Our faith tells us we are not alone and that we travel together with OUR GOD through difficult times
—Monsignor James C. Vlaun
The Family Business can be passed on to the next generation successfully if everything is done correctly. The LaSpina’s family story is a success story.
John LaSpina is a second generation owners of Maple Lanes in Brooklyn, NY, and also owns five other bowling alleys on Long Island. His children are now involved as the business passes to the third generation of LaSpinas and John’s son Joseph joins the conversation.
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People with disabilities are living longer than ever before, outliving their parents. Over 65% of adults with mental illness and 80% of adults with developmental disabilities live with their parents, most of who are in their 60s, 70s and 80s.
When a child is born with special needs it’s usually the parents that bear the responsibility for that child. But what happens when the parents are no longer living or able to take care of their child? Is it then the siblings’ responsibility? Are they available, willing and able?
Our show takes a look into the lives of the Kooper Family. Rebecca Kooper is a loving and caring sister to her brother, Billy. For a time she not only had to see to her brother’s needs but also the needs of her father, Max who had Alzheimer’s. Rebecca became Billy’s guardian after the death of her parents.
Not only do we meet Rebecca Kooper, we also have the input of Aaron Liebowitz, the Executive Director of Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities (ACLD) and one of my law firm’s partners, Frank L. Buquicchio who will share their insights about the services available for adults with special needs as well as the specifics involved in special needs planning.
In my special needs law practice, we meet with many families who plan for the future but unfortunately many more deal with these issues in crisis. It all starts with family and the relationships that are created from birth. When the parents pass away or are in failing health, the siblings or one of them will be asked to step up to the plate.
This is the time when the siblings are truly tested. I have seen the love and dedication of siblings for their brother or sister with special needs, helping their brother or sister live with dignity.
It truly takes a village to navigate life in every family. There are personal, financial and legal issues that all need to be dealt with.
FAMILY truly does Come First.
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The mission of ACLD is to support the pursuit of an enviable life for people with developmental disabilities.
Until the 1980s, medically fragile children were most often cared for in hospitals and then institutions. Deinstitutionalization, which started with Willowbrook, resulted in children being moved into community settings. In addition, advances in healthcare technology have enabled more children with special needs to leave hospitals.
More and more children are leaving hospitals which puts extreme pressure on these families to provide for their children who require more medical equipment and 24 hour specialized care. This all comes at a very high cost, emotionally, physically and financially.
Our show takes a look into the lives of the Altbacker Family. You will meet Liz and Chris Altbacker and their three beautiful children, Kiera, Sydney and Timmy. Their oldest daughter, Kiera has multiple challenges that require constant medical care. She is “medically fragile.”
The Altbackers brought Kiera home and their lives have never been the same.
Not only do we meet the Altbacker Family, we also have the privilege of hearing from Bob Policastro, the Founder of Angela’s House, and one of my law firm’s partners, Frank L. Buquicchio, who shares their insights about services and resources including specifics involved in special needs planning.
The topic of this episode is very personal for me and my wife as we brought our medically fragile daughter, Theresa, home to live with us. When a child has profound disabilities and complex medical needs, providing the needed round-the-clock care can be exhausting and overwhelming. Though it sometimes may seem daunting at times, with the love and support of family, children who are medically fragile children can grow and thrive at home. The Altbacker family shows all of us that a loving family is often the best medicine.
When my daughter was born, there was no Angela’s House that helps care for these children living at home with parents or in special homes that offer 24 hour nursing support. Today, with the help from organizations like Angela’s House families can continue to provide a loving home for their children.
In Theresa’s honor, we founded the Theresa Foundation which supports music, dance, art and recreation programs and have opened the Theresa Academy of Performing Arts for children with special needs in Lido Beach, New York. Find out more by visiting www.TheresaFoundation.org.
We are ALL one big family and we must do our best to help each other. Learn more about Angela’s House at www.angelashouse.org and for more information on resources for special needs visit www.VJRussoLaw.com.
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In 1992, the non for profit Angela’s House, was created to offer families and professionals an agency to call to help medically frail children and their families. Angela’s House has helped to simplify home care options for families by coordinating the extensive array of services needed to support medically frail children at home.
According to recent estimates, as many as 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. It is the seventh leading cause of death for Americans. We know that Alzheimer’s disease affects seniors but what is most shocking is that it also affects people under the age of 65. This is very alarming. There are over 250,000 Americans with Alzheimer’s disease under age 65.
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For more than 20 years, the Alzheimer’s Association has provided reliable information, created supportive programs and services for families, increased resources for dementia research, and influenced changes in public policy.