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Notes, Buckets, and Beneficiaries: An Introduction to Special Needs Planning
Having loved ones with special needs requires specialized planning to meet their unique financial requirements. The search for direction about financial assistance (benefits and support provided by government agencies) and special needs planning (preparation for future financial needs) can be...
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The Importance of Special Needs Trusts for Children with Autism
When my child with ASD and intellectual disability was young, I had no idea what tomorrow would bring, much less what would happen years from now, when I would no longer be there. My son’s behaviors were anxiety-provoking enough without me having to lie awake at night thinking about the future....
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Opportunities for Disability Employment
One of the biggest misconceptions we address as financial advisors to neurodivergent clients is that people with disabling conditions cannot work and receive government benefits and supports. Not only that but that government is trying to make sure that you don’t work if you have a disability....
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10 Strategies to Teach Your Autistic Child About Money
Let’s face it - money is essential to every single person’s life. Money is a tool that allows us to negotiate our welfare and independence in the world and has an incredible influence on anyone’s life. That being said, if it isn’t managed properly, it can quickly become an overwhelming...
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Special Education Due Process 101 – The Nuts and Bolts
A number of disputes and disagreements can arise between parents and school districts regarding a child’s special education programming. Some of these areas of disagreement may include identification, declassification, appropriateness of program, appropriateness of placement or services,...
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Financial Strategies for Your Child with Special Needs
Even the most well-adjusted, optimistic people struggle with being able to communicate how difficult it is to be the parent of a child with special needs. Saying that parenting a child with special needs is daunting is a profound understatement - at least it was for me. During the early years, as...
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Financial Literacy for ASD College Students
I was having lunch with my daughter, a recent college graduate, and she remarked that in her opinion the main thing today’s college students are unprepared for is managing their finances. She said “No one really teaches us everything we need to know. What we really need are courses on financial...
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Financing Post-Secondary Education and Training
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), “the average total cost of attendance in 2011-12 for first-time, full-time students living on campus and paying in-state tuition was $21,000 at public 4-year institutions, $41,420 at private nonprofit 4-year institutions, and...
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Helpful Financial Resources for Parents of Children with Autism
According to Autism Speaks, “The costs of providing care for each person with autism affected by intellectual disability through his or her lifespan are $2.3 million in the U.S.” According to Families USA, 60% of bankruptcies are due to medical debt. The Catalyst Center report “Breaking the...
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Protecting the Financial Future of Your Child with Autism
Parents of children with autism know that just getting through day-to-day life requires careful planning. Many parents do not consider that financial planning for their child with autism also requires careful and special planning, especially when the child may not be able to support or care for...