Loud & Clear: Family Conversations is written by our member attorneys and guests for individuals with disabilities and their families. We tackle the day-to-day and long-range issues that affect the quality of life. Readers are welcome to comment on the discussion, though we can not answer legal questions here. For answers to specific legal questions, please find an attorney in our Directory.
A Few Thoughts about Special Needs Planning for Mental Illness
By Shawn Majette, Esq. Advance planning is essential in providing for the well-being of an individual with severe mental illness. The shifting presentation of its symptoms, however, demands an adjustable [...]
Medicaid and Special Needs
By Carol S. Battaglia, Esq. Medicaid, jointly funded by the federal government and individual states, is arguably the most important public benefit available to individuals with disabilities. While eligibility guidelines, [...]
Advocacy in an Election Year
By Lois M. Zerrer It's an election year, and budget discussions at all levels of government are threatening decades of progress on behalf of individuals with disabilities. The stakes are [...]
The Letter of Intent: Advice for the Future Team
By Brian Rubin, Esq., Attorney and Parent of a 31-Year-Old Son with Autism A letter of intent (LOI), also referred to as a letter of guidance, is a roadmap for [...]
Military Life Complicates Care Plans for Dependents with Special Needs
By Kelly A. Thompson, Esq. Managing the care of a child with special needs is time-consuming and stressful. But for military families, who must relocate every three years, the process [...]
Accessible Transportation Is Key to Independence
By Richard A. Courtney, CELA Accessible transportation is central to quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Unfortunately, it's just one more public service that has fallen victim to budget-cutting. [...]
Balancing Wages with Public Benefits
By Barbara Isenhour, Esq. Individuals with disabilities and their families often worry about the effect that the individual's working will have on government benefits. Holding a job—aside from delivering a [...]
Guardianship Varies by State
By Shirley B. Whitenack, Esq. Regardless of the severity of an individual's cognitive impairment, that individual is presumed to be a competent adult at the age of 18. If the [...]
The Education Power of Attorney: Empowering Students with Disabilities
By Barbara Hughes, Esq. When individuals with disabilities reach the age of 18, they are legally considered to be adults and in charge of their own education decisions. At this [...]
The Trust Protector as Insurance Policy
By Robert B. Fleming, CELA Planning for the lifelong care of a loved one with special needs is daunting. Even the most carefully constructed special needs trust can't be expected [...]
Divorce Settlements Can Imperil Public Benefits
By Katherine N. Barr, Esq. The prevalence of divorce for couples having a child with special needs is hotly contested. Some studies cite divorce rates up to 85 percent, while [...]
Transition Planning Should Start Early
By Ann McGee Green, Esq. Transition planning, which readies a young person with disabilities for adulthood, should ideally begin at the age of 14 or 15. At that time, the [...]
Community-Based Residences Make Social and Economic Sense
By Brian Rubin, Esq. The availability of community-based housing is enormously important for individuals with disabilities. Living in natural home settings and interacting with the wider community provide opportunities for [...]
The Danger of Medicaid Block Grants
By Bridget O’Brien Swartz, CELA The budget deficit dialogue underway at both state and federal levels seriously threatens the well-being of individuals with disabilities. Various proposals to restructure Medicaid are [...]