that has a federal right…