Department of Public Health Survey on Health Needs for People with Disabilities

Posted on May 20, 2013

This landed in my inbox. It took about 5 minutes to fill it out. Due date is May 31. Here are the details: Help influence health care in Massachusetts! The Health and Disability Program, part of Office of Health Equity at the MA Department of Public Health (DPH) is conducting a health...

Does Your Special Needs Child Really Need a Guardianship?

Posted on October 19, 2009

Last week I gave a presentation to Weymouth parents of special needs young adults, and from our conversation, it was clear that the school system was telling them that when a special needs child turns 18, the family must obtain a guardianship. As I’ve written elsewhere, this costs money, involves lawyers, and requires...

Helping an SSI Recipient (or Anyone) Manage Money

Posted on September 14, 2009

Do you help someone manage their money? Perhaps you are a representative payee on the Social Security checks of an SSI recipient? Or maybe you are the trustee of a special needs trust? Would the person whose money you manage – let’s call her the recipient – like to have some...

Always Keep Time & Expense Records When Helping Another

Posted on August 6, 2009

So many children, nieces and nephews, and good neighbors pitch in to do heavy lifting for an aging or disabled family member or friend. You may be running errands, cleaning out a basement, doing weekly grocery trips. We do these things on a volunteer basis, usually receiving just reimbursement for purchases made. And...

Support the Arc on the Full Moon!

Posted on July 2, 2009

The good folks at Margaritas in North Weymouth hold Full Moon Margarita Madness every month on the night of the full moon - and donate 5% of the evening's take to a local organization. For the rest of the summer, they are hosting the Arc of the South Shore. So swing on by Margaritas...

Do You Really Need a Will?

Posted on May 20, 2009

If you want to have a say in who gets your possessions after you die, then yes. If not, then the "laws of intestacy" govern what happens to an estate when a person dies without a Will. A typical scenario is one parent dies leaving his spouse and children. Without a Will, anything that was...

Write a Letter of Intent for Your Special Needs Child

Posted on February 23, 2009

So you’ve met with the lawyer and signed all the legal documents needed to ensure that your child will be properly cared for after you are gone. Congratulations, that’s an accomplishment to check off your list. But you’re not quite done. Sit down and write a “letter of intent” to the people you have...

Who Should We Name as Guardian (or Power of Attorney or Health Care Proxy) for Our Special Needs Child?

Posted on February 6, 2009

As your special needs child turns 18, you need to name advocates to act as her voice on financial, legal, and health care matters. See my post on the need for a guardianship or a Durable Power of Attorney and Health Care Proxy. The big question is who to name to act as the...

What Happens to My Special Needs Child’s Health Care Coverage When She Turns 18?

Posted on February 6, 2009

The idea of a special needs kid turning 18 can be scary – that is when she is legally an adult and things start to change. In another post I will address her legal decision-making power. This post looks at health care coverage. If your child is on your private health insurance policy (i.e.,...

Oh My Gosh, My Special Needs Child is About to Become a Legal Adult!

Posted on February 5, 2009

Knowing that your special needs child is about to become “of majority age” can strike fear in the heart. If you doubt your child’s ability to make her own financial, legal, and health care decisions, there are a few things you need to do before she turns 18. (If she is already 18 or...