TRANSITION PLANNING

Transition is “the process of changing from one state to another,” according to Webster’s dictionary.  For families of children with special needs, it means the growth from being a legal “child” to a legal “adult” – or turning 18 years old – otherwise known as the “age of majority.”  Transition planning for students with disabilities and their families means planning for questions like what happens after high school?  How will my child prepare for living independently? Will my child be able to work, and if so, at what type of job?  How will he or she fill their days? And, what will happen after I pass away?

Transition Planning Services

Parents never stop worrying that they may have missed a critical deadline or opportunity for their child in the complicated world of special needs planning. To help parents resolve their worries about the path to adulthood, we offer Transition Planning Services that cover far more than the school’s educational transition plan.  A true, all-encompassing Transition Plan sets out you and your child’s goals for life as an adult not only in school, but vocational planning, government benefits, guardianship and special needs trust planning.  Each component of our Transition Plan require careful, expert planning within important deadlines.  Our team of experts includes Special Needs Trust and Education/IEP Transition Planning Attorneys, Guardianship/Family Law Attorney, Paralegals, and a Benefits Specialist.

Transition Planning Process

During our Transitional Planning process, our legal team will help create a Transition Planning Inventory and guide you through the following components:

1. Legal Planning: We review Special Needs Legal Planning, how Special Needs Trusts and ABLE accounts work, and how these strategies coordinate with Parents’ Estate Planning.  Most importantly, we will cut through the legalese and help you understand practically how these tools will provide value to your child.
2. Decision Making: We will explain the differences between Powers of Attorney and Guardianship, and help you decide which is best for your child.  
3. Government Benefits, Support and Programs: Learn about government benefits like SSI, Medicaid, SSDI and Medicare, how your child qualifies, and whether further testing and evidence is required.  
4. Education, Vocational and Community Programming: We will review your child’s current IEP/ Transition Plan for several key components to ensure that the school’s Transition Plan meets your child’s needs. We will also help you identify and put into action the child and family’s goals for adult life and work/day program pursuits.

We can help you in this process wherever you are today.  Many parents lament that they are “soooo late” to the planning process.  It is never too late to create a Transition Plan!  We will walk this path alongside you, rest assured, we will prioritize the issues that you must consider and help you achieve your planning goals.