While the state offers many services for children with disabilities or special health care needs, a new move might mean starting over. But there are things you can do to make sure your child isn’t missing the services they need.
Here are some tips from other parents:
- Get in touch with your base’s relocation service. See if they can help you connect with other families at the new base or borrow any equipment you need until the moving truck comes.
- When you are up for a new assignment, talk to your Exceptional Family Member Program case manager immediately. Talk about your child’s needs and services.
- Do your own research about services in the new location. You are the best expert of your child’s needs. Without your help, your case manager could recommend a location that doesn’t match your child’s needs or turn down an assignment that could work well for your family.
- If a new assignment doesn’t seem to have the support your child needs, bring proof of this to your caseworker. Proof could be a web printout or notes from a phone call where you learned that providers aren’t taking new patients or don’t serve your child’s needs.
- After reviewing your case, the Exceptional Family Member Program caseworker will make a recommendation to your base command about the assignment. You may receive a different assignment, or a family member might go on temporary duty without the rest of the family.
Getting Organized for the Move
There are many things you can do to make an easier transition to a new duty station:
- If your new assignment is in Texas, you can connect with other parents of children with disabilities or special health care needs. Or look at our Services, Groups, and Events page to find local support organizations.
- Update your child’s care notebook with the latest details from all their doctors and specialists. Learn more about care notebooks on our Organizing Medical Records page.
- Get a letter from your child’s doctors explaining your child’s disability or special health care needs. You might need this for air travel, schools or other officials.
- Get copies of your child’s school records and current Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan (if they have these), and update your child’s educational notebook. Ask your child’s school to send the current IEP and 504 accommodations to the new school too. If your child is due for any new testing or assessments, ask to have these done before you leave. This will make getting services in the new school much easier. See our page on transitioning between schools for more tips.
- Get updates on any prescriptions for therapy, equipment, supplies or medications. Try to have a one-month supply of any prescriptions or medical supplies to take with you. You can call TRICARE (the health insurance program for all military families) at 877-363-1303 for an early refill.
- Sign up as soon as possible for any waiver programs your child might need. Different states have different wait times and rules about getting waivers.
- If you live in Texas and your child is on a waiver interest list, call the waiver program to tell them that you are leaving the state for a new assignment and plan to come back. When you move back, your child will be put back on the list using the first date they were registered (as though they never left).
- For the Home and Community-Based Services (HCS) and Texas Home Living (TxHL) waivers, call 2-1-1 and ask to be connected to your Local Mental Health Authority.
Helping Your Child Through Changes
With a little creativity, some of the changes in a military family might be exciting for your child and family. Here are some tips to help your child adapt:
- As soon as you get your new orders, start a social story with your child to help them understand what’s happening. A social story uses child-friendly pictures and words to describe an event, with your child as the main character. See more about social stories on our Major Life Events page.
- Make a list of new, exciting things to do in the new location. Have your child help, if possible.
- If your child thrives on a daily routine, make a picture schedule and calendar. Have your child cross off the days on the calendar with a big “X.” This will help them make sense of time and see the big moving day getting closer.
- Make a list of the things your child needs each day, including medication, assistive devices, or a favorite cup or spoon. Try to have a one-month supply of these things packed and ready.
- If you’re staying in a hotel or temporary housing after the move, try to stay overnight in a hotel before you mov
