Sheri R. Abrams's Blog, page 3

3 Special Needs Planning Myths

Parents who have children with special needs spend a lot of time thinking about the future. They may wonder, “Who will care for my child when I’m gone someday” or “How will we afford a lifetime of care?” The answers to these questions can feel so overwhelming that parents may feel “stuck” when it ultimately comes to creating a legal plan.

Parents may also have prior assumptions about special needs planning that can cause them to veer off track. We call them “Special Needs Planning Myths,” and...

Navigating Disney World When a Loved One Has Special Needs

Is a Disney vacation on your family’s bucket list, but you are worried about visiting the park or other Disney attractions with a child who has special needs?

The great news is that Disney offers many inclusive accommodations and special services for families who have loved ones with autism and other cognitive disabilities. With a little bit of advanced planning, you can chart out a Disney vacation that is as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Plan to Avoid Lines

Disney recommends...

Accessibility Options for Virginia Voters With Disabilities

Primary season is here and Virginia voters will soon have their chance to select a presidential candidate on March 3, 2020. Residents with disabilities who wish to participate in the primary election can take advantage of a number of accessibility options to ensure that their voice is heard.

Who Can Vote?

In Virginia, every adult over 18 can register to vote, regardless of disability status. Individuals with cognitive impairments or special needs can also vote, provided they have not had...

CAN YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS BE TAKEN AWAY?

Yes, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has the right to review a person’s receipt of Social Security Disability benefits at ANY time.

SSA can request your medical records to see:

if you are still being treating by a doctor; and to check if your medical condition has improved.

If you have not been receiving treatment from a doctor or if SSA believes your medical records show improvement they will find that you are no longer disabled and cut off your benefits.

Recently, the Trump...

Social Security Launches New Online Scam Reporting Form

The Social Security Administration has just announced a new tool to fight against Social Security related scams.

Social Security has created an online form, with which scams can be reported. Information gathered through these reports will be used to help investigate frauds and scams.

Calls in which scammers convince a person to buy gift cards or mailing cash in response to phony Social Security problems have become the number one form of fraud reported to Social Security and the Federal Trade...

The Start of the Year is a Great Time to Review Your Child’s Special Needs Trust

Working with a Virginia Special Needs Planning Attorney to create a trust for your child with special needs is an important part of preparing for his or her future. In order to make sure that the Special Needs Trust stays relevant to your family’s needs, however, it is important to review it annually. At this point, you are able to reflect on any changes that have taken place in your life or that of your loved one so that you can update the trust to reflect those changes. The start of the new...

Can I Appoint Someone to Serve as Co-Guardian Over My Adult Child with Special Needs?

Choosing to serve as someone’s guardian is a huge responsibility. A guardian for an adult with special needs is generally tasked with overseeing that individual’s physical well-being, medical care, and housing.

In the majority of cases, it’s a parent (or parents) who will apply to become their adult child’s legal guardian when he or she turns 18. But even parents will ask us if they are able to appoint a “co-guardian,” or someone else who can help with their responsibilities and duties. Most...

The Dangers of DIY Planning—Especially When You Have a Child with Special Needs!

With today’s technology, access to information is literally in the palm of our hands. From your cell phone, you can download manuals to repair a washing machine that’s thirty years old or watch step-by-step video tutorials that will teach you how to do anything from knitting a sweater to playing an instrument without taking a single professional lesson.

However, just because you can do something yourself doesn’t always mean you should. Special Needs Planning is an example of something that...

The End of The Year is a Great Time to Review Your Child’s Special Needs Trust

Working with a Special Needs Planning Attorney to create a trust for your child with special needs is an important part of preparing for his or her future. In order to make sure that the Special Needs Trust stays relevant to your family’s needs, however, it is important to review it annually. At this point, you are able to reflect on any changes that have taken place in your life or that of your loved one so that you can update the trust to reflect those changes. The end of the year is a...

Holiday Traveling Tips for People with Special Needs

Traveling at any time of the year is stressful. But the holidays can present extra challenges for people who travel with someone with special needs, especially when it comes to navigating excessive crowds, full flights, long lines, travel delays, staffing shortages, and overbooked hotels.

If you are traveling this year with a loved one who has special needs or a disability that requires extra assistance or care, the following tips can help make your life easier while you are away from home:

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