At the close of the NYS legislative session last week, the Assembly and Senate concurred on the Governor’s bill to create the Justice Center to protect people with special needs and disabilities. This bill was introduced by Governor Cuomo in May with great fanfare. While we all applauded Governor Cuomo’s intent, the original bill did not deal with a number of complications which have now been resolved. The legislature and Governor agreed to additional amendments to strengthen the bill and make it more practical.

April is Autism Awareness Month, a time to raise public consciousness about autism and autism spectrum disorders.  You should be aware of what is happening this month to raise awareness, and new facts that have just been reported about autism diagnoses.

One of the most prominent signs you may see – or wear yourself – indicating the significance of this month is the Puzzle Ribbon, produced by the nonprofit Autism Society.  This ribbon featuring multi-colored puzzle pieces is an internationally-recognized symbol of autism awareness.  Wear it with pride and thank others when you see them wearing it.

The pooled special needs trust maintains a separate account for each beneficiary of the trust. A beneficiary’s parent, grandparent, guardian, or individual with the disability must first set up the account. An initial enrollment fee and annual maintenance fee vary depending on the trust provider. The pooled trust achieves the same objectives as an individual special needs trust – to maintain the beneficiary’s government benefits such as Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid while using the trust monies to supplement government benefits.

Decisions to recommend a one-to-one aide must weigh the factors of both: –          The student’s individual needs; –          The available supports in the setting where the student’s IEP will be implemented. There are certain important considerations that must be made by the CPSE/CSE in regard to the factors above. These include, but are not limited…

In response to the recent article “Special Education for Schools a Delicate Balancing Act,” a partner at the law firm of Littman Krooks has stated: “It is imperative for lawmakers to understand the ramifications of cutting back funds for special education.  The IDEA and Part 200 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education in…

Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, provides monthly payments for children with disabilities who are under 18 who meet the government’s definition of disability, and who have little or no income and resources.  The amount of SSI that the child will receive varies by state.  To qualify, the household’s total income and resources must be below a certain amount, and the child cannot earn more than a certain dollar amount each month.

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.

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.

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.

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…