AuthorEd Carter is a retired financial planner who has worked with clients of all ages, backgrounds and incomes. About 10 years into his career, he saw a need for financial planners who specialize in helping individuals and families living with disabilities. He is the author of the book "Able Future: A Comprehensive Planning Guide for Parents of Children with Special Needs."
Guardian. Experts explain that the guardian is appointed to make personal decisions on your child’s behalf. That means the guardian will choose things like where your child lives, what sort of social life your child has, and what sort of health care your child receives. According to the Special Needs Alliance, anyone over the age of 18 can be appointed guardianship. However, you will want to make an especially thoughtful decision about who will be the guardian of your child. Basically, this person will be taking over your role. Once you have a candidate in mind, you should talk with that person about the role and if he or she is willing to step in. Discuss in detail what responsibilities are involved, and ensure your candidate comprehends the duties. You should also discuss where your guardian and child will live, whether that’s in your current home or somewhere else. It may make financial sense for your home to be sold (use a home-value estimate to get an idea of what it’s worth). You and your child will be better off if your candidate declines now, rather than deciding later that it’s more than he or she can handle. You should go through the same process for your successor guardian as well, talking things through and reaching a clear understanding.
Caregiver. A caregiver is another person who could play a vital role in your child’s life. If your situation changes, for instance if you should become incapacitated, a caregiver would step in to assist your child. Depending on your circumstances, you may want to establish a caregiver now. It would give you an opportunity to see firsthand if you have a good match. It’s also a chance to ease the transition for your child. Conservator. A third person you may need in your child’s life is a conservator. A conservator is appointed to make choices about your child’s finances. This would apply to personal property and any estate your child receives. How much power is given to a guardian can vary by state and circumstances. Full conservators are required to account to the penny for all funds and will be reviewed annually by the court system. Letter of intent. Also, according to experts cited by CBS, you should consider a letter of intent. It’s not a legally binding document, but it’s an opportunity for you to put in writing how to best care for your special-needs child. Include information about your child’s daily routine and a full medical history. For instance, if your child requires medication given a certain way, this is an opportunity to explain things like that to potential caregivers. Special-needs trust. You also may want to set up a special-needs trust for your child. It is set up differently from traditional trusts and is designed to ensure that the beneficiary, in this case your child, continues to qualify for government benefits such as Medicaid and Social Security Income. Since government programs of this sort are often subject to reductions in funding, you should consider adding a life insurance policy. Life insurance can provide a safety net for your child in case you pass unexpectedly. There are many types of policies available, so make sure to compare rates online. Kiplinger’s explains that a special-needs trust can be the beneficiary of your life insurance policy or a retirement plan. Anyone can contribute to the trust at any time, and the funds it collects will not count against the government assistance your child receives. As the parent of a special-needs child, it’s important to articulate your desires should something happen to you. Taking steps now will give you peace of mind and can assure your child of care and support throughout life.
0 Comments
AuthorMegan Palombella, M.Ed, BCBA A social story (term coined by inventor Carol Gray) or social script is a written story to be read proactively to children to review expectations, rules, or changes in the environment. They tell the learner what they should do and what they can expect from engaging in a particular behavior (as opposed to what they should NOT do). Social scripts should be part of a treatment package and read regularly, especially before the situation or behavior they address is likely to occur. Here are some social scripts to review how expectations are different due to COVID-19. Comment below with COVID-19 related social script resources you've found.
Covid-19
Mask Wearing
Social Distancing
Quarantine Going to the Doctor & Health/ Safety
E-Learning/ Virtual Learning Hybrid Learning (Image from United Nations COVID-19 Response, stock images) AuthorMegan Palombella, M.Ed, BCBA Bitmoji classrooms are all the rage whether you are in-person, hybrid or virtual for this school year. My district is e-learning through October so here's my delve into making a virtual office this week. Happy Learning! bitmoji classroom templates from linktr.ee/bitmoji.kayla |
AuthorMegan Palombella, M.Ed, BCBA ArchivesCategories |