$$$ with Mark Solomon, Financial Guidance for Special Needs Families

Recording Date: June 2, 2025

Keywords: financial planning, special needs trusts, trusts, special needs planning, Mark Solomon, Financial Guidance for Special Needs Families, Geralyn Anderson Arango, Gerry Arango Deeley, Our Parallel Paths, disability, transition

Transcripts: Download transcript for this episode.

Summary: Gerry talks with Mark Solomon, Financial Guidance for Special Needs Families, about the differences families of special needs children / adults face when planning for the future. Mark offers practical advice, and resources for families that can alleviate stress, and encourage thoughtful planning.

Resources:

• Website - snfguidance.com
• Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/SpecialNeedsFam/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SNFGuidance
• Email - [email protected]

Topical Index:

• Introductions [00:00]
• About Mark & Suzanne Solomon [02:55]
• Toolkit for families [04:37]
• Jugging Balls; Spinning Plates [05:42]
• How planning for special need children is different [06:37]
• Asset management vs. Financial Guidance [10:03]
• Medicaid - fears vs. reality [13:35]
• Siblings, trusts, and financial planning [17:22]
• Circles of Support [22:07]
• Contact information [23:23]
• The Parallel Path - retirement for your [24:22]
• Closing [32:09]

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# Keeping Your Marriage Strong with gerry Arango Deely\

Recording Date: June 6, 2025

Keywords: disability, Our Parallel Paths, Gerry Arango Deeley, Gerry Anderson Arango, Dr. Geralyn Arango Deeley, marriage, strengthening marriage, communication, strong partnerships, resiliency

Transcript: Download the transcript for this episode.

Summary: ion this episode of Our Parallel Paths Gerry shares 7 principles for making marriage work, based on her own experiences, and sharing from the research of Drs. John and Julie Gottman. These include enhancing love maps, nurturing fondness and admiration, turning towards each other, letting your partner influence you, solving solvable problems, overcoming gridlock, and creating shared meaning.

Gerry shares her personal experiences from her two marriages, and discusses the additional challenges that can arise when supporting a loved one with an intellectual disability or autism. She highlights research showing that uplifts, respite care, and open communication between partners are important for maintaining marital quality in these situations.

Topica lIndex:

• Introductions [00:00]
• Gerry shares about her marriages [2:18]
• Dr. John Gottman - Seven Principle for Making Marriage Work [03:07]
• Commitment [12:08]
• Applying principles to those on the Parallel Path [12:57]
• Additional supporting research [16:09]
• Alexis Irazoque on Expressible.com/ Isler Taylor, Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities [17:34]
• The Importance of Uplofts [19:02]
• The importance of Resite [22:08]
• What About Siblings... does this apply? [24:16]
• Lee Woodruff, AAQRP article [27:25]
• Closing [30:20]

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Safe, Accessible Homes for You & Me with Dawn Heiderscheidt

Recording Date: June 9, 2025

Keywords: disability, home safety, accommodations, Assistive Technology, Dawn Heiderscheidt, Aurora Independence, Geralyn Arango Deeley, Gerry Arango Anderson, Our Parallel Paths, aging in place, independence, fall prevention

Transcript: Download the transcript for this episode.

Summary: This episode of "Our Parallel Paths" focuses on the topic of aging in place and making homes more accessible and safe for our loved ones with intellectual disabilities and others. Our guest, Dawn Heidersheidt, is the founder of Aurora Independence, a company that provides home assessments and recommendations to help people stay independent in their homes as they age.

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What About the Siblings (part 1)

Part of the Our Parallel Paths podcast series with Gerry Anderson Arango

Recording Date: September 8, 2025

Transcript: Download the episode's transcript.

Keywords: disability, Our Parallel Paths, Gerry Anderson Arango, siblings, sandwich generation, caregiving, transition, caregiving for siblings, planning, personal futures planning

Episode Summary: Gerry discusses the concern of many parents of children with disabilities... what happens when I am gone? Gerry explores the sometimes overlooked conversation... What About the Siblings? How do we help siblings be prepared, while also helping them as they explore their parallel paths while exploring the impact of changing roles.

Topical Index:

• Introductions: [00:00]
• nique Sibling challenges [01:15]
• Our connections / resources as parents [01:54]
• What to share and when... [10:21]
• Change happens [11:36]
• Documentation - The Binder [13:58]
• Open communication [15:11]
• Next Steps [16:13]
• Need for Sibling Resources [17:09]
• In Closing [19:17]

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Embracing the Dignity of Risk

part of the Our Parallel Paths podcast series hosted by Geralyn Arango Deeley

Recording Date: October 20, 2025

Transcript: Download transcript here.

Keywords: dignity of risk, community living, disability, transition, role release, embracing changes in roles, caregiving, Our Parallel Path, Gerry Arango Deeley, Geralyn Arango Deeley

Summary: Gerry discusses the Dignity of Risk as it relates to her relationship with her son Nic, as he learns to navigate living independently. Gerry discusses the challenges of permitting risk, and the necessity of releasing the role of caregiver so our family member can grow and thrive.

Topical Index:

• Introduction of topic [00:00]
• A little background [02:17]
• The need for trust [04:51]
• Dignity of Risk - origins of term [05:43]
• Mitigating risk [07:00]
• Importance of staff [09:18]
• Outcome [12:35]
• Some thoughts on Dignity of Risk [14:36]
• Closing [17:26]

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