Comments for Helping Children with Special Needs Together http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt through linking Harvard's parents of children with special needs and disabilities with Harvard scholars, researchers, and students Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:03:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on Opt4College pilot research study by Randy Matthews http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/resources-outisde-of-harvard/opt4college-pilot-research-study/#comment-864 Randy Matthews Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:03:12 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/?page_id=119#comment-864 My son is currently a senior At Community High School in Teaneck NJ. Can I learn more about this reasearch program and could he still participate. My son is currently a senior At Community High School in Teaneck NJ. Can I learn more about this reasearch program and could he still participate.

]]> Comment on Special Needs Financial Planning Seminar by lisa http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/2009/09/10/worklife-workshop-special-needs-financial-planning-wednesday-september-30-12-130pm/#comment-267 lisa Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:44:46 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/?p=66#comment-267 Cynthia & (co-author) John have written an excellent special needs planning book. They give practical suggestions and advice you can use with your financial planner and attorney. Its great to get reminders about these things - as my child is getting older (now 15yo), she will soon be entering another realm of issues regarding public benefits, guardianship and transition planning - and we always need to be prepared! BTW - I met Cynthia years ago when her child & mine were both waiting for an early morning surgery. Like so many times before & since, we struck up a brief conversation simply because we were there facing similar situations with anxious, but brave kids. It's always frustrating when all you can do is hold them, comfort them and cheer them through the procedure & recovery. We quickly found common ground...Cynthia's co-author's wife, Susan Nadworny, is also an active advocate for children with special needs. Small world! Wish I could attend Cynthia's talk, however I work for Harvard in Brockton and can't attend these kinds of daytime events. I'm sure everyone will get a lot out of it. Cynthia & (co-author) John have written an excellent special needs planning book. They give practical suggestions and advice you can use with your financial planner and attorney. Its great to get reminders about these things – as my child is getting older (now 15yo), she will soon be entering another realm of issues regarding public benefits, guardianship and transition planning – and we always need to be prepared!

BTW – I met Cynthia years ago when her child & mine were both waiting for an early morning surgery. Like so many times before & since, we struck up a brief conversation simply because we were there facing similar situations with anxious, but brave kids. It’s always frustrating when all you can do is hold them, comfort them and cheer them through the procedure & recovery. We quickly found common ground…Cynthia’s co-author’s wife, Susan Nadworny, is also an active advocate for children with special needs. Small world!
Wish I could attend Cynthia’s talk, however I work for Harvard in Brockton and can’t attend these kinds of daytime events. I’m sure everyone will get a lot out of it.

]]> Comment on Special Needs Financial Planning Seminar by Miriam http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/2009/09/10/worklife-workshop-special-needs-financial-planning-wednesday-september-30-12-130pm/#comment-266 Miriam Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:44:06 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/?p=66#comment-266 Thanks for sharing your experience! ~Miriam Thanks for sharing your experience!

~Miriam

]]> Comment on Special Needs Financial Planning Seminar by Laura Price http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/2009/09/10/worklife-workshop-special-needs-financial-planning-wednesday-september-30-12-130pm/#comment-256 Laura Price Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:50:17 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/?p=66#comment-256 Hi everyone, We have two sons with autism and five years ago went through the process of establishing a special (supplemental )needs trust, plus set-up guardianship, living wills, etc. Our decision to tackle estate planning came about after a woman I worked with lost her brother and his wife in a car crash, leaving their two little kids parentless. My co-worker described what a nightmare it was to sort out life insurance, guardianship, etc. as the couple left no will. That situation really inspired my husband and me to act as our situation (two kids with special needs) would pose insurmountable challenges should we die without a proper will in place. I can't recommend enough going through this process. Yes, it was work and frankly emotional at times, but the peace of mind we have now is priceless. -Laura Hi everyone,
We have two sons with autism and five years ago went through the process of establishing a special (supplemental )needs trust, plus set-up guardianship, living wills, etc. Our decision to tackle estate planning came about after a woman I worked with lost her brother and his wife in a car crash, leaving their two little kids parentless. My co-worker described what a nightmare it was to sort out life insurance, guardianship, etc. as the couple left no will. That situation really inspired my husband and me to act as our situation (two kids with special needs) would pose insurmountable challenges should we die without a proper will in place. I can’t recommend enough going through this process. Yes, it was work and frankly emotional at times, but the peace of mind we have now is priceless.
-Laura

]]> Comment on Discussion Forum launched by stella chin http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/2009/06/12/discussion-forum/#comment-11 stella chin Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:21:03 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/?p=28#comment-11 Hi - I'm new at Harvard and would like to join this support group for parents of children with disabilities. I just registered for the forum, but can't find a way to put my email for notification of future meetings. Please advise. I'm the parent of a son with Asperger Syndrome, a condition at the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum. I would like to join a local support group to find resources and to share info. Thanks, Stella Chin Hi – I’m new at Harvard and would like to join this support group for parents of children with disabilities. I just registered for the forum, but can’t find a way to put my email for notification of future meetings. Please advise.

I’m the parent of a son with Asperger Syndrome, a condition at the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum. I would like to join a local support group to find resources and to share info.

Thanks,
Stella Chin

]]> Comment on June 2009 Networking Meeting (Workshop) by Miriam http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/2009/06/12/june-2009-networking-meeting-workshop/#comment-9 Miriam Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:29:08 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/?p=25#comment-9 Hi everyone, I went to today's meeting and thought it was very good. Someone told me once that when you meet with other parents to share information you will always learned something you didn't know before. This meeting was very informative and confirmed this fact. Even if my daughter do not qualify to participate of the Mass General Children Coordinated Clinic, I still gained a lot by attending the meeting. Shellie, the pedriatic social worker, provided information about other types of services available for our children and offered tips on how to navigate the education system. All of which is information I needed. Thank so much for putting this event together and I look forward to meeting you all again soon. Miriam Hi everyone,

I went to today’s meeting and thought it was very good. Someone told me once that when you meet with other parents to share information you will always learned something you didn’t know before. This meeting was very informative and confirmed this fact. Even if my daughter do not qualify to participate of the Mass General Children Coordinated Clinic, I still gained a lot by attending the meeting. Shellie, the pedriatic social worker, provided information about other types of services available for our children and offered tips on how to navigate the education system. All of which is information I needed. Thank so much for putting this event together and I look forward to meeting you all again soon.

Miriam

]]> Comment on Parents want a “networking” group by Rachel Herman http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/2009/04/17/the-need-for-a-networking-group/#comment-7 Rachel Herman Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:45:25 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/?p=10#comment-7 Hi, I missed being at the April 15th event because I work as a chef at Harvard whose primary focus is cooking for lunch. I also am deaf and even if the meeting were at a more convenient time I do not have access to large groups or meetings. I also am a single parent whose schedule involves precious little time for events at which my son cannot attend (especially in the Springtime, which is the busiest season for me). I appreciate the posting of any notes taken at meeting and availability of handouts. It would be good to have an online forum if feasible. -Regards, Rachel Hi,
I missed being at the April 15th event because
I work as a chef at Harvard whose primary focus is
cooking for lunch. I also am deaf and even if the meeting were at a more convenient time I do not have
access to large groups or meetings. I also am a single
parent whose schedule involves precious little time for
events at which my son cannot attend (especially in the
Springtime, which is the busiest season for me). I appreciate the posting of any notes taken at meeting and availability of handouts. It would be good to have an online forum if feasible. -Regards, Rachel

]]> Comment on First Workshop “Benefits and Resources at Harvard for Families with Children with Special Needs” by Marcy B. http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/2009/02/23/first-workshop-benefits-and-resources-at-harvard-for-families-with-children-with-special-needs/#comment-6 Marcy B. Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:03:10 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/?p=5#comment-6 I found the workshop quite helpful--not just for what the benefits department and Ms. Fluet had to offer in terms of information and resources. It was uplifting to see parents going through the same challenges as I do with "navigating the system." I am really excited about the opportunity to participate in an ongoing parent support network. Knowledge is power--but not if it lives in a vaccuum! A special thanks to Jolanta Davis for offering to start the group. I found the workshop quite helpful–not just for what the benefits department and Ms. Fluet had to offer in terms of information and resources. It was uplifting to see parents going through the same challenges as I do with “navigating the system.” I am really excited about the opportunity to participate in an ongoing parent support network. Knowledge is power–but not if it lives in a vaccuum! A special thanks to Jolanta Davis for offering to start the group.

]]> Comment on First Workshop “Benefits and Resources at Harvard for Families with Children with Special Needs” by QL http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/2009/02/23/first-workshop-benefits-and-resources-at-harvard-for-families-with-children-with-special-needs/#comment-4 QL Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:07:42 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/hcsnt/?p=5#comment-4 Look forward to the workshop. Are there any particular benefit catering to families with special need children? If the purpose of the workshop is to explain some generic benefit, it actually won't be that useful as we all know what these benefits are. Look forward to the workshop. Are there any particular benefit catering to families with special need children? If the purpose of the workshop is to explain some generic benefit, it actually won’t be that useful as we all know what these benefits are.

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