By LIFEPlan Guest Writer: Stacy Mason, LMSW, Hudson Valley Regional Liaison 2020 is a year that has forced us all to adjust to change in how we do things. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 Pandemic now threatens Thanksgiving and Holiday traditions. Many…
Continue ReadingThe term “essential worker” has become familiar to all of us since COVID-19 took hold of the world. The term is often used to refer to doctors, nurses, first responders, and direct support professionals as these roles are visible to the public. As we have learned though, there are many essential workers who quietly provide critical services and supports,…
Continue ReadingDevelopmental milestones are something that we have never taken for granted having two sons with autism. But we never give up. They are 22 and 20 now, and we have gotten in the habit of regularly setting small goals for…
Continue ReadingWhen Covid-19 started, my son’s IRA was on lock down. We were given a choice to leave him or bring him home. So, we chose to keep him in his IRA, where he was comfortable and better protected from the…
Continue ReadingPeople who support persons with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD), are adaptable, flexible, committed, and capable of stretching in their capacity in many ways. These characteristics come together to provide care for people with needs in the form of a caregiver. …
Continue ReadingLIFEPlan member and self-advocate on the Member & Family Advisory Council, Brendan Klein, 25, has turned his love for film-making and social media into opportunities for hundreds of other young adults with disabilities to make friends, share their experiences and…
Continue ReadingFor LIFEPlan member Spencer Blevins, challenges are part of everyday life. Spenser is a young man on the Autism Spectrum but that has not stopped him from doing what he loves. Spencer was struggling in school. Like many who have autism, he needed support learning how to respond to different social…
Continue ReadingLIFEPlan Member and Hudson Valley Regional Liaison Stacy Mason shares the story of her family journey with a seizure disorder. In my 16 years working as a Social Worker and Parent Trainer with special needs families, I had worked with many families…
Continue ReadingOver the past five months the COVID-19 pandemic has given us plenty to complain about, but LIFEPlan Care Manager Melissa Imm chose to look at things differently, saying, “I am finding the silver lining in every single day and I’m staying positive.” Melissa only…
Continue ReadingSometimes the job of a Care Manager presents extraordinary opportunities to improve the lives of not only people we support but extends to peers and others alike. Such is the case with Abigail Remington, and the member she works with, Ed Duryea. Ed is…
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