Planning for Adult Children with Disabilities Childhood Disability Benefits assist disabled children and adults who became disabled prior to age 22. Most begin with Supplemental Security Income, which is a monthly cash payment for individuals with limited income and few resources. Because a parent’s income and resources are usually deemed available to the child, SSI […]
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Medicaid is critical for individuals with special needs. It pays for things no one else will pay for and it has recently come under fire. The Arc is working to protect Medicaid for its constituents. It is activating advocates to protect services for the disability community. It is also seeking donations to further its efforts. […]
Service animals used by individuals with a disability can only be excluded from public places if they cannot be controlled by their handler or if they are not house broken. See Title II, Section 35.136. Usually service animals must be harnessed, leashed or tethered unless the individual’s disability prevents using those devices or unless it […]
On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”), a comprehensive civil rights law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability. The law was amended on September 25, 2008, when President George W.Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 (ADA […]
In City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson (U.S. 6/28/2024), the U.S. Supreme Court held that enforcement of generally applicable laws regulating camping on public property does not constitute “cruel and unusual punishment” prohibited by the Eighth Amendment. This decision followed the City of Grants Pass’ adoption of an ordinance restricting homeless individuals from camping […]
Recently the Special Needs Alliance published a new handbook for individuals with disabilities and their advocates. The SNA states: “The intent of this handbook is to explain some of the terms related to services and supports for people with disabilities, to introduce the process of transitioning from child services to adult services, and to provide […]
On Thursday, August 17th, 2023: 12 noon – 1 p.m. ET, the National Disability Institute will host a webinar on Seeing Eye Dog and Therapy Animal Services. The announcement says participants will learn more from Don McGowan, a volunteer at The Seeing Eye and Nancy George-Michalson, Executive Director of New York Therapy Animals, Inc., about […]
The 8th Annual North Georgia Autism Conference will be held October 27, 2023 at the Dalton Convention Center (2211 Tony Ingle Parkway, Dalton, Georgia 30720). Keynote speakers are Rodney Kellum and Stephanie O. Hubach. Register for the conference at HamiltonHealth.com/autismconference

In April, 2022, we reported that HB 620 altered how settlements for minors can be approved under O.C.G.A. § 29-3-3, at least in cases where the trial court approves direct payment to a trust. Prior to passage of HB 620, Section 29-3-3 read as follows: 2021 Version For purposes of this Code section, the term […]

I recently met with Mr. David McGuffey at his office in Dalton, GA to make my blog, Curb Free with Cory Lee, an LLC. I am a powered wheelchair user and I work hard to spread the word about wheelchair accessible destinations all over the world. Mr. McGuffey helped to ease my mind and make […]

On March 24, 2023, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida ruled in Securities and Exchange Commission v. Synergy Settlement Services, Inc., et al., Case No. 6:22-cv-820-WWB-DCI. The motion before the Court was to dismiss the action. The motion was denied with the Court indicating it should at least move tot […]

As of this writing, the following pooled trusts are authorized by the Department of Community Health to provide trust services in Georgia: Georgia Community/Trust/Bobby Dodd Institute Anita Gardner Decatur, GA 404.809.2914 Anchor For Special Needs, Inc. Annie Warner Cincinnati, OH 844.526.2467 Advocates and Guardians for the Elderly & Disabled (AGED) Thad A. Joseph Longwood, FL 888-277-1826 The Center […]

The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2013 (S. 313/H.R.647) was introduced in the 113th Congress by a bipartisan group of Congressional Champions that included Sens. Robert Casey, Jr. (D-PA) and Richard Burr (R-NC), and Reps. Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Pete Sessions (R-TX). The ABLE […]
The answer is, yes, maybe. At USA.gov, there are tips for caregiver support including links to programs that could pay you to serve as a family caregiver. That site offers the following insight: A caregiver helps a person with special medical needs in performing daily activities. Tasks include shopping for food and cooking, cleaning the […]
Recently we received an unsoliticed email regarding Alternative Baseball®, which originated in Dallas, Georgia, and we decided to republish it here. If you have any interest in participating, contact information is below. Greetings! My name is Taylor Duncan! I am 26 years old and I have autism. I am also the Founder and President of […]
In this day and age, people are glued to their smart phones and other electronic devices. They hardly look up and old time family dinners are often a thing of the past. Alternatively, people binge watch TV or spend significant time playing video games. None of these activities require or encourage interaction with the real […]
Children with special needs have a right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive enironment. Information regarding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is available at Parent2Parent of Georgia and the U.S. Department of Educations’s IDEA website. Because I know him, […]
Estate Planning and Estate Tax News: The simple four step guide for estate planning How to get your affairs in order Making legal plans after dementia diagnosis Opinion: When faced with death, people often change their minds Trust or Will? How to navigate what’s best for your family Basics of Estate Planning and Your Digital […]
The key to successful special needs planning is preparing for the day when parents, grandparents, spouses or others are no longer available to assist the individual with special needs. There are many special needs planning guides out there, but the form below is an example you can use. We also recommend Hal Wright’s book, the […]
In Georgia and 26 other states, insurers that sell Medicare supplement insurance must also sell those policies to individuals under 65 who receive Medicare as a result of disability. Specifically, O.C.G.A. § 33-43-3(g) provides: Insurers offering medicare supplement policies in this state to persons 65 years of age or older shall also offer medicare supplement […]
The Arc of the United States has posted more than 40 video programs designed to provide online activities for individuals with disabilities, their families and service providers. Topics include arts, community and life skills, health and wellness, virtual clubs and more. Click here for more information.
The Olmstead case was brought by two Georgia women whose disabilities include mental retardation and mental illness. At the time the suit was filed, both plaintiffs lived in State-run institutions, despite the fact that their treatment professionals had determined that they could be appropriately served in a community setting. The plaintiffs asserted that continued institutionalization […]

