After Parents Are Gone: Planning for Your Child's Future
Ensuring your child's future in your absence or when you are no longer healthy enough to care for them is one of the last gifts that you can bestow. However, fewer than half of parents of children with disabilities develop plans to ensure that their child’s needs will be met in the event of the parent’s or other caregiver’s death (Forrest, 2018).
According to more than 7 percent of parents in an Illinois survey, the topic was too “emotionally loaded” or stressful for family members to talk about (Forrest, 2018).
However, when a family does not have plans in place, it can affect everyone not just the child with disabilities. Without preparations, families are more likely to face a crisis situation where the child with a disability is forced to move out of the family home, disrupting his/her lifestyle and routines. Most likely, a sibling will accept the care of a brother or sister with disabilities in the midst of both dealing with their parent's death--or worse, a legal guardian who does not have a relationship or an emotional connection with your child will be assigned by the court. Who will be trusted to carry on the wonderful care and resources that supported your child as he/she grew?
The Autism Society of Greater Akron (ASGA) recognizes the importance of future planning for children with disabilities and their families. Join ASGA during the entire month of June 2022 as we offer After Parents Are Gone: Planning for Your Child's Future, a series of educational webinars, question-and-answer sessions with disability experts, live Facebook talks and resource banks about mindfully preparing for the continued emotional, financial, legal and supportive aspects of your child's life when you are no longer able to.
Special Needs Trusts: Financial Support Throughout Your Child's Lifetime
Recorded Webinar
A Special Needs Trust is a future-planning tool that enables a person with a disability to receive financial support without negatively affecting any government benefits they’re receiving like Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Special Needs Trusts can ensure financial security for loved ones with disabilities in your absence.
One Page Person Centered Description: A Snapshot of Your Loved One
Recorded Webinar
A One Page Description is a quick person centered summary of who a person is - what people like and admire about them, what is important to them, and what others can do to best support them. This tool is helpful when a person has any transitions or changes in their life. This might be used for: school, day programs, changes in caregivers, residential living, health care appointments, employment, etc. Join us to learn more!
The Alphabet Soup of SSI and SSDI
Recorded Webinar
What is the difference between SSDI and SSI? Can You Get Both SSDI and SSI Disability Benefits? Who is eligible for SSI? Do I need an attorney to apply for Social Security disability benefits? How does Medicare work with Social Security disability benefits? This can be a complex system to navigate, but ASGA is here to help with an informational session to answer your questions.
Does Your Child Need a Legal Guardian or Power of Attorney?
Recorded Webinar
Individuals on the spectrum display great differences in decision-making capability. But regardless of their personal capacity, when they reach the age of 18, they are legally recognized as adults. That means they make their own decisions regarding medical care, finances, education and other important matters. Is your loved one capable of doing this or do you need to explore some form of guardianship or power of attorney?
What to Know: STABLE Accounts
Recorded Webinar
Living with a disability can mean extra and significant expenses not covered by insurance, Medicaid or Medicare. Nicholas Hancart from Ohio Treasurer of State explains the benefits of STABLE accounts, who is eligible, how to enroll, what expenses are considered "qualified", STABLE Account vs. Special Needs Trusts, and implications for SSI recipients.
Grief and Disabilities
Recorded Videos
People with disabilities have a right to participate fully in the grief and mourning process. It is a tough thing to deal with under any circumstance, but many people are uncomfortable providing grief support to individuals with disabilities: will they understand, what do I say, how do I deal with their reaction? ASGA is sharing two videos from our fellow Ohio Family Network member to hopefully provide some guidance.
MyCare
Informational Resources
Is your loved one with a disability receiving Medicaid but is also nearing the age of Medicare eligibility? Dual coverage, when a person is drawing Medicare and Medicaid benefits, requires a person to apply for MyCare Ohio.