Author: Brittany Long

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference: a home that’s easier to navigate, a way to communicate that’s finally understood, the confidence to brush teeth, wash hair, or take a shower independently, or an adaptive tool that helps your child do something on their own for the very first time. This week, …

If you’ve ever wondered, “Wait, is there a program that covers this?” you’re not alone. California has a patchwork of health plans, public benefits, and disability programs that can help pay for therapies, equipment, caregiving, and more — but figuring out which program covers what (and how they all work together) isn’t exactly intuitive. This …

I wanted to follow up on my last post with more of what happens when incentives are pointed in the wrong direction. Denials and obfuscation are just the start. From there, it cascades. A single NO doesn’t stop with one family. It spreads, it compounds, and it spirals out of control. Here are three of …

If you’ve ever sat in your car after an IEP meeting, replaying every word, wondering if you asked too many questions or not enough. If you’ve ever gone to bed carrying the weight of advocating for one child while trying to show up for your other children, your partner, your work, and yourself. If you’ve …

There’s been a lot happening in the disability community lately. This week, we’re breaking a few major updates and developing stories about California’s newly signed budget, a controversial DOJ memo on the Olmstead decision, and how proposed changes to what counts as “cost-effective” could affect Regional Center and SDP budgets (plus how to speak out!). …

There’s a version of financial planning most parenting articles talk about: save early, build a budget, write a will. And then there’s the version most families raising children with disabilities are actually living, where ABLE accounts, special needs trusts, and estate planning sit alongside eligibility rules, policies that change underneath you, and a future filled …

The US Department of Education just announced $144M to help families access early intervention and early special education services. There is a serious, well-documented gap between the support that would improve these kids’ lives and outcomes, and the support families can actually get. That the problem exists, and that it’s worth solving, we can agree …

If you’re parenting a medically complex child, you already know that no two days look the same — and that the learning never really stops. You’re managing a care team, coordinating appointments, navigating equipment and supplies, learning a whole new language of acronyms and medical terms, and preparing for challenges most parents never expect to …

We’re officially in the begging throes of summer — and if you’re parenting a child with a disability, you know that “school’s out” doesn’t always mean “stress is out.” Reality may be setting in: there are still months to go, lots of free time to fill, and a whole new summer schedule to get used …

When your child needs therapies, medical equipment, specialized care, or supports that insurance won’t fully cover, Medicaid is often one of the most important programs available to families. For California families, Medi-Cal (California’s version of Medicaid) can connect families to programs like IHSS, while Medicaid waiver programs across the country help many children with disabilities …