Takeaways Over the past decade, diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have climbed sharply. Among 8-year-olds, the rate rose to one in 31 by 2022, compared with one in 150 in 2000. This surge has driven demand
Takeaways More than one in four adults in the United States have a disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Disability is not one single experience. Some people are born with a
Takeaways Why Housing Creates Benefit Problems — and Why ABLE Is Different Housing is often the single biggest barrier to independence for eligible individuals with disabilities who rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. Even when families
Takeaways Having conversations about end-of-life care can be challenging, and many people avoid them. According to The Conversation Project, 92 percent of Americans acknowledge the importance of talking over their end-of-life care wishes but only 32
Takeaways AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving recently published a joint report titled Caregiving in the U.S. 2025: Caring Across States. According to the research, an estimated 63 million Americans are serving as family caregivers. That is roughly
Takeaways Many people who rely on intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) services are not receiving the level of service they should receive. In part, experts say this is because for the past several years private equity firms
Takeaways In 2014, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act established tax-advantaged savings accounts for people with disabilities to cover qualified disability-related expenses. With an ABLE account, eligible people with disabilities can put aside
Takeaways The modern family is no longer defined by the nuclear model. Today, blended families — where one or both partners bring children from previous relationships — are increasingly common. So-called “nontraditional” families, including blended
For families navigating the complexities of raising a child with special needs, long-term financial planning is more than a goal—it’s a necessity. If you’re a member of the Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), you may
Guest author: Susan Mack of Engage IL Engage IL is a grassroots coalition representing the interests of self-advocates with disabilities and their families who want to create a self-directed, strength-based life in their home community.
