Articles and Tips
Looking for ideas, support, and best practices to help your child or loved one with a disability meet their goals? You’ve come to the right place. Our library of resources covers everything from daily life skills to emotional support.
All the tips shared here are based on Empower Freedom and Focus on Freedom founder Marla Kopecky Penney’s 20 years of experience in special education and in-home support services.
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No one begins as an expert. Discover how confidence grows through practice, patience, and giving yourself permission to learn new roles.
Growth happens when everyone understands their role. Discover how shared responsibility at home, school, work, and in the community builds confidence and independence.
Learn how recognizing the role you're in can strengthen relationships, improve communication, and create more intentional responses.
Discover why wearing unexpected roles can feel overwhelming and how recognizing those roles is the first step toward greater confidence.
Learn how building a connected team can create stronger outcomes than simply adding more services.
Learn how asking better questions can improve communication, reduce confusion, and strengthen collaboration across support systems.
Learn how funding, eligibility, and system requirements influence support decisions behind the scenes.
Learn why schools, medical providers, and community supports may give different answers to the same question.