little boy laying in the shallow end of a pool with his chin resting on his hands, he is looking straight into the camera. He has dark brown hair and blue goggles on his head.
May 2, 2024

Sensational Summer – Sensory and Movement Activities to Reduce Stress and Improve Sensory Processing

Written by Maureen Bennie Summer is a great time to explore the outdoors, try new sensory activities and enjoy a more relaxed pace. Let’s explore some sensory activities that can help reduce stress while improving sensory processing and quality of life. Introduce Seasonal Foods Through Cooking and Gardening Activities There are two activities that we had our autistic son, Marc, do

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Boy with Cerebral Palsy smiling with his mother who is sitting next to him with her arm around him. She is looking at him and smiling.
March 27, 2024

Benefits of Assistive Technology for Students with Disabilities

What is Assistive Technology? In a very broad sense, most of us have used some kind of assistive technology (AT) during our lives. Consider eyeglasses, contact lenses, or hearing aids. Wheelchairs and grab bars, a must for many individuals with physical disabilities, are also considered assistive technology. These items are critical to meeting career, academic, recreational, and self-care needs. When

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Woman sitting on a couch holding a laptop toward the man in a wheelchair next to her, they are both looking at the screen and smiling.
February 26, 2024

What You Need to Know About Being an Adult with Disabilities

 A comprehensive guide for Adults with disabilities spearheaded by PBWS Partner Margaret ‘Peggy’ Graham for the Special Needs Alliance (SNA). Navigating the complexities of adulthood can be challenging, especially for individuals with disabilities and their families. The newest SNA guide “What You Need to Know About Being an Adult with Disabilities: A Handbook for Self-Advocates, Parents, Guardians, and Their Loved

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July 14, 2023

Preparing Young Adults with Disabilities for College

This post was authored by SNA member Beth C. Manes, Esq., Co-Founder and Partner at Manes & Weinberg Special Needs Lawyers, LLC. in Westfield, NJ, and Denise Gackenheimer Verzella, a Senior Associate with her firm. An SNA member since 2022, Beth focuses her practice on the areas of Special Education Law, Special Needs Planning, Guardianships and Estate Planning.   Every parent experiences some anxiety as

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April 13, 2021

If You Have an ABLE Account or Special Needs Trust Do You Need the Other?

ABLE Accounts and Special Needs Trusts serve different purposes but can be used together to give the beneficiary the most freedom and independence possible. An ABLE Account is a tool that was created by federal law (the same part of the tax code where we find 529 Education plans) to help people with disabilities save some money and be as

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January 8, 2021

PBWS Attorney Named to Special Needs Alliance

PBWS Attorney Named to Special Needs Alliance Albuquerque, NM —  January 6, 2021 — Attorney Margaret “Peggy” A. Graham of the law firm of Pregenzer, Baysinger, Wideman and Sale, PC (PBWS Law) has been selected as the newest member of the Special Needs Alliance. Established in 2002, the Special Needs Alliance (SNA) is a national, non-profit collective of many of

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new mexico estate planning and caregiver attorney
December 9, 2020

Paying Family Members to Provide Care for Special Needs Individuals

The Special Needs Alliance recognizes, paying a relative to care for a family member with disabilities can solve several challenges. This solution allows the individual requiring care to remain at home, where they likely feel most comfortable. As The Caregiver Space observes, paying a family member also acknowledges the important work they do and compensates them for the financial sacrifices

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July 3, 2019

Update on Special Needs Planning Seminar 2019 Video and Handouts (June 26 & 27, 2019)

The Update on Special Needs Planning Seminar was held on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Thursday, June 27, 2019, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The seminar was hosted at the DoubleTree Hilton and New Mexico CPA Society from 3:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m. Presented by: Pregenzer, Baysinger, Wideman & Sale, PC (PBWS) First American Bank ARCA

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June 10, 2019

What is the DD Waiver and Why Does it Matter for Special Needs Families?

The DD Waiver is the Developmentally Disabled Waiver in New Mexico. It is a Medicaid program that provides services to qualifying individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Often people ask what the “waiver” part means. One of the qualifying questions for the DD Waiver is whether the individual would otherwise qualify for nursing home level of care (NHLOC). If so,

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April 18, 2018

Update on Special Needs Planning Seminar 2018 Video and Handouts (April 11, 2018)

The Update on Special Needs Planning Seminar was held on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The seminar was hosted at the New Mexico Society of CPAs from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. Presented by: Pregenzer, Baysinger, Wideman & Sale, PC (PBWS) Zia Trust, Inc. The Arc of New Mexico ARCA Presentors: Elaine Solimon, Community Relations Director of ARCA Bridget

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December 1, 2017

3 Simple Tips for Enjoying the Holidays with Special Needs Kids

Tis the Season- Holidays can be a stressful time in general, but particularly for children with a disability such as autism, Asperger’s or a sensory processing disorder. All of the hyped-up energy, excitement and new adventures is multiplied by ten for them, and can be really difficult to handle. I have seen how the holidays can overwhelm my typically developing

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September 13, 2017

7 Things You Don’t Know About a Special Needs Parent

About 6 million kids in America are Special Needs and receive special education, according to the U.S. Department of Education. One out of every 10 children under the age of 14 has some type of special need, which includes any physical, cognitive, or medical disability, or chronic or life-threatening illness. Raising a child with any disorder, condition or special need,

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April 10, 2017

Special Needs Children – Know the Types and Know Your Rights

18.5% of American Children under age 18 are Special Needs Children.  That doesn’t mean that they aren’t smart, talented or capable.  Just that they have specific challenges that a “normal” student would not face. There are four major types of special needs children: Physical – muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, chronic asthma, epilepsy, etc. Developmental – down syndrome, autism, dyslexia, processing

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December 28, 2016

Is There an Age Limit for Special Needs Trusts?

For Special Needs Trusts, as usual, the answer is, it depends. Special Needs Trusts (SNTs) are a way to save money for disabled persons that do not risk a person’s eligibility for government funded programs, such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). There are three (3) types of Special Needs Trusts. They are: Self-Settled Special Needs Trust Third-Party Special

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July 20, 2016

Moving to a New State Can Get Complicated

Posted on July 5, 2016 by The Arc. To read the original article, please click HERE.  By Wendy H. Sheinberg, CELA written for The Arc in partnership with the Special Needs Alliance.  Moving to another state is a challenge for most families. If a family member has disabilities, that challenge is even greater. State benefit programs vary, and states administer federal programs at

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March 14, 2016

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month: 3 Ways to Recognize, Celebrate, and Support People with Special Needs

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! While many advances have been made for people with developmental disabilities, there is still a long road ahead. In the Special Needs Alliance article, Robert B. Fleming, discusses advances and setbacks surrounding developmentally disabled people from 1987 to present. How can we recognize, celebrate, and help support those with Developmental Disabilities? Here are a

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February 22, 2016

It’s All About Perspective – A Different Perspective From My Special Needs Daughter

How often are we sitting in traffic, running late, hitting every red light, and becoming more and more frustrated?  Or maybe waiting in a line that never seems to move, or in a doctor’s office waiting room well past your appointment time?  We all experience these frustrations, but we all know that getting angry or frustrated or having a melt-down

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January 25, 2016

How 529 Plans are Opening Doors to the Disabled

When you think of a 529 plan, you probably think of the 529 college-savings plan. Well, there’s a new 529 plan available now – the 529 ABLE (“Achieving a Better Life Experience”) account. The 529 ABLE account will provide eligible disabled people a savings vehicle that offers the same tax-free growth as a 529 college-savings plan provides. In December 2014,

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June 29, 2015

Summary of the 2015 Legislative Report and ABLE Act

In our firm, we work with many families that include people with disabilities, and disability issues rank high on our list of top priorities. We like to keep an eye out for laws that pertain to disability issues to keep our clients informed about how it may affect them or their loved ones. Here is brief recap of the Disability

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May 11, 2015

Planning for Your Special Needs Child – Surviving Your Child’s IEP Meeting

Your child has been evaluated and determined to be in need of special educations service.  Now you’ve been informed that there will be an IEP meeting for your child.  This notification must be provided to you in writing and in advance of the planned meeting.  Usually the school will provide you with a date and time for the meeting.  If

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March 31, 2015

Special Needs Resources – A Parents Best Friend

There are many resources available for parents help their special needs children in many areas. There are resources for obtaining equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, adaptive strollers, car seats, swings, high chairs and more.  There are resources for obtaining therapies and various specialized medical services.  There are resources for adaptive activities and entertainment such as bowling, horseback riding, kayaking, soccer,

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March 25, 2015

Special Needs Planning – For You and Your Child

Just like parenting a typically developing child, parenting a Special Needs Child is full of challenges and rewards.  Milestones are anticipated and often met, but many times much later than the typical age and often with much therapy, intervention and work.  While there are many books and articles about parenting children with various special needs, every child is different and

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March 15, 2015

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Opportunities and Misconceptions March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Owing to parent advocacy and landmark legislation, communities have become significantly more responsive to the needs of people such as my daughter, Emily, who has cerebral palsy and autism. But challenges remain, and families continue to band together throughout the U.S. to help one another, increase general understanding, and lobby for

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June 16, 2014

Nell Graham Sale helps the Special Needs Alliance

We learned about Paws and Stripes when they received an award for best new nonprofit in 2013. They have been in business since 2010 in Albuquerque. We need to recognize the number of disabled veterans that have returned from the two wars of the last decade, and understand that even though they are soldiers, they encounter the same obstacles that

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March 11, 2011

The Special Needs Alliance

I attended a spring “boot camp” of the Special Needs Alliance last weekend.  I have been a member of this organization since 2002.  It is an invitation-only professional organization of lawyers who have expertise in planning with families who have disabled family members.  These lawyers are a reliable place to start when a family needs to know about trusts, Medicaid

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