Special Needs Planning

People with special needs may qualify for a variety of government benefits, including Medicaid and Medicare. What's the difference?...

Special Needs 101

A guardian ad litem (GAL) is not the same as a legal guardian. A legal guardian has ongoing authority over a person's life. A GAL has a narrower job: investigating, reporting, and advocating within the bounds of a single legal proceeding.

Learn what supported living services are, who they help, what supports are included, how Medicaid HCBS waivers may pay, and how to find and evaluate programs for adults with disabilities.

Accessible housing means having a home you can enter, move around in, and use safely day to day and in an emergency. For many people with disabilities, accessible housing can be the difference between living independently and needing daily assistance...

Learning that your child has a developmental disability can feel overwhelming. Many families are suddenly asked to make decisions while trying to understand medical terms, school processes, and available supports. Online resources can be a practical starting point.

Due to Medicaid expansion and a rise in autism diagnoses, applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy has seen huge spending increases as well as fraud, making it vital for parents to ensure high-quality care.

Learn about common types of disabilities, including physical, sensory, speech and language, and intellectual or developmental.

Many professionals offer specialized services to individuals with disabilities and their families. Understanding what these professionals do can help families support their loved one with a disability.

Here are 11 common acronyms in special needs planning and what to expect when you encounter them.