Special Needs, Special Government Benefits

BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — Parents of children with special needs from across the nation logged on to the Parent Support Network’s monthly webinar last night for a live presentation by veteran government-aid expert Sherri Schneider, founder of the Buffalo Grove, Illinois-based Family Benefit Solutions, Inc.

Drawing upon her 25 years of extensive experience, Mrs. Schneider walked listeners through the most common sources of state and federal government funding available for children with special needs—and some of the lesser-known issues, including how to obtain SSI benefits while paying child support. “The questions were very good. It shows they were educated,” said Schneider.

The webinar is a regular offering of the Parent Support Network, a project of the Brooklyn-based International Friendship Circle. Next month’s PSN speaker will be popular Charlotte, North Carolina-based radio talk show host Jeff Katz, also father of Julia, the Katzes’ daughter with special needs.

“I think the most rewarding thing about Friendship Circle is watching my daughter who has very, very severe disabilities interacting with young adults who could be out doing anything in this world spending time hanging out with this little girl,” says Katz of his family’s Friendship Circle involvement. “My daughter will not say ‘Thank you,’ but she appreciates it.”

Jeff’s talk is entitled “Balancing Home and Work—and Getting Them Both Right”, and will be held on Sunday, December 14, 2008 from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.