Emily Sagle of Stafford, VA, is a full-time caregiver for her 11-year-old son, William. He’s nonverbal, autistic, and suffers from various medical and genetic conditions that make it difficult for him to attend public school. Due to the amount of assistance William needs each day, Sagle cannot work outside the home. During the pandemic, Sagle’s […]
How Do You Plan for the Financial Future of a Loved One with a Disability
Dear Hayek, I am a caregiver for my adult son, who lives with a disability. What are some ways that I can help plan for his financial future? Thanks for your help! Fi Nanshul — Dear Fi, About 61 million adults in the U.S., or 1 in 4, live with a disability, according to the Centers […]
Supported Decision-Making for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities
What Is Supported Decision-Making? Almost all adults ask friends, family members, or coworkers for ideas and advice on a regular basis. Any time you need to make a decision, and you want help to better understand your choices, you can turn to people you trust to help you consider your choices and make the best […]
529s and ABLE Accounts Get a Major Boost
Age of disability for ABLE accounts will increase from 26 to 46. Unused 529 accounts can be rolled into a Roth IRA. Q. I have two children. One is an adult child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and another is a lot younger and is neurotypical. We are considering setting them both up with […]
Should All Children Be Tested for Autism?
Q. I heard that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has become even more prevalent than before. Why is this happening? With ASD being as common as it is, should all children be tested for it, as they are for other things? Also, with all of the new research and developments out there, are there ways to […]
Does My Infant Grandson Have an Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Q. My daughter and son-in-law both work full-time, and I watch my 9-month old grandson, Caden, every day during the week. My daughter takes me with her to his doctor’s appointments, where they provide us with CDC guidelines for where he should be at his age. He seems to not be reaching his developmental milestones. […]
FDA Approves an Accurate Test for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Q. I am in my mid 50’s and sometimes I think I am on the Autism Spectrum, though I was never formally diagnosed. I experience anxiety in social situations, avoid eye contact whenever I can, and am fixated on certain things. I remember seeing Elon Musk on Saturday Night Live not long ago when he […]
Is there a Link Between Alzheimer’s and Down Syndrome?
Dear Oakley, My neighbor has Down Syndrome. I read somewhere that there is a link between Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s. Is this true and if so, what research is being done? Thanks! Khan Nexion — Dear Khan, Every year, about 6,000 American children are born with Down syndrome (DS), the most common chromosomal alteration. Many […]
How Can ABLE Accounts and Special Needs Trusts Work Together?
Q. Our son, Joey, has Down’s Syndrome. We decided it was a good idea to plan in advance for him for when we can no longer care for him ourselves. We have been researching our options and found information on Special Needs Trusts and ABLE Accounts. Do I need both a Special Needs Trust and […]
Caregivers May be Eligible for COVID Vaccine
Dear Hayek, I am a caregiver for my mother and my two special needs children (one has an intellectual disability and the other has autism). In my role, I feel it is really important to get the COVID vaccine. Is there any way to get myself on a list to be prioritized for the vaccine? […]
How Having a Special Needs Loved One Affects Estate Planning and Retirement Planning
Q. Our daughter, Sophie, has an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She is verbal, but needs lots of help academically and with her social skills. She may not be able to live independently when she becomes an adult. When it comes to retirement planning, it is a balancing act to try to know how much to […]
Why Special Needs Planning Is Even More Important During a Pandemic (Part 4 of a 4-part Series)
In what was originally a three-part series, I have decided to add one more essential part about special needs planning and why it’s especially important during a pandemic. In part one of this series, I discussed why estate planning is of vital importance during this global pandemic. In part two, I explored elder law and […]
Researchers Find 102 Genes Linked to Autism
Tommy and Henry Stevens are identical twins who were born slightly premature and met their milestones later than others their age. As they became toddlers, they still didn’t say a word. Doctors explained to their mother that there was nothing to worry about, that perhaps they were “late bloomers.” By the time they reached their […]
What Happens to Adults with Autism Who “Age Out”?
Dear Bebe, There is a lot of funding for research about early diagnosis and early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there doesn’t seem to be much attention paid to adults with ASD. My daughter is 18 and has ASD. What information can you provide to help someone who will be “aging […]
How Could Something Used to Treat Autism Also Be Used to Treat Dementia?
Kevin’s mother, Lydia, takes him for Interactive Metronome therapy twice a week to improve his focus. She decided to give this therapy a try, with hopes that he could better sit still in class and attend to learning. Kevin has an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and inattentiveness is among his most pervasive of symptoms. In […]
What Happens When a Person with Autism Becomes an Adult?
Dear Bebe, My niece, Amelia, has an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), but is high-functioning. What happens to most children with ASD when they transition to adulthood? Thanks! Will Shebeokay — Dear Will, The US Department of Health and Human Services recently released a comprehensive report, titled “Young Adults and Transitioning Youth […]
Division One Cheerleader at Mason is Breaking Barriers
Ann Catherine Heigl, a 19-year-old with Down syndrome, graduated from high school and became a student of George Mason University, through their LIFE program, a full-time college program for intellectually and developmentally disabled students. It’s one of only a few full-time college programs for people with special needs. Not only is Ann Catherine an engaging […]
Bipartisan Efforts to Help Those with Mental Illness
Dear Angel, My son has bipolar disorder, and he was taking advantage of mental health treatment services under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Since the new administration took office, I know some changes will be made to mental health service offerings with the introduction of the ‘repeal and replace’ proposal. Do you know about any major changes that are being proposed? What can we do to plan for our son’s future well-being, should something happen […]
Being Her Brother’s Caregiver
A year ago, Helen Ries’s mother died unexpectedly, and she became the primary caregiver of her brother, Paul Knoll. Knoll has Down syndrome and had lived with his parents most of his life. Ries admits that her first year as a caregiver wasn’t easy, as she attempted to maintain the same standards for her brother […]
Is it Dementia or Adult ADHD?
Ginny is a 58-year-old widow who struggles each day with where she puts her keys, her cell phone, her purse, and even sometimes her coffee cup after she fills it with coffee. She often has trouble following conversations, and after about 15 minutes, she doesn’t remember much of what was said at all. After observing […]