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.
Special Needs Trusts Do More than Protect Benefits
Bruce D. Reinoso, Esq., is Senior Counsel in the Family Wealth and Estate Planning Department of Woods Oviatt, Gilman, LLP, of Buffalo and Rochester, New York. He concentrates his practice [...]
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Is June 15th
This post was written by Emma Hemness, CELA, founding owner of Hemness Faller Elder Law, located in the Tampa Bay area in Brandon, Florida. She limits her law practice to [...]
Understanding the Stimulus Check Program
This post was co-authored by Tara Anne Pleat, Esq., and Edward V. Wilcenski, Esq., of Wilcenski Pleat Law, with offices in Clifton Park and Queensbury, New York. Tara’s practice includes special needs planning and administration, traditional estate planning and elder law. Ed, who is a past president of the Special Needs Alliance, focuses on special needs planning, elder law, and estate planning.
Roundup: Special Ed and Coronavirus/ Coping with Early Dementia/Standalone Special Needs Trusts
SNA attorneys have ongoing involvement with the wide-ranging issues faced by individuals with disabilities, their families and the professionals who serve them. Here is a sampling from member blogs and newsletters… Defining [...]
Mental Illness Is the Most Common Disability
This post was authored by Elena Lidrbauch, CELA, of Hickman & Lowder Co. LPA, Cleveland, Ohio. Her practice focuses on issues affecting persons with disabilities and older individuals, including special [...]
Nursing Home Visitation Guidelines Cause Concern
This post was authored by Kim Dayton, Esq., Professor Emerita at the William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota. Her areas of interest include disability rights, parenting an adult [...]
Isolation Tips for Families with Special Needs
This post was authored by Bryn Poland, Esq., of Mayo & Poland, PLLC, Baytown, Texas. She focuses her practice on special needs trust planning and administration, qualified settlement funds, and [...]
Taxes Can Get Complicated for Families with Special Needs
This post was authored by Robert F. Brogan, CELA of Archer Brogan. LLP with five offices in New Jersey. The firm focuses on the legal needs of seniors, those with disabilities, veterans, [...]
Self-Advocate’s Golden Gate Adventure
Angela at the Golden Gate Bridge, which has long fascinated her. Late last year, we wrote about Angela Campbell’s approaching dream-come-true trip to see the Golden Gate Bridge. [...]
Understanding the Role of Social Security Representative Payee
This post was authored by Linda Landry, a senior attorney with the Disability Law Center, of Boston and Northampton, Massachusetts. Her focus is Social Security, work incentives and related health benefits. She has over 30 years of experience in legal advocacy and received the Massachusetts Top Women of the Law Award in 2013.
Roundup: Monitoring Organizational Payees/ Moving a Guardianship/Special Education Attorneys
SNA attorneys have ongoing involvement with the wide-ranging issues faced by individuals with disabilities, their families and the professionals who serve them. Here is a sampling from member blogs and newsletters…
First Steps When a Child Has Special Needs
This post was authored by Elizabeth L. Gray, Esq., a principal with McCandlish Lillard, of Leesburg and Fairfax, Virginia. She focuses on special needs planning, guardianships, estate planning and administration, and elder law.
“Wings for All” Activists Make a Dream Come True
(From left) Job Coach Kathy Walters and self-advocate Angela Campbell with the “boarding pass” for their round-trip flight to San Francisco. Angela Campbell, of Madison, Wisconsin, has a [...]
What Parents Need to Know about Special Education Rights
This post was authored by Marion M. Walsh, Esq., a partner with Littman Krooks LLP, which has offices in White Plains and New York City. She has worked in education law for over 20 years and leads the special education department at Littman Krooks. She is certified by the New York State Education Department as an impartial hearing officer for children with disabilities.
Managing Retroactive SSI Benefits
This post was written by Richard Chatwin, CELA. He is a partner with the firm of Gerrard Cox Larsen, with offices in Henderson and Las Vegas, Nevada. He focuses on special needs planning, elder law and probate.
Roundup: Never Too Late to Plan/Family Leave and IEPs/Trustee Surcharges
SNA attorneys have ongoing involvement with the wide-ranging issues faced by individuals with disabilities, their families and the professionals who serve them. Here is a sampling from member blogs and newsletters…
Is Self-Employment Right for You?
This post was co-authored by John S. Kitchen, Esq., and Janet Lowder, CELA. John has law offices in Auburn and Laconia, New Hampshire. His practice areas include special needs trusts (SNTs), powers of attorney, wills and revocable trusts for individuals who have a family member or friend with disabilities. Janet’s firm is headquartered in Cleveland, with several other offices throughout the state. She focuses on estate planning for the elderly and for individuals with special needs and is recognized for her knowledge of Medicaid.
Ensuring that Structured Settlements Meet Plaintiff Needs
This post was written by Tara Anne Pleat, Esq., Wilcenski Pleat Law, with offices in Clifton Park and Queensbury, New York. Her practice includes special needs planning and administration, traditional estate planning and elder law.
Guardianship Should Be a Last Resort
This post was written by former Special Needs Alliance president Katherine N. Barr, Esq., a member of Sirote & Permutt’s Private Clients, Trusts and Estates Practice Group, Birmingham, Alabama. Much of her practice involves special needs planning, through which she assists clients in providing for a family member in a way that does not jeopardize government benefits. She is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and has been cited in The Best Lawyers in America©.
Full Funding of the IDEA Critical for Our Children
By Linda M. Gorczynski, Esq. It's critical that we get increased funding for special education services in order to meet the needs of students with disabilities and achieve compliance with [...]