NIAGARA network
Helping People Move Forward with Their Lives.
Special Needs
Require Special
Planning
Parents of children with intellectual,
physical, mental, or emotional disabilities
dedicate countless hours to caring for
their special needs, and face significant
challenges in planning for their futures.
Parenting a child with special needs
requires that you rely on many doctors, teachers, therapists, care
providers, and social service organizations to give you and your child
the best recommendations and services at the right time. In addition,
you must also trust yourself to make decisions that could impact your
child’s future comfort, care, and development.
Concerns about the future are very real. Where will your child live
after you and your spouse are no longer alive? Who will care for
your child, and where will the money come from? Thinking about the
future can be challenging and emotional. Fortunately, some help is
available from local, state, and federal programs to ease some of the
monetary demands on the family. In addition, there are private groups
that can help with long-term care. If you wish you provide the highest
level of care, you will need to plan for many scenarios and develop a
plan for the best possible use of funds.
Part of future planning is creating a guide for a person with a
disability that will help him/her lead as good a life, as independently,
as possible. A plan is important throughout all stages of life and
especially in the future after the parent or caregiver is no longer able to
provide support.
It is very important for families to have a Future Planning Guide
that will ensure that the disabled family member’s needs are met day
to day, on special occasions and in times of emergency. The Future
Planning Guide should include the details of the disabled family
member’s health history and finances as well as his/her experiences
with life and learning, family and friends, and likes and dislikes. It
should reflect the wishes of the person with the disability, as well as
his or her parents, siblings, extended family members and friends, and
other important people in their life.
When planning for the future, families have to consider, among
other things, Last Will and Testament, Advanced Directives, Power
of Attorney, Guardianship, Government Benefits, Future Living
Situation, Special Needs Trust and ABLE Accounts. Meeting with an
attorney who is knowledgeable in Special Needs Planning and aware
of state disability laws is the first step in planning for the future.
Future planning also includes saving money and protecting assets
for a loved one with a disability without compromising their vital
government benefits, such a Medicaid and Supplemental Security
Income (SSI). This can be done through the different types of Special
Needs Trusts and/or an ABLE Account.
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