Apr 15, 2011 Posted by Jolene

What Is Your Dream Job?

Earlier this month, I attended the Accessibility Summit at McLean Bible Church in Vienna, Virginia. Listening to Temple Grandin speak was an eye opener and John Sheptock’s story was an inspiration. Even presenting my workshop about helping parents of kids with special needs overcome grief and battle guilt (Can you believe over 40 people attended such a Debbie Downer workshop?) was a delight. But for... read more

Mar 19, 2010 Posted by Jolene

College & Kids with Special Needs: Can They Go Together?

Sometimes thinking about the future is hard for parents of kids with special needs. If a child is severely developmentally delayed, parents worry about who will care for their child after they die. If a child’s needs are less severe, they worry about whether or not their will find work and be able to live independently. If a child struggles in school, parents wonder if they’ll graduate from... read more

Jan 1, 2010 Posted by Jolene

Meet Rachel, Part 2

In the previous post in this series you met Rachel, the mentally impaired young woman who wanted to live on her own after graduating from high school. In this post you’ll learn more about her mom, Jane Bernstein. Jane Bernstein In addition to being Rachel’s mom, Jane is an award-winning author. Some of her essays have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Ms and Glamour. She also teaches... read more

Dec 30, 2009 Posted by Jolene

Meet Rachel, Part 1

Being the parent of a special needs child is incredibly rewarding, but the role comes with a set of unique challenges. Choosing living arrangements for the child after graduation is one of them. Charlotte Glynn Through Twitter, I recently discovered a film that shows how the family worked through this challenge.  The film was created by Charlotte Glynn, the older sister of Rachel, a mentally impaired... read more

Oct 30, 2009 Posted by Jolene

Julie Papievis, Part 1: How a Brain Stem Injury Changed Her

Julie Papievis was a dynamo before the car accident that changed her life. Now, more than a decade after her brain stem was so badly damaged the EMTs were sure she would die, she’s a dynamo again. In the months and years between her injury and recovery, which was remarkable but not total, she struggled with depression and grief for the woman she used to be. Recently, I had the opportunity to interview... read more