Broward: parenting special needs children as they grow

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----- Forwarded Message ----To: deniseslist@...Sent: Thu, February 18, 2010 12:30:02 PMSubject: parenting special needs children as they grow

Florida SNAP, The Special Needs Advisory Partners

8201 s Road, Suite 1000, Plantation, Fl 33324

www.FloridaSNAP.com Main

When a child with special needs becomes an adult at 18 what are your rights as a parent to make healthcare, legal, financial & educational decisions for/with them? For many families with special needs loved ones, their care and concern doesn’t diminish over time. As special needs children grow older their parents concerns change and grow too. Questions like what happens if you're not here become daunting, accessing proper information and medical advice without guardianship can become nearly impossible, families begin to find themselves mute voices at IEP meetings, housing decisions become heart breaking, and protecting adults from legal actions when their decisions lead them into trouble have serious consequences. Many families are seeking information and resources on the best way to remain a decision maker and

caregiver for their disabled children as they reach adulthood and aren't sure where to start. If you have a special needs loved one ask yourself these questions and consider coming to our free information workshop sponsored by grants recieved by the Preventive Family Support Services, a not for profit division of SNAP.Ask yourself - At 18, will my child be able to...

Advocate for himself at IEP meetings from age 18 to 21 and make sure he is on point with post secondary educational goals and graduation requirements?

Make health care decisions for himself, from simple dentists appointments to discussions concerning changes in treatment or medication?

Live independently? Drive or take mass transit?

Manage his finances, banking, budgets, benefit eligibility and entitlements?

Discern the difference between friendly/professional relationships and individuals/companies/salespeople/credit-card companies who are taking advantage of them?

If you answered NO to any of these questions you should consider learning about guardianship and other legal directives that may be appropriate for your family. To learn more join us at our upcoming workshop detailed below.

Are you a Rockefeller? Most families live within their means. No matter how much money you make or if you own a home or assets, your most valued possession is your family and your health. In the world of special needs planning, understanding benefit eligibility, future planning and how to design a strategy that will leave your family and specifically your special needs loved one and his benefits and entitlements in tact can be confusing.

Putting in place your Last Will And Testament isn't just for wealthy people. For many families typical and special needs alike, having a will means having your thoughts, your vote and your directions for care for your minor and special needs children spelled out so a judge doesn’t have to decide.

For a family with special needs loved ones, a Last Will and Testament drafted properly will include specific language that unlike a typical Last Will and Testament, is designed specifically to name guardians for adults over the age of 18 with disabilities and most importantly, can create a testamentary special needs trust and name trustees that can accept any and all gifts, assets and life insurance proceeds left by a parent to a disabled child with out compromising their benefits and entitlements.

As a general rule of thumb, based on Federal Government Guidelines in the world of special need planning a mere $2,000 makes you a Rockefeller. If you have children with special needs, putting your will in place must be done with the specific language mentioned above. Basic cookie cutter wills won't do it, a living will won't be a quick fix and no other trust except a Supplemental/Special Needs Trust can protect disabled individuals from compromising their benefits and entitlements now and into the future.

Ask yourself...

Do I have a will with special needs provisions?

Have I disinherited my special needs loved one and given his share to a sibling without realizing the legal and moral pitfalls of this choice?

Who will be my childs guardian if I am not here?

Am I the parent of a child that's not biologically mine? What are my rights?

Have I named my special needs loved one as a beneficiary on my life insurance policy, 401K, or other accounts? Is my gift over the $2,000 mark?

For more information on planning for your special needs loved ones future, join us at our upcoming workshop where we will adress these concerns and more.

For parents who qualify, the Preventive Family Support Services "Where There's A Will, There's A Way" grant program may be able to provide legal subsidy for parents looking to implement their wills and testamentary special needs trusts. For more informatrion ont he grant program, guidelines and eligibility stay after the workshop for our orientation.

WORKSHOP DETALIS

Limited space

RSVP a must

Sorry no child care provided.

Parents only

Location:

Artesia Clubhouse

12550 NW 29th Manor, Sunrise

Corner of Flamingo & 136th Panther Parkway

Time:

Sat.

Feb. 27th

12 PM Sharp

Agenda:

Guardianship

Our guardianship workshop will give you an overview of guardianship proceedings, choosing the right guardians, guardianship at age of majority and guardianship at the loss of a parent or caregiver. Guardian roles and responsibilities from compliance to auditing. Getting guardians on board with thoughtful conversations and realistic expectations and parents guide to guardianship, a checklist of what to prepare and have on hand to start the process.

Understanding Wills &

Special Needs Trusts

Our guide to planning for families with special needs children. Begin getting your plans for your family out of your head and out of your heart and onto paper. Understand wills and the proper uses of special needs trusts now or at death to protect benefit eligibility

This workshop satisfies the orientation requirement for the grant program.

Orientation to “Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way†Grant Program

For families interested in applying for the PFSS grant program. Understanding roles and responsibilities, application process and review of grant guidelines.

For parents interested in applying for the grant program, please bring your childs proof of diagnosis to the workshop, as part of the grant application we must verify using IEP, evaluation or doctors prescription.

If you have existing documents you are unsure about and eant them reviewed bring copies for our intake coordinators to review with you.

This message was sent from Florida SNAP to deniseslist@.... It was sent from: SNAP/PFSS, 8201 s Road, Suite 1000-56, Plantation, FL 33324 (954)476 5312 , Plantation, Fl 33324. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

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