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Special Needs Planning

Special Needs Planning

Executive Order Aims to Increase Employment Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities

On July 26, President Barack Obama signed an executive order entitled “Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities.” The order directs the Office of Personnel Management to develop hiring and retention strategies aimed at increasing federal employment of individuals with disabilities. Specifically, the order identifies the objective of hiring 100,000 persons with disabilities over the next five years.

Special Education Advocacy

ADHD and Parent Advocacy

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children. Affecting an estimated three to five percent of children worldwide, ADHD can cause symptoms that last into adulthood. Children diagnosed with the disorder have to work on controlling impulsive behaviors and managing their attention issues, while their parents must keep a careful watch on their educational experience. School performance is one of the most common ways that a child is identified as having ADHD.

Special Education Advocacy

Planning for the Future: A Common Concern

With an estimated 21 million families in the U.S. having at least one family member with a disability, your family is not alone. Also common with such families is the need for special needs planning. Have you planned for the future of your loved one with special needs? Perhaps your loved one’s needs are currently being taken care of in terms of finances, health and quality of life—but what about when you pass on? Although such topics force us to consider our own mortality, it is in the best interest of your loved one to think about things such as a letter of intent and special needs trust.

Special Education Advocacy

Parents Should Prep for an IEP Meeting

If you are the parent of a child with special needs, you already know that a meeting is required at least once a year with school officials to discuss your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). Education is one of the most important things in a child’s life, so it pays to be prepared. What specifically…

Special Needs Planning

Filling the Empty Nest

With many recent high school graduates preparing to go off to college, parents may begin to grow concerned about their children’s ability to take responsibility and go out on their own. Although most graduates are legal adults when they leave the house, many of them are not ready to take on the responsibilities that come with being an adult. Many students entering college will still rely on their parents for financial and emotional support and will continue to use their parents’ health care insurance for their medical needs.

Special Needs Planning

Littman Krooks Attorneys to Speak at Epilepsy Conference

Harriet P. Schleifer, Esq., of Littman Krooks LLP will speak on financial planning for a child with special needs and preparing for life after high school at the 2nd Annual Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group (NEREG) Conference on Epilepsy on October 2. The event is free of charge and will be held at Sheraton Crossroads in Mahwah, New Jersey. The Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group offers unique services and comprehensive care to both children and adults with any type of epilepsy. In order to register for the conference, call (201) 343-6676.

Special Needs Planning

A Financial Checklist for Parents of a Child with Special Needs

While financial and estate planning are important for every family, it is even more important for families who have children with special needs. It is important to prepare for your child’s financial future to help ensure a safe, secure, and independent life ahead. To prepare properly, you should take the following steps: Investigate your child’s…

Special Needs Planning

Talking with Your Extended Family About Your Child’s Special Needs Trust

If you have a child with special needs, you should talk to extended family members who may be intending to make a gift or bequest. Extended family members may have your child’s best interests at heart, but they may be unaware that the money they leave to your child could jeopardize eligibility for government benefits.

Special Education Advocacy

The Importance of Letters of Intent

While it’s important for the parents of a child with special needs to provide for the child’s financial well-being in their estate plan, it’s equally important to address the issue of transitioning to life with a new caregiver. That’s the purpose of a letter of intent, which is intended to assist future caregivers by describing…

Special Needs Planning

Guardianship Is Not the Only Option When Your Child with Special Needs Turns 18

Many parents think that when their child with special needs turns 18, a guardianship will immediately need to be established. While a guardianship is necessary for some children with special needs, not everyone is a candidate.