John Mews, NMT, MA, AMFT, aside from being an associate marriage and family therapist, is a special needs family and parenting coach and an expert in neurologic music therapy. He explains the benefits of music therapy, shares the success stories of his clients, and discusses the differences between traditional music classes and his unique approach. He has helped many individuals with special needs deal with speech and language delays, motor control issues, behavioral challenges, and more. 

Keith Conley is a certified financial planner and brings a diverse background to his work. He outlines an assortment of available resources and how to best approach their application to your particular situation. We discuss the various tools, support team and tips that are essential to planning correctly for the financial future of your loved one. 

Matt and Navah Asner, both staunch advocates for the special needs community, discuss the many programs and support services offered by The Ed Asner Family Center. Named in honor of Matt’s father, the late actor Ed Asner, the center offers a variety of classes from the arts, to cooking, to keeping fit as well as guidance on preparing for and keeping a job. They also offer counseling and other support services. The Center’s goal and philosophy are “…to establish an oasis of creativity in every special needs community. A place where our most beautiful dreamers of all can have their place to thrive and in doing so learn valuable lessons about themselves and the world.”

Gerry Kane, an attorney and certified specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law, discusses the importance of proper planning to provide for a lifetime of care for your loved one with special needs. We talk about special needs trusts, ABLE accounts and finding the right person to help you with this process plus much more. He has written a book titled Financial and Legal Planning for a Lifetime of Support for Your Special Child.

Dr. Vindia Fernandez shares her expertise and experience in conducting appropriate neuropsychological assessments on children who are bilingual. She discusses the challenges, misinformation, and misunderstandings that can occur during this process, as well as the effect these can have on cognitive development and achievement. Dr. Fernandez gives us tips on how to avoid these mistakes and find the right fit for the person with special needs and their family. 

Helen Wade, M.A., founder and executive director of Speech, Language and Educational Associates shares relevant and important information about the services her organization offers, including behavioral, occupational and educational therapy, and the many benefits derived from these types of therapy for those with special needs, disabilities and severe medical conditions. 

Joanne Lara, M.A., addresses the problem of unemployment in the special needs and disabled communities and what we can do to change those statistics and put the odds in favor of those populations. She shares ideas and tools for getting young people on the right track to employment and discusses the programs and services offered by Autism Works Now! and Glorious Pies, a work program operated by young people on the autism spectrum. 

Chris Durian, founder of SwimScaape, talks about the adaptive techniques he and his organization use to teach swimming and water safety to those with special needs. His approach stresses having fun and gaining confidence while learning to be comfortable and safe in the water. Have you heard about the YODA method? Just ask Chris!