Free tools for families raising children with autism and other disabilities.
Built by a mother who has sat in the IEP meeting, fought the Medicaid denial, and searched for shelter with two autistic children. Every tool on this page is free, requires no account, and never asks for your personal information.
School & communication
Walk into the meeting prepared. Give your child a voice today.
Free IEP & 504 Meeting Prep
Answer a few questions and get the questions to ask, the words to use, a meeting script, and a ready-to-paste AI prompt. Mom-to-mom help from a family that has been in that room.
Aiden’s Board — Free AAC Communication Board
A free, tap-to-speak communication board for nonverbal and minimally verbal children. Works in the browser on a phone or tablet. No app purchase, no subscription.
School or IEP Crisis — 10 Pathways
Services stopped, therapies missing, suspensions, or a school refusing to help. Find your situation and take the next step.
5 Ways to Connect With a Nonverbal Child
Five practices from Aiden’s story that help you reach a child who doesn’t use words, starting today. No email required.
Crisis help — SAFE HUB™
Plain-language next steps when systems fail at the same time. No forms. No judgment. Your information stays on your phone.
SAFE HUB™ Crisis Navigation
Tell us what’s happening and get routed to the right pathway — shelter, school, Medicaid, housing, safety, or everyday needs.
I Need Shelter NOW
Tonight’s next steps for families with disabled children who need emergency housing.
Medicaid or Insurance Denial
Therapy denied, benefits cut, provider dropped. What to do, in order, and the rights most families are never told.
Elopement & Wandering
If your autistic child runs or wanders: exactly what to say to 911, and how to build a safety plan.
Home Care, Medical Supplies & Car Seats
The aide didn’t come, the delivery was missed, the power is about to go off. Ten pathways to keep care running.
Food, Cars, Phones & Work
A hot meal today, a car that runs, a phone that works, a job that pays. Six pathways.
Housing & money
The programs most families have never heard of, explained in plain language.
SAFE HUB™ Resource Finder — Howard County, MD
24/7 shelter access through Coordinated Entry, rent and utility help, Medicaid rides, paratransit, food, and autism and disability supports.
Affordable Housing Explained: Section 811, MIHU, LIHU & NACA
Who qualifies, how each program works, and where to call — six pathways to an affordable home.
Housing Instability & Eviction
Eviction notices, unsafe conditions, and disability discrimination. You have more rights than you know.
ABLE Accounts and the Housing Trap
Millions more families became ABLE-eligible in 2026. The one housing rule that can quietly cut benefits — and the legal way to avoid it.
For the caregiver
Because the person holding everyone together needs tools too.
The Autism-Mom Burnout Reset
Five small resets for the mother who gives and gives. No email, no sign-up — start with one tonight.
5 Boundary Scripts for Overwhelmed Caregivers
The exact words for the moments that drain you most. Copy them, adapt them, use them today.
Wealth Forward
Free financial empowerment for parents and caregivers navigating IEPs, 504 Plans, autism, ADHD and other disabilities.
Questions families ask
Straight answers.
Are these tools really free?
Yes. Every tool on this page is free to use, with no account, no subscription, and no credit card. They are funded by donors to The Alani Jacob Foundation, a program of Crystal Life Ministries, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 99-3987352).
Is there a free AAC app for my nonverbal child?
Aiden’s Board is a free AAC-style communication board that runs in a web browser on a phone or tablet. There is nothing to buy or download. Tap a picture to speak a word and build a message. It is available in English and Spanish. It is not a replacement for an AAC evaluation by a speech-language pathologist.
How do I prepare for an IEP or 504 meeting?
Use the free IEP & 504 Meeting Prep tool. Answer a few questions about your child and the meeting, and it gives you the questions to ask, the words to use, a short script, and a prompt you can paste into any AI app to go deeper. It is available in English and Spanish.
Will the new Medicaid work requirements affect my family?
Federal law requires states that expanded Medicaid, including Maryland, to begin community engagement (work) requirements for some adults ages 19 to 64 by January 1, 2027. Many people with disabilities and many parents and caregivers of children or adults with disabilities qualify for an exemption, but states may require documentation. Keep your mailing address current with your state Medicaid agency and watch for notices. If coverage or a therapy is denied, start with our Medicaid or Insurance Denial pathway.
Do you store my personal information?
No. SAFE HUB™ pathways do not use forms and do not store your personal information. They guide you to the right help and the right phone numbers.
Keep these tools free.
One gift keeps a family from falling through the cracks — and keeps every tool on this page free for the next mother who needs it.
Using these tools at work? Bring them to your whole team.
Teachers, case managers, shelter staff, nurses and faith leaders use these free tools every week. Our paid training and certifications are how we keep every family-facing tool free — forever.
SHCN-1 Certified Crisis & Family Navigator
Four self-paced hours. A verifiable credential in disability-informed crisis navigation for anyone who helps families.
Get certified →Lunch-and-Learn for Your Staff
A 60–90 minute live session on crisis navigation or responsible AI, virtual or in person. Procurement-ready paperwork included.
Book your team →SAFE HUB™ for Your Organization
Deploy the full disability-informed crisis navigation system across your school district, shelter, housing authority or health system.
Request a proposal →Prefer to give? Fund a family or sponsor a book for a classroom. The Alani Jacob Foundation is a program of Crystal Life Ministries, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 99-3987352.