Understanding the Role of a Professional Special Needs Trust Trustee
A critical decision for families establishing a Special Needs Trust is the choice of trustee. Many opt for a professional trustee to manage these trusts.
Understanding Medicaid Work Requirements: What Families Need to Know
The landscape of Medicaid coverage is shifting. Understand how potential Medicaid work requirements could affect healthcare access for people with disabilities.
AI Tools Opening New Doors for Adults With Special Needs
AI-powered tools are helping adults with disabilities achieve greater independence and success in employment, daily living, and community participation.
AI in the Classroom: Creating New Opportunities for Students with Special Needs
Discover how AI is transforming special education through personalized learning tools and adaptive technologies that support students with disabilities.
Special Needs Planning: Ensuring a Smooth Transition
Planning for the future can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. By taking the time carefully to plan now, you can ensure a smooth transition later.
Preparing for Tomorrow: What Parents of Adult Children with Special Needs Need to Know
For parents of children with special needs, growing older doesn’t just mean preparing for your retirement and worrying about creaky joints. Ensuring your adult child's future health, happiness, and financial well-being requires preparation, too.
What’s So Great About Supplement Security Income & Medicare for Adults with Special Needs
This article is provided by SNA member Elizabeth Gray, CELA or McCandlish & Lillard in Fairfax, VA. Elizabeth focuses her practice on elder law and special needs law; trust, estate and guardianship disputes; and, wills, trusts and estates. This is an overview of the fundamentals of public benefits law, particularly focusing on Social Security’s need-based [...]
Securing the Future: The Essential Role of Special Needs Planning and Financial Planning
This article is provided by Andrew Hook, CELA of Hook Law Center in Virginia Beach, VA. Andy is a founding member of the Special Needs Alliance, and also is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM (CFP®). He focuses on elder law, special needs planning, and asset protection.
Brooke Ellison. A Life with Purpose and Resilience
This article is provided by SNA member Elena Lidrbauch, CELA with Hickman Lowder Lidrbauch & Welch Co., L.P.A. in Sheffield Village, Ohio. Elena focuses her career on issues affecting older persons and individuals with disabilities. Her practice includes Medicaid planning, planning for families with special needs, estate planning, guardianship, estate administration, and trust administration.
Life After High School Challenges, Options, and Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities
High school graduation is an important day in the life of a child with special needs. But knowing what to do next is even more important. Here are some things to keep in mind as your child transitions from high school into adulthood.
Unpacking the New Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Learn key information about the recent ADA web content accessibility regulations developed by the Department of Justice.
Training Workers with Disabilities and Educating Employers: Moji Coffee + More
Five years ago, a group of parents in Winston-Salem, North Carolina created Moji Coffee + More out of a desire to create meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Now this June, Moji celebrates its fifth anniversary and its evolution from a simple coffee shop into a catalyst of change for employees and businesses alike.
Locating Inpatient Mental Health Treatment for People with Disabilities
Seeking inpatient mental health treatment can be daunting, especially when considering the unique needs of individuals with disabilities. Whether the individual is a minor or an adult, understanding the complex legal issues involved in assisting a loved one get the help they need is crucial in making informed decisions.
Tips for Securing Long-Term Nursing Care for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
Transitioning a loved one with developmental disabilities to a long-term care (LTC) facility is a challenging process. The search process can feel daunting due to concerns surrounding the quality of care, financial aspects, and the individual's adjustment to new routines. Additionally, if you are the individual's guardian or family member, you may also need to face the task of choosing between permanent placement and the possibility of multiple transitions. Thorough planning can help reduce those concerns.
Powers of Attorney and Your Child with Special Needs
Powers of attorney are critical when you have an older child with special needs. If you are the parent of a child with special needs, you likely have grown accustomed to making medical, educational, and legal decisions on behalf of your child as a minor. When your child turns 18 and becomes a legal adult, your legal authority ends as your child’s parent. However, when your adult child has special needs, they may still need significant assistance in making these types of decisions or may be unable to make them altogether. Whatever your family’s situation may be, a special needs attorney can assist you in determining whether powers of attorney are right for you and your family.
Long-Term Care Planning for Children with Disabilities
When you are the parent or guardian of a child with developmental disabilities, planning for your child’s future starts early. One top consideration for your loved one as they age is planning for their long-term care. Read what to consider when embarking on the planning process.
Special Needs Planning: Ensuring a Smooth Transition
Planning for the future can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. By taking the time carefully to plan now, you can ensure a smooth transition later.
Divorce and Children with Special Needs
Of the many life challenges and circumstances that can potentially disrupt the life of a child with special needs, divorce is undoubtedly one of the most difficult situations to contend with. While the rate of divorce remains lower for couples with a child with special needs, the stress and added responsibilities on parents can lead [...]
How Do Fair Market Values on Housing Affect SSI Payments?
It's not uncommon for parents of adult children with special needs to have their children live with them rent-free or charge them a small amount for rent. When that amount is under the fair market value of the area, are the child's SSI payments affected?
Transferring Guardianship Between States
Moving is one of the most stressful things that anyone can do, let alone helping someone who has special needs move. Different states have different rules that may further complicate a move involving a person who is under guardianship.