Tripp-Presentation Outline
This file is part of the Documents Library.
Bullying of the Special Needs Child and What Parents Can Do
Any child can be a victim of bullying or harassment, but research has shown that children with special needs are both more likely to be bullied or harassed and also more likely to be seriously harmed by it. In addition, children with special needs may be less likely to be able to seek help to [...]
Tips for the Future Care of Disabled Family Members
Tara Siegel Bernard, New York Times
Disability Policy Seminar 2015 – Get Involved and Get the Facts!
By Trudy R. Jacobson, Senior Executive Officer, Development & Marketing, The Arc Hosted by: The Arc, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), and Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) Promotional Support Provided by: Sibling Leadership Network [...]
New Law Eases Burden for Special Needs Military Kids
Kelly A. Thompson, SpouseBuzz.com
SNTs, Qualified Disability Trusts and ABLE Accounts: Slashing Tax Liability
By Ron M. Landsman, Esq. Special needs trusts (SNTs) enable funds to be saved on behalf of an individual with disabilities without affecting their eligibility for means-tested programs such as SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and Medicaid. Since income generated within trusts is often subject to high tax rates, it’s sometimes assumed that the same is [...]
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month: Opportunities and Misconceptions
By Margaret Graham, Esq. March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Owing to parent advocacy and landmark legislation, communities have become significantly more responsive to the needs of people such as my daughter, Emily, who has cerebral palsy and autism. But challenges remain, and families continue to band together throughout the U.S. to help one another, [...]
Understanding the Role of Representative Payee
By Neal A. Winston, CELA According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), over seven million individuals currently require assistance with their monthly SSI (Supplemental Security Income) or Social Security Retirement, Survivors and Dependents Insurance (RSDI) benefits. For that reason, SSA has the Representative Payee Program, through which it authorizes family members, friends, government agencies, and [...]
Crossing State Lines
Special Needs Planning for Moving to a New State By Wendy H. Sheinberg, CELA No one enjoys moving; it's hard work and involves lots of detail (not to mention all of those boxes). Managing the transition for someone with special needs can be difficult; it's wise to begin planning as soon as you begin seriously [...]
Armchair Chat – 2/9/15
Download an audio recording of the February 9, 2015 Armchair Chat
New Savings Accounts May Fund Care for Individuals with Disabilities
By Morris Klein, CELA In December, amidst much euphoria, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law the ABLE Act of 2014 (Achieving a Better Life Experience). ABLE empowers states to create programs enabling individuals with certain disabilities to establish tax-free savings accounts modeled after the popular 529 college savings plans that, if used for [...]
Recommended Books for the Special Needs Community
As lawyers in elder and disability practices, Special Needs Alliance members have many experiences that feed our empathy and understanding, but not all of us have parents with dementia or a child with a disability. One thing we have learned, though, over many years of practice, is that if you have seen one child or [...]
When Good Fortune Means Upheaval: Careful Spend Downs Can Preserve Vital Benefits
By Carol S. Battaglia, Esq. Medicaid and SSI (Supplemental Security Income) often provide the bedrock of economic security for individuals with disabilities. But these needs-based programs require that recipients have no more than $2,000 in "countable resources-$3,000 for a married couple - meaning that receiving an inheritance, personal injury settlement or other lump sum can [...]
New Congress: Opportunities for New Champions
By Annie Acosta, Director of Fiscal and Family Support Policy, The Arc The midterm elections are over and many wonder how they will impact the disability community in the 114th Congress. And with all of the 24/7 news coverage, it can be hard to know what really matters for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities [...]
Blog Roundup: 504 Plans/Health of Seniors/Managing SNTs
SNA attorneys have ongoing involvement with a wide array of issues faced by individuals with disabilities, their families and the professionals who serve them. Below is a sampling of recent posts from member blogs. So What Exactly Is a 504 Plan? A 504 Plan provides accommodations and services—but not special instruction—to students with disabilities. Ranking [...]
Congress Passes ABLE Act
Savings Accounts to Fund Care for Individuals with Disabilities With overwhelming support, Congress has passed the ABLE Act of 2014 (Achieving a Better Life Experience), providing a new opportunity for qualified individuals with special needs and disabilities to have tax-free savings accounts that will support their health and independence while preserving their means-tested government benefits. [...]
Congress Helps Vets Safeguard Security of Kids with Disabilities
A little-publicized provision in the recently passed bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will help military veterans safeguard quality of life for children with disabilities after a parent’s death. Military retirees with a Survivor Benefit Plan pension may now assign such funds to a first party special needs trust (SNT) established on behalf of the [...]
The Arc’s Center for Future Planning Launches Website!
By Robin L. Shaffert, Senior Executive Officer, and Liz Mahar, Program Manager, Individual and Family Support, The Arc The Center for Future Planning is pleased to announce the launch of its website https://futureplanning.thearc.org/. The website is the Center's first step in supporting and encouraging families and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to plan [...]
Child Support for an Adult Child with Disabilities
The Voice is the email newsletter of The Special Needs Alliance. This installment was written by Special Needs Alliance member Craig C. Reaves, CELA of Reaves Law Firm, PC. in Kansas City, Missouri. Holding the CELA (Certified Elder Law Attorney) designation from the National Elder Law Foundation, he is a Past President and Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and a Fellow of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel (ACTEC). He is listed in Best Lawyers in America and has been designated as a Missouri Super Lawyer. Mr. Reaves is an adjunct professor of elder law at the law schools of the University of Kansas and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He practices law in Kansas and Missouri with major emphasis in the areas of estate planning, elder law, special needs trusts, and planning for persons who have a disability.
Government Benefits as a Foundation for Special Needs Planning
By Barbara Isenhour, Esq. Navigating the acronym-ridden maze of government benefits is tough and misconceptions abound. Families may be unaware of the full range of options available to individuals with I/DD, or they may be confused about eligibility, assuming that they have too much income to consider means-based programs. Most individuals with I/DD can benefit [...]