Articles that focus on the financial challenges related to people with autism (Supplemental Security Income (SSI), government programs, savings accounts, wills, cost of programs, therapies, a lifetime of care). This includes articles by financial advisors.
I just had an eye-opening conversation with the brother of an individual with autism and his father. The Dad is in not only going through the process of creating a special needs plan designed to care for his son with autism but also prepare his eldest son to take over as caregiver someday. I wanted to […]
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It is exciting to learn that technology giants like Google are working on ways to improve the lives of those with disabilities. At Google’s annual developer conference, CEO Sundar Pichai stated, “We believe technology can help us be more inclusive and (artificial intelligence) is providing us with new tools to dramatically improve the experience for people […]
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Parents of adult disabled children have a greater reason than most to fear their death. What will happen to my child? How can people of modest means plan for those 20 or 40 years between our death and the death of that adult child? What if the child’s abilities cannot be readily translated into gainful […]
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Question: I heard a report that stated the Social Security trust fund will be extinguished by 2034. Is that true, and if so how does that impact the plan for my adult son with autism? By law, Social Security OASDI trust funds must be able to pay benefits for at least the next 75 years. […]
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Question: I have heard of a Special Needs Trust. Can you share why my son with autism may need one? A Special Needs Trust is an important element in special needs planning because of what it can protect. For most individuals with an intellectual and developmental disability, government benefits are critical to providing a very […]
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How to apply for autism grants Applying for grants can seem like a daunting process. Don’t let paperwork, reference letters, and the waiting game discourage you from filling out an application. As an increasing volume of research on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is published, public awareness is rising, and services—including grants—are more readily available than […]
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Question: How do state Medicaid waiver programs play a role in the planning for my son, especially with the long waiting list? State Medicaid Waiver programs can play a significant role in providing care for your son’s lifetime need for support. While many families can be discouraged by the waiting lists that exist in most […]
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United Cerebral Palsy and the ANCOR Foundation released their The Case for Inclusion 2019 report that analyzed how well state programs, especially Medicaid, are meeting the needs of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The study did find some continued positive changes including the move away from institutions into community living; however, the study also […]
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Two new studies were released, one published in the Journal of JAMA Pediatrics and one by the federal government, at the end of 2018 that confirmed that one in 40 children ages three to 17 are diagnosed with autism. This prevalence has increased from one in 150 children in 18 short years. As with many […]
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According to statistics, an estimated 500,000 teenagers diagnosed with autism will become adults over the next 10 years. As the rate of diagnosis continues to climb (1 in 125 in 2004, 1 in 59 US births in 2018), preparations must be made, not only by families but by our communities as well. Currently, nearly half […]
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