YANA Nation - Serving the Special Needs Community

Financial security with Thomas Foley of the National Disability Institute

In this episode, we discuss financial security with tax lawyer and financial planner Thomas Foley of the National Disability Institute, who has more than 30 years of experience serving the disability community by working toward greater economic inclusion. As a person who is blind, Mr. Foley has been an advocate and dedicated his career to partnering with other thought leaders to address the complex drivers of economic inequality and create pathways to employment and financial security for th...

Financial security with Thomas Foley of the National Disability Institute

In this episode, we discuss financial security with tax lawyer and financial planner Thomas Foley of the National Disability Institute, who has more than 30 years of experience serving the disability community by working toward greater economic inclusion. As a person who is blind, Mr. Foley has been an advocate and dedicated his career to partnering with other thought leaders to address the complex drivers of economic inequality and create pathways to employment and financial security for th...

Dr. Stephen Shaya, Servant Leader, on building bridges of access

A true servant leader in the medical field, Dr. Stephen Shaya discusses building the bridges needed to get people all over the globe access to healthcare. Listen as Rick unearths the efforts Dr. Stephen Shaya has made to walk in the steps of his late father and continue the legacy with which Dr. Fawzi Basheer Shaya graced the world. 

3/6/21 - Jennifer Puckett of Therabeat

Join us as we chat with Jennifer Puckett, founder of Therabeat, Inc., that provides individual and group Therapy Sessions, Adaptive Lessons, and Harmony Kids classes.

Jennifer Puckett of Therabeat

Join us as we chat with Jennifer Puckett, founder of Therabeat, Inc., that provides individual and group Therapy Sessions, Adaptive Lessons, and Harmony Kids classes.

Anna Maki discusses how to maximize SS benefits

Dr. Amber Perymon-Evans on mental health on the Autism spectrum

Pauline Victoria on Rising Above Circumstances

The founder and CEO of One Leg Up Productions, Pauline Victoria was born without arms and legs and has an amazing heart to “engage, encourage and empower” people with and without disabilities.  Her philosophy is “You are not at the mercy of the deck life handed you. Each of us are born to be victorious.” As a person with a disability and a respected advocate in the disability community, Pauline relates to her audience in a powerfully unique way.  Pauline founded One Leg Up Productions LLC ...

Clarene Radford on Helping Others Understand Parenting a Child with Special Needs

Clarene Radford discusses the joys of being the mother to Marissa, a wonderful young woman who refuses to let Downs Syndrome get in her way. Hear their inspiring story as Clarene advocates for her daughter and helps others - from the church to doctors - understand special needs. 

Anna Bullard, V.P. of Government Relations at Chance Light, on Ava’s Law

Anna has been advocating for families with autism since her daughter, Ava, was diagnosed with autism at the age of two-and-a-half. Anna became a driving force behind “Ava’s Law,” which was passed by the Georgia Legislature in 2015 and requires insurance companies to cover evidence-based treatment for autism. The following year, she partnered with families and Autism Speaks to secure $30 million in the state Medicaid budget for autism services. In 2018, Anna championed the removal of unnecess...

How can investments protect special needs children but not jeopardize benefits?

One of the toughest questions parents of children with special needs are faced with is how to balance saving for retirement and passing on assets to their kids without jeopardizing the child's much-needed government benefits. How can a family plan for retirement when money is tight? Will saving and investing cause a family to be ineligible for help? YANA Nation host Rick Knight breaks it all down. 

Rick talks finances, Greenwood banking app, and more!

Elana Himmelfarb on Transitioning to Adulthood with Special Needs

Elana’s consulting practice specializes in Consultation, Program Design, Curriculum Development, Training, and Advocacy for staff and participants engaged in Post-Secondary Disability Educational programs, Life Skills and Transition programs, Private and Public Community-Based Disability Initiatives and Workplace Disability programs. In her private practice Elana offers Individualized Transition Support & Planning for late adolescents, young adults and adults with the following challenges: A...

Special Needs Family Support with Zenobia Rainey, InCommunity Chief Program Officer

Zenobia Rainey, Chief Program Officer for InCommunity, is responsible for overseeing all of the agency’s community-based programs.  She creates, implements, and revises policies and procedures for operations of all programs, ensuring compliance with the rules and regulations of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) and Department of Community Health (DCH).  She is a Licensed MSW with over 25 years of experience working with the DD community.

Sheryl Arno, Executive Director of the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta

Sheryl Arno has been in the field of developmental disabilities for 29 years. While she started working in the field with children, she has spent most of her career focusing on transition to adulthood and adult life. Sheryl was the creator of the Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) movement in Georgia. She started with Kennesaw State University and now there are 8 programs around the state including in all of the major colleges. Sheryl is a consultant with the Georgia State’s Center fo...

Living Benefits in Life Insurance Part 2 with Rick Knight

Living Benefits in Life Insurance Part 1 with Rick Knight

Creating a Legacy with Life Insurance with Rick Knight

Rick Knight on Life Insurance Awareness Month

Rick Knight & Dr. Celine Saulnier on Helping Those with Autism in the Midst of Chaos

Dr. Saulnier is a clinical psychologist with expertise in the diagnostic evaluation of individuals with autism spectrum and related disorders from infancy through adulthood. For nearly 20 years, she worked in academic settings conducting research on autism at the Yale Child Study Center in Connecticut and then in Atlanta at the Marcus Autism Center and Emory University School of Medicine. In 2018, she opened her own diagnostic clinic and consulting company, Neurodevelopmental Assessment & ...

Rick Knight discusses The Complete Life Planning Guide for Special Needs Families Online Program

The cost of raising a child, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will take roughly $240,000 from birth to age 18. For a special needs child, those expenses can quadruple. Eighty-eight percent of parents who have children with special needs have not set up a trust to preserve eligibility for benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Social Income. Due to the advances in medication and technology many children with special needs will outlive their parent or guardian and there i...

Trina Smith, Ed. S. - Director of the Exceptional Students Department for Clayton Co. Public Schools

Trina Smith discusses IEP's and how the Clayton County School District is working to ensure that families are well-equipped to handle virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Smith is the Director of the Exceptional Students Department for Clayton County Schools, which support and serves students with disabilities through providing appropriate instructional supports and services for a free, appropriate public education as appropriate for student progress. From the Department websi...

8/15/20 - Trina Smith, Ed. S. - Director of the Exceptional Students Department for Clayton Co. Public Schools

Trina Smith discusses IEP's and how the Clayton County School District is working to ensure that families are well-equipped to handle virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Smith is the Director of the Exceptional Students Department for Clayton County Schools, which support and serves students with disabilities through providing appropriate instructional supports and services for a free, appropriate public education as appropriate for student progress. From the Department websi...

Trina Smith, Ed. S. - Director of the Exceptional Students Department for Clayton Co. Public Schools

Trina Smith discusses IEP's and how the Clayton County School District is working to ensure that families are well-equipped to handle virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Smith is the Director of the Exceptional Students Department for Clayton County Schools, which support and serves students with disabilities through providing appropriate instructional supports and services for a free, appropriate public education as appropriate for student progress. From the Department websi...

8/8/2020 - Attorney Laura Akins discusses care plans and legal planning for special needs families

Laura Akins is an attorney practicing in the areas of special needs planning, estate planning, elder law and probate with Nadler Biernath. Assisting her clients in planning for family emergencies, finding solutions for complicated mixed family circumstances and for the end of life is where Laura has dedicated her entire legal career. After a loved one has experienced a catastrophe or passed away, Laura helps clients navigate through the probate procedure and legalities. As a native Atlanta...

Attorney Laura Akins discusses care plans and legal planning for special needs families

Laura Akins is an attorney practicing in the areas of special needs planning, estate planning, elder law and probate with Nadler Biernath. Assisting her clients in planning for family emergencies, finding solutions for complicated mixed family circumstances and for the end of life is where Laura has dedicated her entire legal career. After a loved one has experienced a catastrophe or passed away, Laura helps clients navigate through the probate procedure and legalities. As a native Atlanta...

8/1/2020 - Dr. Zelphine Smith-Dixon, State Director for the Division for Special Education at the Georgia Dept. of Education

Dr. Zelphine Smith-Dixon is the State Director for the Division for Special Education at the Georgia Department of Education and we are so thankful that she sat down with the YANA Nation podcast to discuss how COVID has interrupted the school curriculum for all children all over the State of Georgia. She has a longstanding history of improving achievement for schools in SC and GA and a global pandemic is not slowing her down.  Dr. Smith-Dixon recognizes that since so many benefits and regul...

Dr. Zelphine Smith-Dixon, State Director for the Division for Special Education at the Georgia Dept. of Education

Dr. Zelphine Smith-Dixon is the State Director for the Division for Special Education at the Georgia Department of Education and we are so thankful that she sat down with the YANA Nation podcast to discuss how COVID has interrupted the school curriculum for all children all over the State of Georgia. She has a longstanding history of improving achievement for schools in SC and GA and a global pandemic is not slowing her down.  Dr. Smith-Dixon recognizes that since so many benefits and regul...

Rick Knight & Financial Planning Awareness

7/18/20 - Director Anna Maki discusses BDI's Benefits Mapping Program

Director Anna Maki discusses BDI's Benefits Mapping Program

Closing the income inequality gap

Brian Uitvlugt, Co-Founder, and Kris Fix, LEAP Program Director, at Eaton Academy

Mr. Uitvlugt, co-founder of Eaton Academy, is the former Headmaster of Atlanta New Century School. He was also the Director of Fine Arts and Publications for Brandon Hall School. Mr. Uitvlugt, a graduate of the University of Michigan, served as the Executive Director of the Accrediting Commission for Independent Study in Georgia. He has more than thirty-one years' experience as a teacher and an administrator. As a certified counselor with more than thirteen years of experience in the world ...

How to protect your government benefits with Anna Maki

Choosing the right nursing home

Getting your financial house in order as a parent of a child with special needs

Understanding the Medicaid and other waivers processes with Anna Maki, Government Benefit Mapping Expert, The Bobby Dodd Institute

Understanding the Medicaid and other waivers processes with Anna Maki, Government Benefit Mapping Expert, The Bobby Dodd Institute

Updates on the CARES Act

YANA Nation host Rick Knight fills us in on changes with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by the 116th U.S. Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020 in response to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

3/14/20 – Coping with Covid in the Special Needs Community – Host Rick Knight

3/14/20 – Coping with Covid in the Special Needs Community – Host Rick Knight by Rick Knight

2/1/20 – Changing Policy for the Alzheimer’s Community – Marylea Boatright, Dir of Gov't Affairs

2/1/20 – Changing Policy for the Alzheimer’s Community – Marylea Boatright, Dir of Gov't Affairs by Rick Knight

4/13/19 – Free Diagnostics for Kids Ages 0-3 - Guest Beleta Lockwood, Dir of Babies Can’t Wait

4/13/19 – Free Diagnostics for Kids Ages 0-3 - Guest Beleta Lockwood, Dir of Babies Can’t Wait by Rick Knight

10/19/19 – OT on The Go, Mobile Occupational Therapy – Guest Amity Stevens, Founder

10/19/19 – OT on The Go, Mobile Occupational Therapy – Guest Amity Stevens, Founder by Rick Knight

Brad Raffensperger, Georgia Secretary of State, on understand your voting rights in the special needs community

Understanding the Stimulus Package and Eligibility – Host Rick Knight

4/18/20 – Understanding the Stimulus Package and Eligibility – Host Rick Knight by Rick Knight

4/18/20 – Understanding the Stimulus Package and Eligibility – Host Rick Knight

4/18/20 – Understanding the Stimulus Package and Eligibility – Host Rick Knight by Rick Knight

Coping While Sheltering in Place - Guest Amber Chambers, Clinical Director BDI

Coping While Sheltering in Place - Guest Amber Chambers, Clinical Director BDI by Rick Knight

4/11/20 – Coping While Sheltering in Place - Guest Amber Chambers, Clinical Director BDI

4/11/20 – Coping While Sheltering in Place - Guest Amber Chambers, Clinical Director BDI by Rick Knight

Attaining Guardianship of Your Adult Child – Guest Barbara Glover, Exec Director of Eyaam

Attaining Guardianship of Your Adult Child – Guest Barbara Glover, Exec Director of Eyaam by Rick Knight

4/4/20 – Attaining Guardianship of Your Adult Child – Guest Barbara Glover, Exec Director of Eyaam

4/4/20 – Attaining Guardianship of Your Adult Child – Guest Barbara Glover, Exec Director of Eyaam by Rick Knight