While it’s important for the parents of a child with special needs to provide for the child’s financial well-being in their estate plan, it’s equally important to address the issue of transitioning to life with a new caregiver. That’s the purpose of a letter of intent, which is intended to assist future caregivers by describing…

Newly signed legislation has significantly altered the process for evaluating public school classroom teachers and building principals by including consideration of student test scores. The procedure for evaluating incompetence cases has also been changed, partially with the intention of expediting the process. A single arbitrator (rather than three) will now be required for cases “based…

Senate Proposal Would Eliminate Use of Term “Mentally Retarded” Words hurt, and it has long been recognized that language shapes perception. So when Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) proposed Rosa’s Law, which would replace the term “mental retardation” with “intellectual disability” in federal programs, it marked significant progress for people with developmental disabilities. Rosa’s big brother,…

Some children with special needs may wish to continue their education beyond high school. It is important for these students and their parents to understand what rights they have at a post-secondary institution, and to know how those rights differ from the rights they had in high school. Post-secondary institutions may not discriminate against students with disabilities, but they are not required to identify the special needs of their students as public schools are.

When you can no longer care for a loved one with special needs, a Letter of Guidance can help make their transition to a new living situation go as smoothly as possible. The Letter of Guidance, written on the premise that no one knows a child better than a parent, contains important information about your loved one’s history, likes, dislikes, current health and emotional status, hopes and dreams, as well as what your wishes are for their future.