Discovering that your child is on the spectrum, or has another disability that creates a bunch of special needs is very difficult for everyone, and puts a real strain on the entire family. My legal training allowed me to move from a place of anguish to one of advocacy. Helping others became a challenge that I looked forward to more and more, as I spent less and less time practicing other areas of law. Whether you have spent years working the system to advocate for your child, or days, there are always more things to learn, more angles to navigate around and through.

• Insurance through state or federal Medicaid may be available, even if you earn a good living.
• Your insurance coverage may pay for a lot more of the testing and other services than they are willing to admit.
• Different programs or school placements may be available at no cost. Grants for summer programs are often available.
• A gap year may be in your child’s future, but finding the right program can be difficult.