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.
Through a Parent’s Lens
When a Child Has Special Needs By Mary Schmitt T. Smith, Esq. As a special needs attorney and a Mom of two adult sons with disabilities, I bring an added [...]
How to Assess Future Life Needs for a Loved One with a Disability
By Joanne Marcus, MSW, Executive Director, Commonwealth Community Trust The first months, or even years, after receiving the diagnosis are filled with unexpected questions and challenges when you have a [...]
A College Freshman with Learning Differences
In summer 2013, Brian L., who has learning differences, was interviewed about his recent graduation from high school and eagerly anticipated college experience. Here, he and his mom describe the [...]
SSDI Is Often a Lifeline
By Rebecca L. Berg, CELA Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program offering monthly cash payments and eventual Medicare coverage to individuals with long-term disabilities that prevent them [...]
Do I Really Need A Professional Trustee For My Special Needs Trust?
By Michael C. Walther, President, Oak Wealth Advisors Serving as a trustee requires administrative and technical skills in addition to strong interpersonal communication skills. Identifying the appropriate trustee is difficult [...]
When People with Disabilities Divorce
By Barbara Hughes, Esq., and Edward V. Wilcenski, Esq. Studies indicate that divorce rates increase with the onset of a disability. While any divorce is likely to be disruptive, when [...]
Blog Roundup: Service Dogs/Health Care Surrogates/Educating Kids in Nursing Homes
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 [...]
Getting Creative: Models for Filling the Housing Gap
By Mary O’Byrne, Esq., and Stephen W. Dale, Esq. Previous installments of this three-part series have examined the scope and causes of the housing crisis faced by people with disabilities, [...]
When Parents Can’t Pay
On Paper, Filial Support Laws Hold Adult Children Accountable By Jason Frank, CELA, CAP, Fellow of NAELA It's no secret that long-term care is in crisis. Today, many nursing home [...]
Trustees Should Use Professional Administration for MSAs Inside SNTs
By Douglas Shaw, COO, Medivest and Tom Matson, National Account Manager, Medivest An injury settlement of any variety can present a host of complex issues that the settling parties must take [...]
Second Chance: Rescued Dogs Help Vets Heal
By Nell Graham Sale, CELA During World War I, it was termed "shell shock." But while the psychological toll of war isn't new, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or [...]
Attorneys Explain Interplay of SNTs and Medicare Set-Asides
Representing SNA at the recent annual conference of the National Alliance of Medicare Set-Aside Professionals (NAMSAP), Kristen L. Behrens, of the Begley Law Group, and Shannon A. Laymon-Pecoraro, of the [...]
Blog Roundup: Home and Community Care/Least Restrictive Environment/”Sole Benefit” SNT Distributions/Hospitals and Family Caregivers
HCBS--A Cost-Effective Method of Providing Care Home and community-based care is less expensive than nursing home care and has the potential to ease states' Medicaid burden. Read on. https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/elder_law/2014/05/hcbs-a-cost-effective-method-of-providing-care.html Does [...]
Missing the Mark – Government Housing Programs for People with Special Needs
By Mary O’Byrne, Esq., and Stephen W. Dale, Esq. In the first article of this three-part series, we examined the scope and causes of the crisis in housing for individuals [...]
Understanding SNT Groundrules Can Avoid Disappointment
By Bridget O’Brien Swartz, CELA, Vice President & Senior Trust Officer, First International Bank & Trust Beneficiaries and their families generally have high expectations regarding special needs trusts (SNTs), which [...]
The Affordable Care Act and Personal Injury Awards
SNA President Marielle F. Hazen, CELA recently spoke on the "Impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on SNT and Settlement Planning" to an audience of 200 at the 2014 [...]
Understanding VA Disability Benefits
By Cindy S. Alvear, Esq. and Julian E. Gray, CELA Most people are aware, to some extent, that the Veterans Administration (VA) offers benefits for service-related disabilities. Many don't realize, [...]
The Arc Launches New Center for Criminal Justice and Disability
By Leigh Ann Davis, M.S.S.W., M.P.A., Program Manager, Justice Initiatives The Arc, the nation's leading organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), has been awarded a two-year grant [...]
Tough Choices: People with Disabilities Face Housing Crisis
By Mary O’Byrne, Esq., and Stephen W. Dale, Esq. This is the first in a series of articles addressing scarce housing for people with disabilities. The shortage in housing for [...]
Working With the Social Security Administration: Some Thoughts for the Perplexed
By Michael J. Astrue, Former Commissioner, Social Security Administration I moved back to the Boston area last year after my six-year term as Commissioner ended. It has mostly been a [...]