Written by: Elena MacDonald, PT, Foundation Board Member

Caring for a child with special needs can be a physically demanding task, especially when it comes to lifting and transferring the child. It is important for caregivers to learn proper lifting and transferring techniques to avoid injury to both themselves and the child.

Lifting and transferring your child with special needs requires careful planning and execution. Unique physical needs and abilities of your child must be considered, as well as your own strength and mobility.

Tips On Proper Lifting and Transferring Techniques

Assess your child’s needs and abilities:

This includes considering the child’s weight, mobility, and any medical devices or equipment they may use. Consult with the child’s healthcare provider or physical therapist for guidance on the best lifting and transferring methods for the child’s specific needs.

Use proper body mechanics:

Using proper body mechanics is essential for lifting and transferring a child with special needs safely. The caregiver should stand with their feet shoulder-width apart, bend their knees, and keep their back straight. Keep shoulders down and abdominal muscles tight. Bring the child you are lifting as close as possible to your body and use your legs to do the work, not the muscles of your back. Avoid combining lifting and twisting wherever possible, and try not to move suddenly. Instead, pivot on your feet so your entire body turns.

Utilize assistive devices:

Assistive devices such as slings, gait belts, transfer boards, and hoyer lifts can make lifting and transferring a child with special needs easier and safer. Caregivers should be trained in how to properly use these devices and when they are appropriate to use.

Involve the child in the process:

Involving the child in the lifting and transferring process can help them feel more comfortable and in control. Caregivers can ask the child to help with the transfer by holding onto a gait belt or assistive device, or by communicating their needs during the transfer process.

Seek additional training and support:

Caregivers should seek additional training and support as needed to ensure they are using proper lifting and transferring techniques. This can include working with a physical or occupational therapist, attending a caregiver training program, or seeking advice from other caregivers who have experience caring for children with special needs.

Written by: Elena MacDonald, Foundation Board Member

In January, parents joined us for our workshop “ Financial Planning and Special Needs Trust”. Our speakers included Ross Hilluka & team from Thrivent Financial Services, & David Wick, an attorney who specializes in estate planning. Topics included special needs trusts, supplemental needs trusts, & ABLE accounts. While these terms can be confusing, they are helpful to understand when planning for the future when you have a child that may qualify for government programs when they turn 18, for example Medicaid & SSI.

Similarities and Differences

Special needs trusts & supplemental needs trusts have both similarities & differences. They are similar in that they both provide funds to pay for certain goods & services that are not covered by government programs & also help protect eligibility for government programs.

They are also different. A special needs trust is funded by the individual with disabilities, whereas a supplemental needs trust is funded by a family member. They also differ in what happens to the remaining money in the trust after the primary beneficiary dies. With a special needs trust, the state must be reimbursed, dollar-for-dollar for Medicaid expenses incurred during the beneficiary’s life. Any remaining funds in the trust can go to a secondary beneficiary. However, with a supplemental needs trust, Medicaid is not reimbursed, & the remaining funds can be passed to beneficiaries (for example: siblings).

I am going to focus on supplemental needs trusts since these trusts tend to be funded by parents or grandparents. A supplemental needs trust is a trust that focuses on enhancing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities by supplementing rather than replacing government benefits. The flowsheet demonstrates how this type of trust is funded and what the trust funds can be used for. It also reflects government benefits including food, shelter, & clothing.

Interested in Learning More?

If you are interested in learning more about supplemental needs trusts and special needs trusts, it is best to contact a lawyer who specializes in estate planning for families who have loved ones with disabilities. Usually the lawyers will meet with you for a complimentary visit to discuss your unique situation and answer questions.

Written by: Tiana Burda, OTR/L, Occupational Therapy Lead at Family Achievement Center

FAC OTs work with children to recognize and regulate their emotions, sensory triggers and behaviors. We all interpret information throughout the day from eight senses. The eight senses include Visual (Sight), Auditory (Sound), Olfactory (Smell), Tactile (Touch), Gustatory (Taste), Proprioception, Vestibular, and Interoception. These eight senses give us the information needed to process and function as our best selves. Sensory dysfunction can cause anxiety, confusion, and dysregulation, further impacting our ability to regulate our emotions.

How Do Occupational Therapists Help?

OTs help families in many ways including education, environmental adaptations, and creating sensory diets to improve participation in daily living routines. The use of sensory diets can help parents be proactive with regulation enhancing a child’s ability to participate in challenging activities. OTs can partner with parents and school staff to address challenges with sensory dysfunction and emotional regulation.

Programs such as the Alert Program, Zones of Regulations, and Autism Level Up Energy Meter can give children the language and ability to express their emotions and identify various body signals. It is important for parents to co-regulate with their child prior to expecting their child to regulate their emotions independently.

Occupational Therapy is not the only discipline that can work with emotional regulation; Behavioral interventions, play therapy, mental health practitioners and/or family counseling are other great options for families.

When your child qualifies for special education services, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) becomes a cornerstone of their academic and schooling journey. It’s more than just a document—it’s a roadmap tailored to your child’s unique needs, strengths, and goals. But for many caregivers, the IEP process can feel overwhelming, confusing, and emotionally charged. Here’s how to navigate it with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

Understanding the IEP: What It Is and Why It Matters

An individualized education program (or IEP) is a written statement for a student with a disability that is developed, reviewed, and revised by a team of people, including the student’s family, that outlines an educational plan for the student. An IEP is a legally binding plan developed by a team of educators, specialists, and you—the parent/caregiver. The IEP ensures your child receives a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Note: An IEP is different than a 504 as the accommodations provided by a 504 plan tend to be more generalized, whereas an IEP provides more specific individual supports and services.

It outlines:

• Present level of academic achievement and function performance
• Specific goals for the year
• Special education services and supports
• Accommodations and modifications
• How progress will be measured

Preparing for the IEP Meeting

Preparation is key. Here’s how to get ready:

1. Review existing documents: Read through previous IEPs, evaluations, and progress reports.
2. Know your rights: Familiarize yourself with IDEA and your state’s special education laws.
3. List your concerns and goals: What’s working? What’s not? What do you want to see change?
4. Bring support: You can invite an advocate, therapist, or trusted friend to the meeting.

Collaborating with the IEP Team

The IEP team typically includes:

• Your child’s general and special education teachers
• A school psychologist or evaluator
• A district representative
• You (and your child, if appropriate)

Approach the meeting as a collaboration, not a confrontation. Ask questions like:

• “Can you explain how this goal was developed?”
• “What data supports this decision?”
• “How will this accommodation help my child in the classroom?”

Monitoring Progress and Staying Involved

IEPs aren’t static. You should receive regular updates and be part of any changes. Stay engaged by:

• Attending parent-teacher conferences
• Requesting progress reports
• Communicating regularly with teachers
• Asking for reevaluations if needed

If you disagree with the IEP, you have options: mediation, due process hearings, or filing a complaint with your state’s education agency.

In today’s wellness-focused world, terms like mental health and occupational therapy are used often—sometimes even interchangeably. But while they’re interconnected in meaningful ways, they serve very different purposes. Earlier this spring, Family Achievement Center’s occupational therapists, Tiana Burda OTR/L and Angie Ellingson, OTR/L and Child Mental Health Practitioner from Apricity Counseling and Wellness, and a Clinical Psychologist presented on how OT and mental health can work to treat the whole child and when a child may benefit from one or the other or both synchronously.

What Is Mental Health?

Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences how we think, feel, and behave. Good mental health enables people to manage stress, maintain relationships, make decisions, and bounce back from adversity.

When challenges arise—like anxiety, depression, trauma, or mood disorders—they can disrupt everyday life and overall well-being. Mental health is a broad umbrella that encompasses everything from emotional regulation to psychiatric conditions, and is supported by various professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and counselors.

In pediatric mental health, specifically, there are many forms of mental health therapy including: talk therapy, play therapy, Parent/Child Interaction Therapy, family therapy and SPACE (supportive parent for anxious childhood emotions) therapy.

Where Does Occupational Therapy Fit In?

Occupational therapy (OT) helps people do the things they want and need to do through therapeutic use of daily activities. Pediatric OT focuses on sensory processing related to emotion regulation thus also playing a role in mental health treatment. OT doesn’t diagnose mental health disorders, but it provides practical strategies to manage them and live well with them.

Key Differences at a Glance

Mental Health	Occupational Therapy
Focuses on overall emotional and psychological well-being.	Focuses on function—helping individuals engage in meaningful daily activities.
Can be supported by therapy, medication, lifestyle changes.	Uses personalized activities and environmental modifications to support daily routines.
Often includes diagnosis and treatment of mental illness (anxiety, OCD, trauma).	Does not diagnose, but works with diagnosed conditions to improve quality of life.
Parent training and coaching (PCIT, SPACE) Parents can benefit from behavior management to help child with behaviors that are not due to sensory concerns.	Identifies a child’s unique sensory needs and provides strategies that can improve daily routines & identifies strategies for emotion regulation for a sensory perspective based on child’s abilities which may include co-regulation, interoceptive awareness, self-regulation.
Providers: psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers.	Providers: licensed occupational therapists.

The Power of Collaboration

While they serve different roles, OT and mental health care providers often collaborate. A mental health therapist might help someone process trauma, while the OT helps them manage sensory triggers in real-life situations. Together, they create a holistic circle of care that addresses both inner healing and everyday living. OT and mental health can collaborate on emotional regulation and transitions to support the underlying factors that impact function.

Occupational therapy steps in to bridge the gap between things we may struggle with and daily life. OT doesn’t replace mental health treatment—it complements it. Some children benefit from OT in conjunction with mental health to promote holistic wellness.

Find out more by watching our free Resource Series on our YouTube Channel.