Several states have designated October as Disability History and Awareness Month. For families of loved ones with special needs, the observance can serve as an important reminder to plan for the future.
Disability History and Awareness Month celebrates the stories and accomplishments of people with disabilities, raising awareness of the ongoing fight for disability rights, respect, and inclusion.
As a WV estate planning attorney and mother of children with special needs, Kelly S. Crites understands the importance of special needs planning in WV. She says the perfect way to observe Disability History and Awareness Month is to take action to ensure loved ones with disabilities are protected and cared for throughout their lives.
Crites recommends that families of children with special needs implement temporary and permanent guardianship and/or conservatorship arrangements and child protection plans. These arrangements ensure dependents with disabilities are cared for consistently and appropriately if the current parent or guardian is unable to provide care.
Creating a special needs trust is also imperative in special needs planning. These trusts are structured to provide financial support for individuals with disabilities without impacting eligibility for government assistance like Social Security Disability benefits and Medicaid.
“It’s difficult for parents to think about what may happen to their child if they are incapacitated or pass away,” says Crites. “But the risks of failing to plan are too great. Once these plans are in place, my clients often comment on the relief and comfort that come from having tended to these important matters.”
While WV does not officially recognize Disability History and Awareness Month, the state legislature has designated the third week of October as Disability History Week. In observance, public schools are encouraged to incorporate instruction and activities related to disability history, rights, and stories into their curriculum.
For more information on special needs planning in WV, visit criteslegal.com.
About The Law Office of Kelly S. Crites, PLLC: The Law Office of Kelly S. Crites provides clients in the Eastern Panhandle and throughout WV with legal counsel and representation for estate planning and trusts, family law, and business and real estate matters.