Join Concierge Financial Organization for a free post tax season document shredding event on Saturday, April 18. Concierge Financial Organization is partnering with the Louise Graham Regeneration Center to securely destroy your documents. Bring a donation of canned goods for use by the St. Petersburg Free Clinic in order to take advantage of this service.
The Louise Graham Regeneration Center provides document shredding services to many organizations across our region, including the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department and the IRS. In addition to the services offered, the center’s primary mission is to provide opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities to maximize their independence through the provision of quality life skills training, paid employment and participation in the community at large.
This is not only an opportunity to have your documents shredded but to help support the Louise Graham Regeneration Center and St. Petersburg Free Clinic.
Date: Saturday, April 18, 2015 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Location: 3637 4th Street North, St. Petersburg
*We’re sorry, but commercial shredding will not be accepted at this event, however, monthly on-site pick-up services are available through the Louise Graham Regeneration Center separately.
Here’s a fun event for families with children with special needs at the Great Explorations Children’s Museum. It’s the second Sunday of the month.
Time: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Date: Second Sunday of each month except May 2015 (2015 dates: January 11, February 8, March 8, April 12, June 14, July 12, August 9, September 13, October 11, November 8, and December 13.) Location: Great Explorations Children’s Museum Cost: $5 per person and FREE for Great Ex members.
Register/Info: (727) 821-8992, ext. 209
In January, Great Explorations launced their new Great Connections program, a monthly event especially for children with special needs and their families. On the second Sunday of each month, Great Explorations will close to the general public from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., modify lights and sounds, and provide a “cool down” room for families who need to take a break.
Address:
Great Explorations Children’s Museum
1925 4th Street North
St. Petersburg, FL 33704
As a financial planner and a father of children with special needs, I know it’s important to make sure we plan ahead for our kids. I came across an interesting article on the website Autism Society about how to plan for those with Autism. Click here to go directly to the article or read below. I am happy to discuss any of this with you if you have questions.
Ensuring quality of life for a loved one with autism requires a care plan with a sound legal and financial foundation. The purpose of a special needs estate plan is to ensure the economic security and ongoing well-being of your family member, even when you’re no longer able to assume that responsibility.
A special needs estate plan should address:
• Guardianship – Guardianship is a potential issue at three points throughout your child’s life: while a minor, upon reaching the age of 18 and upon your death. During childhood, who would assume parental obligations in the event that you could no longer do so? Then, upon reaching the age of 18, will your child be in a position to make important legal, financial and educational decisions? If not, you will need to consider whether or not to establish yourself as legal guardian (in some states, referred to as a conservatorship for persons over 18) in order to continue to provide such assistance. If you do assume guardianship of your child once they legally become an adult, you will also need to name someone to take on those responsibilities upon your passing.
• Benefit Assessment – The financial security of many individuals with autism depends upon such public benefits as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Based upon the services that your family member will require throughout life, a special needs attorney can help you determine eligibility for government assistance. Then, with the help of a financial advisor, you can establish savings and investment goals in order to provide additional funds needed to support the lifestyle you envision.
• Special Needs Trust (SNT) – In order to qualify for certain government benefits, an individual with disabilities must meet stringent standards for financial need. If your child will be dependent upon such public programs for medical care, housing, employment assistance or other services, you will probably wish to supplement the very basic levels of support provided. Assets that are held by SNTs are not considered by the government when evaluating applications for means-tested programs. In addition, an SNT is a good tool for ensuring that the assets set aside for an individual with disabilities are managed responsibly and not subject to creditors. There are several types of SNTs, depending upon who funds them and how they are administered.
• Letter of Intent (LOI) – While not a legal document, the letter of intent is essentially a roadmap providing guidance to guardians, trustees and others on how to care for your child when you are no longer able to fill that role. It includes medical, financial, legal and personal details, as well as your intentions concerning your child’s lifestyle.
• Powers of Attorney – If guardianship is inappropriate for your adult child, you may wish to consider less intrusive alternatives that name agents responsible for specific types of decision-making.
• Will – A will details your wishes concerning the disposition of your property upon death. It establishes what portion of your estate should be allocated to your child with disabilities and other heirs, and whether or not certain funds should be held by an SNT.
While there’s no such thing as a perfect plan, doing nothing is almost certainly a bad plan. The point is to create a flexible plan that can—and will—change over time to reflect events in the lives of all involved.
Did you that more than 25,000 people live with autism in and around Tampa Bay. The University of South Florida has a community-based project called The Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (CARD) that provides information and consultation to individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and related disabilities. They have a fabulous website full of information and a variety of resources, materials, online trainings and tutorial and even community events.
There is a special section called Autism Friendly Business Directory. This is where they give you a list of businesses that are autism friendly including restaurants, entertainment, faith based organizations, health & wellness, travel, public parks and recreation and others.
Maybe you are looking for places to take the kids this holiday season. If you go on the website at http://card-usf.fmhi.usf.edu/index.html you will find Dinosaur World, Lowry Park Zoo, Great Explorations Children’s Museum, Glazer Museum, Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) and The Florida Aquarium.
Maybe you are thinking about staying at a hotel on the beach or in Tampa. There are several hotels including the TradeWinds Island Resort on St. Petersburg Beach, the Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore and Wyndam Hotel Westshore. You can also book a vacation with ASD Vacations and be linked with a personal special needs travel agent.
When you click on the links to the locations you want to visit, you will find a page with information for adults and then pages you can review with your child prior to visiting the location. This is to help your child so they have advance knowledge of rules and potential sensory issues.
If you are a business or you know of a business that wants to become a part of the CARD Business Directory, you can go onto the website or call 813-974-2532.
I would love to find out what you think about this program and if this helps you with your planning for fun adventures with your child. Email me at scottrussell@tfamail.com or comment below.
Join Concierge Financial Organization for a free post tax season document shredding event on Saturday, April 18. Concierge Financial Organization is partnering with the Louise Graham Regeneration Center to securely destroy your documents. Bring a donation of canned goods for use by the St. Petersburg Free Clinic in order to take advantage of this service.
4 Special Needs 