Embrace the Great Outdoors: Exploring Outdoor Accessibility in New Jersey this Summer

cartoon tree and bush with title of article and ENJ logo

With summer in full swing, it’s the perfect time to venture out and embrace New Jersey’s natural beauty. This picturesque state is not only known for its cities and rich history but also boasts outdoor spaces catering to people of all abilities. In this blog, we at Easterseals NJ explore outdoor accessibility options in New Jersey, ensuring everyone can experience the joy of nature this summer.

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How A Child With Down Syndrome Can Qualify For Social Security Disability

title of article and down syndrome awareness ribbon

Written by: Elizabeth Van Arsdall

Parents who have a child born with Down Syndrome and are having trouble making ends meet because of the additional expenses related to their child’s illness can apply for Social Security disability benefits for their child. The Social Security Administration (SSA) pays Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a type of disability benefit, to the parents of children with serious medical conditions. The money from SSI can be used to pay for any of the child’s living or medical expenses, but the parents must keep records showing that the money is spent on the child’s expenses.

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Special Needs Considerations for Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Covid-19 Update Coronavirus

Pandemic Protection for Our Most Vulnerable

Within a few short weeks, the Coronavirus (Covid-19) went from being a dangerous disease to being classified as a global pandemic. Countries have begun to take extreme measures to control the outbreak, but we must also take responsibility for the protection of ourselves and our loved ones. This virus can be lethal to anyone with a compromised immune system, heart disease, or respiratory complications, which means we must take extra precautions for people with disabilities, special needs, and seniors. We should also be considerate of the unique challenges we will face as a result of the special measures being put in place by our local, state, and federal governments. You can find many online resources detailing how to generally protect yourself and others, but this article will focus on those unique considerations for the individuals and families we serve.

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How to Manage Your Loved One’s Disability

Caring for a loved one with a disabilityCaring for a loved one with a disability can be one of the toughest jobs around. Non-stop, physical, mentally and emotionally exhausting; adjusting your life to accommodate someone who is living with an intellectual or physical disability can be a daunting challenge. Though, by implementing these three simple concepts into your approach to daily care management, you can take steps towards removing some of the stresses that may be affecting both you and

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Managing Holiday Temptations for People with Special Needs or Disabilities

By Guest Blogger Laura O’Reilly, R.N., B.A., AVP Health and Wellness, Easter Seals New Jersey
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Celebrating the Holiday Season is a reason to eat, drink and be merry. Who can resist? Is it possible to get through the holiday season without gaining weight? I cannot promise that, but it is possible to minimize weight gain and use each day as a chance to get back on track by trying some of these tips.  It is important to know that all of us, whether or not we live with a disability or other special need, can enjoy a healthy and productive holiday season!

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6 Helpful Tips For Caregivers During National Family Caregivers Month

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Thank you to all family caregivers!

Easter Seals New Jersey recognizes the various struggles that many caregivers sometimes face when they are caring for a loved one.  Often times, these same individuals neglect to care for themselves.  For all of you that do not know, November is National Family Caregivers Month, and to honor all of you caregivers out there who work hard all day, every day, to care for your loved ones, this post is for you.

In the most recent studies on Caregivers in the US there was an estimated:

  • More than 65 million caregivers nationwide
  • 52 million caregivers caring for adults with an illness or disability
  • Caregivers spend on average 20-35 hours per week providing care
  • 17% feel their personal health suffers due to caregiving
  • 40%-70% of caregivers show significant signs of depression
  • Only 12% of caregivers report using respite services
  • 78% report needing more help and information about caregiving
  • 35% of caregivers report having difficulty finding time for themselves,
  • 29% report trouble balancing work and family responsibilities

Source: www.seniorcarecorner.com

As most of you know, being a caregiver can be extremely stressful, not giving yourself enough time in the day to worry about your own needs because you are always concerned about someone else’s.  When you do focus on your needs, it may feel selfish and unnatural.  It is important to understand that an essential part of being a caregiver is to make sure you put yourself first at times.  While you may think it will compromise the care of your loved one, you have to understand that it will not.  Both your life, and the life of your loved one, depends on your well-being.

With that being said, here are 6 helpful tips on how to manage caregiver stress and the busy lifestyle that comes with it.

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Welcome To Easter Seals New Jersey’s New Blog!

Hello everyone!  Firstly, welcome and thank you for choosing to visit our new blog.  Easter Seals New Jersey would like to welcome and tell you a bit about what you can expect to find here.

We aim to bring you a new blog every tESNJ Custom NJ CSCL1948 Tagline PMS186wo weeks (maybe more!) as a way of sharing with you our thoughts, opinions and knowledge about a wide variety of topics.  To begin, Easter Seals New Jersey has enriched the lives of people with disabilities and special needs, and those who care about them, by providing opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities since 1948.  We offer a wide range of programs and services that helps connect them with a world of possibilities depending upon their goals.

After doing a few months of research, speaking with caregivers, parents, support professionals, and loved ones about what they would like to see here, we have decided that with this blog, we will focus our posts around our mission of live, learn, work, and play as well as a variety of other popular topics including, but not limited to, resources, health/wellness, education, workforce/skill development/employment, support and physical therapy/fitness.

In addition to blogs from us, we also want to shed a bit more light on the variety of our work, and give you the chance to get to know some of our staff and the important work they do each and every day, by featuring guest bloggers.

Whether it is sharing practical advice, a great resource, success stories, or changes within the state of New Jersey, we hope there is something here for everyone.

Lastly, another great way to get updates about our organization is to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  You may also find valuable resources by visiting our website at www.eastersealsnj.org.

Thank you again for visiting our blog!