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Health & Fitness

Autism Awareness Month: 3 Key Planning Steps for Parents of Children With Special Needs

April is Autism Awareness Month in the United States. 

According to AutismSpeaks.com, the disorder affects one in 88 children in the United States, with boys being four times more likely than girls to be diagnosed on the spectrum. The prevalence of autism has also increased 57 percent from 2002 to 2006, thus prompting The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to refer to autism a “national public health crisis”.

Yet while autism awareness is at an all-time high, Milford attorney Franklin Drazen warns that many parents are still in the dark as to how to make sure their child is physically and financially cared for in the event of their death or incapacity.

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“As much parents of children with special needs hate to think about it, there will come a time when they are physically unable—or perhaps no longer alive—to oversee their child’s care,” warns Drazen.  “That’s why long-term care plans must be put in place as soon as a diagnosis is made to ensure the child always stays physically and financially protected if the unthinkable occurs,” he adds.

While Drazen acknowledges that the options for long-term care planning are broad and depend on the needs of the child, he believes that parents can simplify the process by starting with 3 easy planning steps:

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1.     Name Guardians- Drazen urges parents to immediately name short and long-term guardians who can oversee their child’s care if something unexpectedly happens to mom or dad. Without such designations in place, the child could end up in a lengthy custody battle—or worse—be placed in foster care if a crisis strikes.  Drazen advises parents to give copies of their designations to the guardians themselves, as well as the child’s school, babysitters...even the neighbors, so everyone knows exactly who to call in an emergency.

2.     Set up a Special Needs Trust- A special needs trust is a legal tool that helps ensure a disabled individual’s financial needs are met over the long-term.  Drazen says that many parents of disabled children attempt to do without a trust by leaving their child life insurance proceeds or other assets in a will, but doing so could jeopardize their eligibility for Social Security or Medicaid benefits in the future (which is often the only health care option available).  Instead, leaving assets to a trust helps to ensure that the child receives such financial benefits without actually having assets in their name—thus leaving all government benefits intact.

3.     Build a Team of Support- According to Drazen, it’s never too early to start building a team of trusted caregivers and advisors who can immediately step in and help the child if a crisis occurs.   Such team members may include the child’s legal guardians, a trusted doctor, financial advisor, estate planning attorney and dedicated family or friends.  Building a team now also helps to ensure parents have the right people in place, as opposed to someone who will prey upon their child’s disability during a vulnerable time.

“Parents of disabled children must go into planning with the mindset that their child will require a lifetime of care,” says Drazen.  “Fortunately, by starting with these 3 key steps, parents will make tremendous progress in ensuring their child is physically and financially cared for in their absence.”

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