Parents of a child who has a physical, intellectual, or developmental disability often find themselves unprepared to face the challenges that have been thrust upon them. In some cases, families are aware of a prenatal diagnosis and are able to give thought to their child’s needs in advance. Other disabilities, such as autism, are invisible, and a diagnosis presents itself months, if not years, after birth. In either scenario, many families don’t know where to begin when it comes to financial planning for a child with disabilities.
On Wednesday, March 9 at 7 p.m., Samost Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) will host a Disability Financial Planning workshop on Zoom. Special guest speaker Michael Byrne will address qualifying for and maintaining government benefits; securing your child’s future after you are gone; making sure the money you have left your child will last throughout their lifetime; wills and special needs trusts; guardianship, power of attorney, selecting an attorney, and letters of intent. In addition to being a chartered financial consultant with Lighthouse Planning Consultants, Byrne is the parent and sibling of individuals with disabilities and has been featured in Money Magazine.
Upcoming workshops in the Navigating the Disability Continuum series are:
- The Transitional Years: Ages 14 -21 (Wednesday, April 6)
- The Adult Years: Ages 21 & Older (Thursday, June 2)
The JFCS Disability Financial Planning workshop is free and open to the community. To register visit https://jfcssnj.org/continuum.
