Our Services
Special Education
Advice & Advocacy
Obtaining support services for your child can be extremely confusing and anxiety provoking for parents. Navigating the meetings, evaluations and documentation, understanding the endless acronyms, knowing what questions to ask: there is a huge amount of information that parents need to learn to advocate effectively for their child. The learning curve is continual, as your child’s developmental needs will change over time. Bringing an experienced advocate to a meeting can make it more productive and less stressful for all involved. Through pre-meeting planning, post-meeting re-capping and ongoing strategizing with families, a roadmap is built to successfully navigate these years.
College Transition
& Support
Transitioning to college is a tremendous challenge for students and parents. Ideally, the process should begin years before the student graduates from high school. Understanding the legal and practical differences between school based services and college level services is tremendously important to achieving a successful outcome.
Adult Programs & Services
Whether your child goes to college or chooses another path, there are many options to consider once your child turns 18 so that they have support that is appropriate and meaningful. Some programs and services are publicly funded and some are privately funded. Each person’s situation is unique and the range of options can be difficult to navigate.
Self Direction
New York State’s Office for People with Developmental Disabilities oversees the Self Direction program. Self Direction allows individuals who qualify to have access to a budget of funds that supports greater community integration. For example, these budgets can include reimbursements for taking community classes, transportation and certain living expenses as well as a housing subsidy.
Financial & Legal Considerations
From birth all the way through eldercare estate planning, all special needs services are based on various legal frameworks. It is critically important that families understand the laws that exist so that they can make smarter legal and financial planning decisions. Choices made during early childhood can have significant consequences to accessing support services in adulthood. Referring families to experienced special needs financial planners and attorneys helps with effective management of these challenges.
Elder Care
Disability Planning
Obtaining elder care disability services for a loved one at home or in a facility requires a unique set of decisions. The landscape is challenging and ever changing. Each county in New York has its own set of rules. Families benefit by learning about this process and by referrals to Trust and Estate attorneys as appropriate,