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As you celebrate this holiday season, consider how thoughtful planning today can provide peace of mind tomorrow.
Elder Law & Estate Planning

Holiday Reflections: The Importance of Elder Law & Special Needs Planning and Checking In on Loved Ones

By: Jessica Saio As the holiday season unfolds, we often find ourselves gathering with family, reflecting on the past year, and planning for the future. These moments are a powerful reminder to consider the long-term well-being of our aging family members, relatives with special needs, and other loved ones who may require extra care and…

When disputes occurs, parents may seek various forms of relief including but not limited to compensatory services, evaluations, or tuition reimbursement. In such circumstances, due process is often the most effective way to resolve disagreements.
Special Education Advocacy

The Role of the Due Process Hearing when Challenging a School District’s IEP

By: Arshi Pal, Esq. The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is the central mechanism by which a school district ensures a student with a disability receives a free appropriate public education (FAPE). The Committee on Special Education (CSE) must meet at least annually to create the student’s IEP. The IEP is an important document that contains…

Medicaid application and a doctor's review and equipment
Elder Law & Estate Planning

New York Implements a Minimum Activity of Daily Living Making it Harder for Individuals to Qualify for Community Medicaid

By Brian L. Miller, CELA® In April of 2020, New York passed legislation requiring individuals applying for Community Medicaid to meet a minimum threshold of assistance or supervision with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). The implementation of these new rules was delayed due to the COVID pandemic. Now, more than five years later, the Centers…

smart computer science class room
Special Education Advocacy

Back to School Basics: Review Important Student Rights as the School Year Begins

By Littman Krooks LLP Beginning the new school year brings hope and expectations and can also bring challenges. As students head back to school this year, make sure you know your child’s rights and entitlements to services. Federal and state laws protect the rights of students in school, yet many parents are unaware of their…

Elder Law & Estate Planning

Estate Planning in an Increasingly Digital World

By: Melissa L. Steinberg, Esq. Many pitfalls face aging Americans in an increasingly digital world. High rates of senior citizens using online financial platforms have resulted in unprecedented wealth concentrated in so-called “digital assets,” including everything from social media profiles and photographs to cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). However, most Americans do not know how…

Supreme Court of the United States
Special Education Advocacy

Good News for Students with Disabilities: Supreme Court Removes Heightened Standard for Section 504 and ADA Claims

By Littman Krooks LLP On June 12, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools that parents of students with disabilities no longer have to prove “bad faith or gross misjudgment” in connection with discrimination claims relating to their education. This is good news for students with disabilities and will…

Estate planning is for everyone, even if you are young, healthy, and just building your wealth.
Elder Law & Estate Planning

Estate Planning for Millennials and Gen Z: Why One Should Consider the Future

By: Jessica Saio When you hear estate planning, you may think it’s only for individuals who are older, wealthier, married, or have a diagnosis. If you’re young, you may think you don’t need estate planning yet. However, estate planning is for everyone, even if you are young, healthy, and just building your wealth. It’s never…

A Supplemental Needs Trust is a powerful tool for families and caregivers seeking to provide for a loved one with a disability, without endangering access to vital public benefits.
Special Needs Planning

Understanding Supplemental Needs Trusts

By Joel Krooks For individuals with disabilities, maintaining access to public benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid is essential. However, receiving an inheritance or financial gift can unintentionally jeopardize eligibility for these benefits. This is where a Supplemental Needs Trust (SNT) comes in. What Is a Supplemental Needs Trust? A Supplemental Needs Trust…

HHS’s initiative is part of Federal cuts to Medicaid proposed at $880BB over the next 10 years.
Elder Law & Estate Planning

How Will Proposed Medicaid Cuts Affect Services to Vulnerable New Yorkers?

By Sandi Rosenbaum, Special Education Advocate The announcement on March 27, 2025 from HHS unveiling its “Transformation to Make America Healthy Again” indicated that President Trump’s proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning June 1, 2025 would close critical agencies serving people with disabilities, including the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Substance Abuse…

On March 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (“ED”). ED distributes $15 billion to support students with disabilities, to states every year and oversees everything from early intervention for young children with disabilities to vocational rehabilitation, in addition to ensuring that the civil rights of students with disabilities are protected.
Special Education Advocacy

Questions and Answers on the Impact of U.S. Department of Education Closure for Students with Disabilities

By Littman Krooks LLP On March 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (“ED”). ED distributes $15 billion to support students with disabilities, to states every year and oversees everything from early intervention for young children with disabilities to vocational rehabilitation, in addition to ensuring that the…