What is?

Everything.

Your kids eat a balanced diet and get good night’s sleep. In the morning, they wake up, get dressed and get ready for school. You even make it to the bus stop a few minutes early to chat with the other parents, coffee in one hand and wave your little one good bye with the other. You’re also beautiful, in shape, hair done, with a clean house and a rose garden in this dream.

We live in an alternate universe. One that requires patience, endurance, and empathy 24/7/365. It’s existentially exhausting.

We live with food allergies, seizures, ADHD, sleep disorders, sensory seekers, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, auditory processing disorders, ASD, intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, and medical conditions no one can pronounce. The Redbook Juggler has nothing on us.

Some of us are just happy if our kids eat at all. Or if they will wear socks today. Or wont have a meltdown if their favorite Minecraft t shirt isn’t washed. “You wore it yesterday, sweetheart. Wear the green Minecraft shirt today.” But honey, you can wear the blue one tomorrow after mommy washes it.” No, love, I cannot wash it in 10 minutes. It takes time and the bus is coming in 5 minutes.” “How about the brand new yellow one? You look awesome in yellow.” “I’m sorry, pumpkin, but the blue shirt is dirty and we missed the bus.” “Here’s the another blue shirt and a cookie. We can make it to school on time if we leave now.” “How about socks?”

When 50% of families with a disabled child are being raised by single and solo parents, we are truly sailing solo. Every expert is a silo and we are forced to navigate this world alone. When our kids are little, we don’t even know who or where other parents in our situation are located. We turn to the social media of the week. We find community, which is very important, but it is filled a lot of misinformation a lot of the time. I found myself commenting the same laws, facts, information time and time again. It’s time to keep all this information in one place.

I will cover Special Education, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, Health Care Coverage in general, Transitioning to Adult Services, Medicaid Waivers including Home and Community Based Services and Long Term Services and Supports, Guardianship, Supported Decision Making, Special Needs Trust, Life insurance and Long Term Care and Disability insurance. And anything else that will come our way.

I went college to study Life, Disability, and Health insurance. I am a Chartered Life Underwriting, Certified Financial Planner professional, and a Chartered Special Needs Consultant. I spent my career helping my clients plan for the future and against the unexpected so they may maintain a quality of life how they see fit. Our children deserve the same. Welcome to my blog.

Gail