Our guest this week is Eric Jorgensen of Frederick, MD a retired Navy veteran, widower, founder of True North Disability Planning, cancer survivor and father of two, including a son with Autism.

Eric and his wife, Christine, were married for 12 years before, very sadly, she passed away in April 2012, after a short battle with HLH (Hemophagocytic Lympho Histiocystosis), a rare autoimmune disease. They are the proud parents of two; including William (23), who has Autism, is non-verbal with learning & intellectual disabilities, and mental health challenges.

Eric reflects on his 20+ years in the Navy and work aboard submarines as well as his more recent battle with cancer. He also talks about his frustration navigating the world of disability resources that lead to creating Spectrum Needs Navigator, which starting in 2020 lead to creating True North Disability Planning, a company whose mission is: to make Disability Planning accessible to all.

Eric also publishes a weekly newsletter entitled: Waypoints and is the host of the ABCs of Disability Planning podcast.

We’ll hear Eric’s story and how he found his calling to help families invest in their future. That’s all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad podcast.

Show Notes -
Email – eric@specialneedsnavigator.us
Website - https://truenorthdisabilityplanning.com/
Podcast – https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/abcs-disability-planning
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-jorgensen-true-north-disability-planning/
The Arc of Montgomery County -https://thearcmontgomerycounty.org

Special Fathers Network -
SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 500+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated. There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."

SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.

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