Open Letter to Parents

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Dear Fellow Parent,

As a financial services professional working with hundreds of families and their finances since 1990, I can tell you it is easy to become overwhelmed at the thought of organizing your financial and estate planning. For some families, this organization has never occurred… they simply go day-to-day in their typical routines while opportunities unknowingly pass them by.

With the added hat that I wear as a parent and advocate, my experience is that this task is even more daunting for families, like mine, who have a child with a disability. Day-to-day activities can be a juggling act -- managing doctors and therapies, advocating for our children’s medical and educational needs, searching for appropriate respite care, waiting to get on waiting lists, and “drawing lines in the sand” to illustrate our threshold where we will simply not accept anything less for our kids. Couple these tasks with the fear of what the future might hold, and future planning can easily become another item on a never-ending “to do” list.

Because finding the right resource for our child at the proper time is not always easy, we are sometimes amazed when we finally find the right connection. Unfortunately, it's sometimes years after we needed it. Today, I hope to be the right resource for you at the right time.

I am knowledgeable in government benefits available to people with disabilities through entitlement programs (Medicare and SSDI) as well as needs-based programs (Medicaid, Home and Community-Based Waivers and SSI.) Parents should know that there are triggers that can unexpectedly change these benefits for our children, such as their reaching the age of eighteen, or even when their parents retire or acquire a disability themselves. To complicate matters further, some benefit recipients can actually be “dually eligible” for both entitlement and needs-based programs, and assets and employment income can affect some of these important benefits -- which, by the way, can differ from state to state. I am able to assist families through the complicated maze of understanding these benefit programs, and more importantly, how they specifically relate to their children and their particular circumstances.

I am highly connected to the disability community through service, volunteerism, teaching, and friendships, and am familiar with many community resources available to people with disabilities. Often times, I can refer families to resources and help them obtain benefits in which they were previously unaware or didn't think they were eligible to receive.

All parents worry, regardless of their children’s needs. However, I know the relief that comes from developing a sound, person-centered plan for your son or daughter that gives you a "permission slip" to do many things. Permission to worry less, spend your hard-earned savings on yourself during your retirement (what a concept!), and, yes, have peace in knowing your child will outlive you with a lifetime of quality care… leaving your handprint, long after you’re gone. Having done all you can to raise your child as their own self-advocate with the skills, resources and circles of support they need is, as they say, priceless.

Since 2003, I’ve dedicated the majority of my practice to other families who have children with disabilities. I'd be happy to commit two hours of my time to meet with you for a free, confidential intake meeting to discuss your unique situation and how I might be able to handhold you through the process of accomplishing what is most important to you… and most importantly, to your son or daughter. By the way, you'll never receive a bill from me for the first or any subsequent meetings that are necessary to assist you in your special needs and futures planning. As an advocate for your child, I'll work with you regardless of your current financial situation.

While there's no cookie-cutter approach to this intricate planning, I'm confident you'll walk away from your intake meeting with a clearer understanding of the tools that are available to you to secure a lifetime of quality care and person-centered supports for your son or daughter. If your child is still school-aged, we'll discuss not only the present, but also their future... including your thoughts on future housing, levels of independence, employment, and how you envision their being a valued part of the community. If they’re already an adult, we’ll explore whether or not they’re taking advantage of all the community resources available to them. If you have other advisors with expertise in special needs planning techniques, I’ll be happy to be your “quarterback” and work with them for you. I'll do my best to connect you to the proper resources to help you accomplish what is needed most for your son or daughter. In our planning, we'll make sure we keep every possible door of opportunity open for them pass through.

I'm sure other professionals in my field of expertise will agree that this planning is much easier performed on a proactive basis, rather than in response to a crisis - such as an unexpected inheritance to your child of only $2,000 that could knock him or her out of benefits. Which is why I hope you'll take time out of your busy schedule sooner, than later, to schedule your intake meeting.

Our time is precious. Which may be why we speak a simplified language of acronyms that is foreign to most, such as IEP, OT, PT, PCA, AT, VR, etc. However, when we meet, I'll make sure we discuss your planning options in easy-to-understand terms as they relate to your particular needs.

I invite you to contact me via my direct line to my office at (302)781-1055. Let's schedule a mutually convenient time to discuss your unique situation and map a path forward to accomplish the necessary steps to achieve what is most important for your child's future .

My best regards,

Diann Jones, MBA, Parent/Advocate MetDESK® Specialist