Having a child with special needs means planning for her future more extensively than you would your other children. It also means planning for her day-to-day care after you have passed away. There are many important details to take care of to ensure the best possible life for your child, including estate planning. The laws can be confusing, so you should contact a professional with experience in special needs planning. Here are some tips from the pros: Make a Binder. Bernard A. Krooks, J.D., CPA, LL.M, CELA, is a founding partner of Littman Krooks LLP and an expert on special … Continue reading →

Having children messes with your schedule – big time. You are no longer in control of your own day. Parents of children who have special needs not only have hectic schedules, but even more tasks to squeeze into their day. Staying organized and managing our time is tough, but there are steps to take that will make it easier. Checklist For me what helps the most is making a list for the day. Without a list, I am pretty much useless. My day goes by a lot faster and is much smoother when I have a list of tasks to … Continue reading →

It’s New Year’s Eve! Have you made your resolutions? This year I am promising myself (and my poor husband) that I will be more organized. It might be impossible though with two kids, a work from home job and a husband who works 50 plus hours a week. The house tends to get disorganized pretty quickly. So my other resolution is to be more positive and happier in the new year. I’ve never been one to see the glass half full. It’s always been a challenge to not see the negative in a certain day or a certain person. But … Continue reading →

If your child has recently been diagnosed with diabetes, you most likely have a list of questions concerning her care and her future. While the diagnosis of diabetes is not as devastating as it once was, it is still a serious condition and your child will suffer without proper diet and medical care. 1. Read this note to parents of children newly diagnosed with diabetes. It is important to know that you are not alone. There are teams of people working for a cure and medical staff that will take good care of your child. 2. Join the Juvenile Diabetes … Continue reading →

It’s Christmas! I hope that you are all gathered around with family and friends celebrating the occasion. It’s my favorite holiday and this year I have two children to celebrate with. Two years ago, I found out that my daughter has cystic fibrosis. That didn’t leave me in the mood to celebrate and quite frankly, the thought of it still makes me too angry and sad to even think about having fun. However, while I hate that she has CF, there are positives to everything and a reason for why everything that happens in our lives happens. So I try … Continue reading →

It’s that time of year – fun, food and festivities. This year you can turn all that good cheer into the perfect fundraising opportunity for your favorite non-profit. Wine and cheese party. You’re going to be invited to numerous holiday parties and may even be planning one yourself anyway. Turn it into a party with a cause. Invite your friends and family to a wine and cheese party or even a wine, cheese and chocolate party. Let everyone know that the get-together is to raise money for a cause that is close to your heart (in my case the Cystic … Continue reading →

Life can be difficult for children with special needs, but it can also be tough on their siblings as well. They face the challenges of watching their sibling get more attention from their parents, struggle and suffer, while dealing with the stares and comments of strangers and kids in school. They can battle feelings of fear, embarrassment, loneliness, and guilt. Luckily, there are ways to help them. Listen and be honest. Be a good listener when it comes to your children. Talk to them about their feelings and don’t keep them in the dark when it comes to their sibling’s … Continue reading →

When you have a child who has food allergies, everyday cooking can become a nightmare. You must adapt favorite recipes and read every label of every package to make sure you don’t give your child a meal that will make them ill. You have a cabinet full of cookbooks, but you’ve used up all the recipes you child will eat and hate to dig through the mess. Welcome yourself to the world of technology with downloadable allergen-free eBook cookbooks. Now the newest recipes can be at your fingertips in a moment’s time (no storage space needed). The Food Allergy Cookbook: … Continue reading →

The holidays are fast approaching which means parties and festivities galore. I’m avoiding any hosting duties this year because I’ll be having a baby in the beginning of December (perfect excuse right?). But what I am trying to figure it out is how I will make sure to get Maggie’s CF treatments done, especially the nightly ones. With so much going on, and a new baby who may or may not need treatments of her own, I need to have a plan. Making a List (and Checking it Twice). Besides the Christmas list for Maggie and her baby sister, I’ll … Continue reading →

If you have an autistic child, you are most likely more than use to the troubles that large gatherings and loud settings can lead to. Nevertheless, Thanksgiving is the time of year when families get together to celebrate their blessings and you don’t want to skip the festivities. With a little planning, you can enjoy Thanksgiving with your family and so can your child. Whether you are planning a Thanksgiving feast at your home, or going to a family member’s home, take into consideration the fact that your child may need a safe place away from all of the stimulation … Continue reading →