Press Releases

Special Needs Alliance Welcomes New Leadership for 2024-2025

TUCSON, AZ, [October 22, 2024] -  The Special Needs Alliance (SNA), a premier network of attorneys dedicated to disability and public benefits law, has announced its new leadership team for the 2024-2025 term. As the landscape of disability rights and services continues to evolve, this group of leaders is poised to drive forward the SNA's [...]

2024-10-21T14:43:06-04:00

Special Needs Alliance Announces 2023-2024 Officers and Board of Directors

TUCSON, AZ, October 24, 2023 - The Special Needs Alliance (SNA), the national organization comprised of attorneys committed to the practice of disability and public benefits law, has announced its 2023-2024 Officers and Board of Directors. Incoming SNA President Amy C. O'Hara, CELA, expressed her deep commitment to the organization: "Becoming President of the SNA is [...]

2024-03-13T08:47:26-04:00

Special Needs Alliance Announces Passing of the Special Needs Trust Improvement Act of 2022

The Special Needs Alliance (SNA), a national organization comprised of attorneys committed to the practice of disability and public benefits law, is proud to have advocated for and supported the recent passing of the Special Needs Trust (SNT) Improvement Act of 2022. "We are thrilled that the Special Needs Trust Improvement Act was signed into [...]

Special Needs Alliance Announces its 2022-2023 Board of Directors and Officers

Tucson, AZ – November 3, 2022 –The Special Needs Alliance (SNA), the national organization comprised of attorneys committed to the practice of disability and public benefits law,  has announced its 2022-2023 Board of Directors.   “As we mark the end of SNA’s 20th anniversary celebrations, we proudly welcome a new board of directors,” said SNA Executive [...]

2023-03-17T11:51:42-04:00

Special Needs Alliance Supports the Proposed Special Needs Trust Improvement Act

Tucson, AZ – July 7, 2022 – The Special Needs Alliance (SNA), the national organization comprised of attorneys committed to the practice of disability and public benefits law, is proud to have advocated for and supported the Special Needs Trust (SNT) Improvement Act of 2022, which was introduced by Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Maggie [...]

2023-03-17T11:51:28-04:00

Special Needs Alliance Celebrates 20th Anniversary as Leading Member Organization Serving and Supporting Special Needs and Elderly Communities

Tucson, AZ – April 27, 2022 – Today, the Special Needs Alliance (SNA), the national organization comprised of attorneys committed to the practice of disability and public benefits law, celebrated its 20th anniversary since the organization’s founding in 2002. The organization began as a series of discussions between 10 like-minded attorneys in a study group [...]

2023-03-17T11:51:17-04:00Tags: |

Special Needs Alliance Announces
2021 – 2022 Board of Directors

Tucson, AZ – October 11, 2021 – Today, the Special Needs Alliance (SNA) announced its 2021 – 2022 Board of Directors. SNA is a national organization of attorneys in the practice of special needs, disability and elder law. “We’re excited to welcome our new board of directors and look forward to what this line-up [...]

2022-04-14T10:55:36-04:00

Special Needs Alliance Announces
2020 – 2021 Board of Directors

Tucson, AZ – October 27, 2020 – The Special Needs Alliance (SNA) announced today its 2020 – 2021 Board of Directors. The SNA is a national organization of attorneys in the practice of special needs, disability and elder law. “We’re thrilled to have such talented and passionate individuals as our new board of directors,” [...]

2022-04-14T10:52:39-04:00

Special Needs Alliance Announces the 2019 – 2020 Board of Directors

Tucson, AZ – November 13, 2019 – The Special Needs Alliance (SNA), a national organization of attorneys in the practice of special needs, disability and elder law, announced today its 2019 – 2020 Board of Directors. “We’re very pleased with the caliber of individuals serving on our board this year,” said Special Needs Alliance [...]

2022-04-14T11:02:06-04:00

Special Needs Alliance Launches New, Enhanced Website

Streamlines Access for Families and Individuals with Special Needs to Connect with Attorneys and Showcases Extensive Special Needs Resources Tucson, AZ – August 29, 2019 – The Special Needs Alliance (SNA), a national organization comprised of attorneys in the practice of special needs, disability and elder law, today launched its new and enhanced website aimed [...]

2021-01-11T11:20:25-05:00

Call to Action! Ask Federal Legislators to Co-Sponsor Bills Benefiting People with Disabilities

The Special Needs Alliance and other prominent advocacy groups have long supported two pieces of legislation that would greatly benefit individuals with disabilities. Now we're asking you to help sign up additional co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The Special Needs Trust Fairness Act (H.R. 2123/S.1672) This bipartisan legislation was introduced in [...]

2022-05-18T10:59:57-04:00

Robert Fechtman Elected President of Special Needs Alliance®

Robert Fechtman, Fechtman Law Office, Indianapolis, Indiana, has been elected president of the Special Needs Alliance (SNA). "SNA is concerned about potential cuts to public benefits and attacks on Obamacare," says Fechtman. "Many of the individuals and families we serve rely on needs-based public benefits programs, such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and [...]

2024-01-31T08:55:18-05:00

SNA and ANRC Partner on ABLE Education (Press Release)

The Special Needs Alliance (SNA) and ABLE National Resource Center (ANRC) have agreed to collaborate on efforts to educate individuals with disabilities, their families and other stakeholders on how ABLE accounts and special needs trusts (SNTs) can contribute to improved quality of life. Funds held in either instrument, if properly used, are not considered countable [...]

2022-05-19T09:52:33-04:00

Justice Department Upholds Rights of Seniors with Disabilities

It was in 2011 that individuals living at Harbor's Edge, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Norfolk, asked a Special Needs Alliance member attorney to file a discrimination suit on their behalf. The facility was in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Fair Housing Act, having barred residents of its assisted living [...]

2022-05-18T11:31:15-04:00

Attorneys Use Technology to Better Serve Clients

By Robert B. Fleming, CELA & Dennis S. Voorhees, CELA Technology is reshaping home and workplace--and law offices are no exception. Software, cloud computing and mobile devices have introduced convenience and efficiencies that benefit families with special needs. Assistive Technology Technical advances are making it easier to communicate directly with clients who are nonverbal. One [...]

2024-05-15T14:10:34-04:00

PBATS and The Arc Join Forces to Promote Inclusion

The Special Needs Alliance and The Arc collaborate on issues of mutual interest. The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes. The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) and The Arc have announced a [...]

2022-04-14T10:47:47-04:00

Call to Action! Ask Federal Legislators to Co-Sponsor Bills Benefiting People with Disabilities

The Special Needs Alliance and other prominent advocacy groups have long supported two pieces of legislation that would greatly benefit individuals with disabilities. Now we're asking you to help sign up additional co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The Special Needs Trust Fairness Act (H.R. 2123/S.1672) This bipartisan legislation was introduced in [...]

2022-05-19T09:43:18-04:00

Harkin Report Cites Lack of Community Services

By Bridget O’Brien Swartz, CELA In 1999, the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision found that delivering services in a segregated setting when such services could otherwise be provided in a less restrictive, more integrated setting, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. As a result, states were directed to provide services within the mainstream community to the [...]

2021-01-11T10:24:45-05:00

Looming Budget Deadlines Threaten Safety Net

By Bridget O’Brien Swartz, CELA and Morris Klein, CELA As federal budget deliberations become increasingly urgent, there are a number of issues in play: Given that Senate and House versions of the 2014 budget are $91 billion apart and that the fiscal year begins on October 1, a short-term continuing resolution to provide temporary funding [...]

2024-03-12T10:48:09-04:00

It’s Déjà Vu All Over Again

By Mary Andrus, Asst. Vice President, Govt. Relations, Easter Seals Office of Public Affairs As Yogi Berra once put it, "It's déjà vu all over again." On May 16, 2013, the House of Representatives voted for the 37th time to repeal or defund at least part of the Affordable Care Act. Though nothing in Washington [...]

2021-04-12T06:26:41-04:00