A Few Thoughts about Special Needs Planning for Mental Illness By R. Shawn Majette, Esq. Advance planning is essential in providing for the well-being of an individual with severe mental illness. The shifting presentation of its symptoms, however, demands an adjustable approach. While even a person with severe mental illness may usually be perfectly competent, modest changes in circumstances can rapidly cause a sharp and [...] Read the full article » Posted: February 13th, 2012 | No Comments » Medicaid and Special Needs By Carol Battaglia, Esq. Medicaid, jointly funded by the federal government and individual states, is arguably the most important public benefit available to individuals with disabilities. While eligibility guidelines, services and payment rates vary widely, the federal government requires that all state Medicaid programs pay for physician visits, prescriptions, hospitalization, lab work, x-rays and nursing [...] Read the full article » Posted: January 30th, 2012 | No Comments » Advocacy in an Election Year By Lois M. Zerrer It’s an election year, and budget discussions at all levels of government are threatening decades of progress on behalf of individuals with disabilities. The stakes are high, and campaigning officials will be especially open to conversations with their constituents. If you’ve never before advocated with elected representatives, this is a good [...] Read the full article » Posted: January 16th, 2012 | No Comments » The Letter of Intent: Advice for the Future Team By Brian Rubin, Attorney and Parent of a 31-Year-Old Son with Autism A letter of intent (LOI), also referred to as a letter of guidance, is a roadmap for your child’s “Future Team,” the future trustees, guardians, and caregivers (both family and professional service providers). No one knows and understands your child as you do, [...] Read the full article » Posted: January 2nd, 2012 | 1 Comment » Military Life Complicates Care Plans for Dependents with Special Needs by Kelly Thompson Managing the care of a child with special needs is time-consuming and stressful. But for military families, who must relocate every three years, the process is grueling. A recently published study, co-authored by the National Council on Disability and the U.S. Marine Corps, details the challenges faced by participants in the Marine [...] Read the full article » Posted: December 19th, 2011 | No Comments » Accessible Transportation Is Key to Independence by Richard A. Courtney Accessible transportation is central to quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Unfortunately, it’s just one more public service that has fallen victim to budget-cutting. I know that what I’m observing here in Jackson, Mississippi, is replicated throughout the U.S. Too few routes and wheelchair-accessible buses to support a growing population [...] Read the full article » Posted: December 5th, 2011 | No Comments » Balancing Wages with Public Benefits by Barbara Isenhour Individuals with disabilities and their families often worry about the effect that the individual’s working will have on government benefits. Holding a job—aside from delivering a paycheck—is an important route to independence and self-esteem. On the other hand, disability cash benefits such as SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) and SSI (Supplemental Security [...] Read the full article » Posted: November 21st, 2011 | No Comments » CLASS Act’s Demise Underscores Long-Term Care Crisis by Joseph Gilsoul, Esq. A crisis looms concerning long-term care for individuals with disabilities. Very soon large numbers of baby boomers will begin to develop arthritis, Alzheimer’s and other conditions requiring them to seek assistance with basic daily tasks. A potential first step towards addressing this problem—CLASS (Community Living Assistance Services and Supports)—is unlikely to [...] Read the full article » Posted: November 3rd, 2011 | No Comments » Guardianship Varies by State by Shirley B. Whitenack Regardless of the severity of an individual’s cognitive impairment, that individual is presumed to be a competent adult at the age of 18. If the person will be unable to make important choices, the naming of one or more guardians should be considered. A guardian is a court appointee who is [...] Read the full article » Posted: October 19th, 2011 | No Comments » The Education Power of Attorney: Empowering Students with Disabilities by Barbara Hughes When individuals with disabilities reach the age of 18, they are legally considered to be adults and in charge of their own education decisions. At this point, some will need to have parents or another adult appointed as guardian, to handle all or most of the decision-making. On the other hand, high-functioning [...] Read the full article » Posted: October 5th, 2011 | No Comments »

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