By Katherine N. Barr, Esq. The prevalence of divorce for couples having a child with special needs is hotly contested. Some studies cite divorce rates up to 85 percent, while studies at the Kennedy Center at Vanderbilt University have reported significantly lower rates than the general population for couples having a child with Down syndrome. [...]
By Ann McGee Green, Esq. Transition planning, which readies a young person with disabilities for adulthood, should ideally begin at the age of 14 or 15. At that time, the teen, parents, and educators should discuss the skills that will be needed to support "life after school." Will college be an option? Is employment likely? [...]
By Brian Rubin, Esq. The availability of community-based housing is enormously important for individuals with disabilities. Living in natural home settings and interacting with the wider community provide opportunities for personal growth, independence, and the building of self-esteem. For more than 20 years, I have served on the board of directors of Clearbrook, a social [...]
By Bridget O’Brien Swartz, CELA The budget deficit dialogue underway at both state and federal levels seriously threatens the well-being of individuals with disabilities. Various proposals to restructure Medicaid are being floated, but the one that has received the most publicity would end the federal government’s commitment to pay approximately 60 percent of state expenditures [...]