Articles & Tools

 Careers/Employment

• Job Resources and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
  • Vocational Rehabilitation locations
  • Finding Job Opportunities
  • Employment FAQ’s

• Employing People With Disabilities — a Nice Thing to Do?
  • disabled, hire, employment, work
• Protected Tomorrows Charities Announces First Project: Transform U
  • certified fitness professional, employment, fitness, group exercise instructor, personal trainer
• Recognizing Discrimination in the Workplace
  • job, employment
• Why Workers with Disabilities Are Often a Company’s Best Asset
  • job, employment
• Career Guide for People With Disabilities

 Caregivers/Support

• Gifting Guidelines for an Individual with Special Needs
  • gift, birthday, inheritance, special occasion, government benefits, beneficiary
• How to Find a Great Support Group: A Guide for Caregivers
  • emotional, guardian
• Take a Breath! Relaxation Tips for Caregivers
  • respite, stress

 Child Care

• Choosing Child Care for Your Special Needs Child
  • babysitter, respite

 Education

• The Guide For Students With Autism
  • this college resource guide includes current information on choosing colleges, autism-friendly colleges, scholarships, tips, and more
• Accessing After-School Activities: The Benefits for Students with Special Needs
  • child care
• College Is an Option!
  • higher education, special education, resource, college, school, assistance, accommodation
• Speech Disorder Resources for College Students
  • this guide highlights the resources that students may find on campus and how to find them. Also, it provides numerous helpful links for college students with speech disorders (Stuttering, Voice Therapy, Aphasia, Autism, and Communicative Disorders, Executive Functioning Disorders)
• Stop the Summer Slide: 5 Ways to Help Your Child Retain Academic Skills Over the Summer
  • education, school, travel, recreation, goals
• Summer Is Almost Here: How to Prepare for Your IEP
  • IEP, school, summer school, charter schools, teacher, education, goal
• This Year IS Next Year: Back to School Advice for Parents of Students with Special Needs
  • accommodations, aide, bus FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education), goals, IEP, school, supports, teacher
• Top Ten Things All Families Need to Know About IEPs
  • education, legally binding, teacher, school district, goals
• How Learning to Play Music Can Benefit Children with Special Needs
  • music helps the brain
• Supporting Students with Autism: 10 Ideas for Inclusive Classrooms

• 2019 Best Online Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities
  • Based on schools’ commitment to providing accommodations for course substitutions and alternative testing, and on the accessibility of the schools’ websites.
• 2019 Most Affordable Online Colleges with Students with Learning Disabilities
  • Features schools with strong support systems for students with learning disabilities, such as alternative testing methods and accessible websites, and ranks them based on their manually researched tuition rates.

 Family Relationships

• A Time for a Family to Retreat!
  • vacation, healing, retreat, therapy, ITK, children, autism, stress, support, family, holistic
• Helping Your Children Accept Your Disability
  • parenting, routine, cope
• The Palin Family’s Journey
  • Sarah Palin, Trig, Down Syndrome, normal, grandparents
• How to Explain Autism to Children
  • Encouraging understanding and compassion toward those on the spectrum

 Financial

• Don’t Forget the IRS When Administering a Special Needs Trust
  • finances, IRS, special needs, trust, taxes, money

• Gifting Guidelines for an Individual with Special Needs
  • gift, birthday, inheritance, special occasion, government benefits, beneficiary

• Good News from the IRS!
  • finances, taxes, special needs, IRS, home services

• Income Tax and “Third Party” Special Needs Trusts
  • financial, legal, taxes, special needs trusts, IRS

• Stretch That Dollar! Ways to Save When Medical Bills Are Overwhelming
  • budgeting, money, finances

• Working with a Health Insurance Advocate
  • finances

 Government Benefits

• State of the States in  Developmental Disabilities Project
  • Administered by the University of Colorado Department of Psychiatry. You can access nationwide longitudinal financial and programmatic trends in interllectual and developmental disability services. This is an interactive stie that allows you to look at a particular state or compare states.

• 2020 Social Security Cost of Living Adjustments
  • SSI, SSDI, COLA, SGA, retirement, survivors, disability

• Avoid These Common Mistakes When Applying for Supplemental Security Income
  • SSI, SSDI, application, assets, benefits, income

• Does Marriage Affect Disability Benefits?
  • SSI, SSDI, DAC, marriage, disability, benefits, income

• Gifting Guidelines for an Individual with Special Needs
  • gift, birthday, inheritance, special occasion, government benefits, beneficiary

• Medicaid Explained
  • SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, benefits

• Planning Around Government Assistance Programs
  • SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, financial support, benefits

• Quick Glance at Government Benefits
  • SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, application, redetermination, reconsideration, finances

 Healthcare & Wellness

• Cold Weather Health Tips for Seniors
  • staying healthy, elderly

• Health Care Reform: The Basics – What everyone should know about the new health care changes
  • healthcare, medical, government, wellness

• Healthy Eating Tips for Children with Down Syndrome
  • kids, meals, nutrition

• Healthy Holiday Eating: Keeping Your Loved Ones (and Yourself) on Track
  • nutrition, wellness

• Home Safety Tips for Loved Ones with Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia
  • elderly, mental health

• The Importance of Developmental Screening for Children
  • early detection, medical

• Preventing Depression in Seniors
  • elderly, mental health
• Second Opinions
  • doctors, diagnosis, medical records, treatment
• Seniors and Pets: Hidden Health Benefits
  • elderly, mental health
• Helping Your Child with Socialization
  • development and well being
• How Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Affects Sleep
  • Examine the causes, impacts, and treatments for sleep disturbance in individuals with ASD
• How Nutrition Impacts Children With Autism
  • Children with autism often suffer from nutritional deficiencies, which are brought on by behavioral or gastrointestinal issues
• Top Safety Tips and Products for Kids With Autism
  • Why Safety Is an Issue for Children With Autism
• 18 Social Skills Activities for Kids with Autism and Sensory Issues
  • Social skills activities and practical tips to help you teach social skills to a child on the autism spectrum
• Autism and Sleep: Empowering Children with ASD for Better Sleep
  • Helping children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) regain a healthy sleep routine, the MySlumberYard Team has created a guide with actionable methods for coping with stress and sleep disorder during the pandemic. Resources include customizable, printable, visual aids to help children get involved.

 Inspiration

• A Conversation with Carrie: A College Success Story Continues!
  • Education, school, college, higher education, hopes, dreams, graduate

• Before I Was Given My Gift …
  • dream, single parent, cancer, autism, journey

• Dreaded Diagnosis: A Father Comes to Grips with His Daughter’s SMA
  • emotional, support

• Every Kid Is a Special Needs Kid
  • theater, autism, teenager, family

• From Victory Lane to Victory Junction
  • Petty family, NASCAR, camp

• Integrative Touch for Kids (ITK) Supports Children and Families with Special Medical Needs
  • healing treatment, holistic, therapy

• Is This Your Calling? Share Your Passion for Special Needs — Become a Licensed Advocate of Protected Tomorrows
  • advocate, special needs planning, business

• Making a Difference with Hannah and Friends
  • Coach, Weis, PDD, Autism, Landau Kleffner Syndrome, seizures

• Mothering with a Disability
  • Posterior Fossa Arachnoid Cyst, challenge, parenting

• New Disorder EoE Does Not Stop Determined Family
  • EoE, eosinophil, esophagus, feeding tube

• The Palin Family’s Journey
  • Sarah Palin, Trig, Down Syndrome, normal, grandparents

• The Power of Film
  • Sprout film festival, entertainment, education, stereotype

• Protected Tomorrows Charities Announces First Project: Transform U
  • certified fitness professional, employment, fitness, group exercise instructor, personal trainer

• Road Trip for a Great Cause
  • advocacy, awareness, fundraising, Phelan-McDermid Syndrome, Drive4Rebecca

• Therapy Equals Fun!
  • emotional, recreation
• How to Explain Autism to Children
  • Encouraging understanding and compassion toward those on the spectrum

 Legal

• Divorce and Planning for the Disabled Child or Spouse
  • Divorce, child support, alimony, benefits, SSI, Medicaid, special needs trusts

• Guardianship: Things to Consider Before Filing a Petition with the Court
  • Guardianship, powers of attorney, court, capacity for decisions

• Special Needs Trust: Put Money Aside Without Jeopardizing Benefits
  • planning, finances, estate planning, government benefits

• What’s So Special About Special Needs Planning?
  • finances, life planning, estate planning, government benefits, special needs trusts, transition

 Recreation

• From Victory Lane to Victory Junction
  • Petty family, NASCAR, camp

• Hidden Disabilities on the Field: Working with Your Child’s Coach
  • athlete, compete, competition, physical education, job coach

• Integrative Touch for Kids (ITK) Supports Children and Families with Special Medical Needs
  • healing treatment, holistic, therapy

• Protected Tomorrows Charities Announces First Project: Transform U
  • certified fitness professional, employment, fitness, group exercise instructor, personal trainer

• Social Cue Clueless? How to Help Your Child with Special Needs on the Playground
  • social maturity, getting along, recreation, play

• Therapy Equals Fun!
  • emotional, recreation
• Enhancing Well-Being and Happiness for People with ASD Through Fine Arts
  • exploration, creativity, and self expression
• Creating the Ultimate Sensory Room for Your Toddler
  • How to create a sensory room for a toddler that is safe, calming, and engaging
• 12 Popular Games Adapted for Children with Autism
  • Popular children’s games and adaptations that can be made to support children with autism to successfully play them
• Top Safety Tips and Products for Kids With Autism
  • Why Safety Is an Issue for Children With Autism
• 18 Social Skills Activities for Kids with Autism and Sensory Issues
  • Social skills activities and practical tips to help you teach social skills to a child on the autism spectrum

 Residential/Housing/Accessibility

• Architectural endeavors resolve social issues like special needs – Boston 07
  • home design, accessible, ADA
• Designing Your Accessible Home: Working With a Specialized Architect
  • home design, accessible, ADA
• Disability Rights in Private and Public Housing
  • home design, accessible, ADA
• Making a Difference with Hannah and Friends
  • Coach, Weis, PDD, Autism, Landau Kleffner Syndrome, seizures
• Cold Weather Health Tips for Seniors
  • elderly, prevention
• Home Safety Tips for Seniors
  • elderly, prevention
• Optimize Your Living Space… by Pretending to Move
  • home design, interior design, physical space, organization, relaxation
• How to Create the Ultimate Playroom for a Child with Autism
  • home design, interior design, physical space

 Special Needs Planning

• Guardianship: Things to Consider Before Filing a Petition with the Court
  • Guardianship, powers of attorney, court, capacity for decisions

• Is This Your Calling? Share Your Passion for Special Needs — Become a Licensed Advocate of Protected Tomorrows
  • advocate, special needs planning, business

• Special Needs Planning Series: Part 1 — Taking the First Step
  • dreams, fears, financial, future, goals, hopes, workshops

• Special Needs Planning Series: Part 2 — Taking the Next Step
  • cash flow, education, financial, recreation, residential, transition

• Special Needs Planning Series: Part 3 — The Next Step — Exploring Legal Options
  • special needs trust, estate plan, guardianship, attorney, trustee

• Special Needs Planning Series: Part 4 — Step Four — Taking Advantage of Government Benefits and Services
  • disability, Medicaid, Medicare, programs, recreation, social security, SSI, SSDI

• Special Needs Planning Series: Part 5 — Step Five — Document the Wonder
  • caregiver, routines, letter of intent, family, story

• Special Needs Planning Series: Part 6 — Step Six — Begin the Transition
  • living, recreation, employment, education, resources, group home, independent, CILA, residential

• Special Needs Planning Series: Part 7 — Step Seven — How to Fund Your Special Needs Plan
  • asset, cash flow, insurance, finance, financial, estate plan
• Recommended Tools for Your Journey — The Online Future Care Planning System
  • future, special needs planning, legal, government benefits, document, transition, funding, financia
• What’s So Special About Special Needs Planning?
  • finances, life planning, estate planning, government benefits, special needs trusts, transition

 Spotlight on Disabilities

• Spotlight on: Cerebral Palsy
• Spotlight on: Down Syndrome
• Spotlight on: Epilepsy
• Spotlight on: Poland’s Syndrome
• Spotlight on: Spina Bifida
• Spotlight on: Spinal Muscular Atrophy

 Transition

• Making the Transition Into Community Living
  • high school, graduate, young adult, residential

 Travel

• Tips for Traveling: A Checklist for Parents of Children with Special Needs
  • recreation, vacation, holiday

 Tools

• Glossary
• Recommended Tools for Your Journey — The Online Future Care Planning System
  • future, special needs planning, legal, government benefits, document, transition, funding, financial
• Social Security & Medicaid Benefits That May Be Available to You
  • SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, earnings, employment, work, income