Special Needs Planning with Consolidated Planning Group

Families who care for a family member with special needs should consider a Special Needs Trust to meet their financial needs and avoid affecting government benefits. However, there are many questions about taxes! This presentation will discuss the two types of Special Needs Trusts and the tax implications from an income, gift, and estate tax perspective. Join CPA Teresa Ferruzzo, for this important discussion. Teresa is a trusted resource for families with special needs as they consider tax preparation and trust taxation.

If you love someone with a disability, you won't want to miss this webinar! Did you know these services are available to you?

Peer Support Information and Referral Individual and Systems Advocacy Independent Living Skills Training Transition Join our panel presentation to hear from several independent living centers that offer support, training, and services to your family!

“Summer slide,” or the tendency for kids to forget what they learned the previous school year, can be a struggle for any family but particularly challenging for children who learn differently.

We will hear from Shemica Allen from Personalized Learning Solutions during this webinar. She will share some summer strategies and action items (for both parent and child) to help prepare for the upcoming school year. These healthy habits will pay off when school starts again! Tips will include how to transition into the summer, how to work on IEP goals over the summer, how to collect data, and how to organize your child's special education records.

Looking For Continuing Education and Social Options After High School For A Child With Special Needs? Let's Learn About Lifelong Learning With Friends! Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), such as Down syndrome (DS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have few opportunities to pursue higher education opportunities after graduating high school. Lifelong Learning with Friends (LLWF) is a post-secondary education program held on the University of Texas at Austin campus and allows adults with IDD to form age-appropriate friendships and learn sophisticated subjects typical to a neurotypical college program. This program is open to students with higher support needs.

Join our webinar to hear from Kaelin Rubenzer, Executive Director for Lifelong Learning with Friends, and learn about this wonderful educational option! Before LLWF, Kaelin worked as a neuroscience researcher at the University of Texas at Austin and as a community attendant for over a dozen people with IDDs. Her most important influence for IDD advocacy is her personal experience with her older brother with ASD.

If you have a family member with a disability, finding the right dental care can be essential to their well-being. Individuals with special needs may require unique considerations and traditional dental settings may not be suitable for everyone; alternative options can be beneficial. Let us help you discover compassionate, specialized dental options tailored to your loved one's needs.

Join Dr. William Moore of Enable Dental to discover how in-home dental care provides a comfortable and convenient option for individuals with disabilities. Melissa Elizabeth Dolan will also discuss how Enable Dental's innovative approach redefines the possibilities of dental care for the special needs community.

Have You Heard about the Family Opportunity Mortgage That You Can Get For Your Loved One With A Disability?

Join this webinar to hear from Dwayne Graham, Branch Manager at New American Funding, as he tells us about a little-known mortgage product, the Family Opportunity Mortgage. This mortgage is a unique product for families considering purchasing a home for a loved one with a disability. You will learn why this is a better option for your family and how it compares with other lending options.

In addition, we will hear from Cynda Green, Pathways to Adulthood Program - Transition Coordinator, with Texas Parent to Parent. She will share the many steps a family must take as they consider housing options for their loved one including supervision, support, and safety concerns.

Is it time for your child with special needs to start thinking about a job? Are you wondering how to get started? Join this webinar where you will hear from Bloom Consulting, Their employment service program offers supported employment, job placement, job coaching, vocational adjustment training, and environmental work assessments. You will learn what steps you can take to find the right opportunity for your child!

Looking for a college experience for your child with special needs? We have the answers to the questions families have when considering the best option for their student who is neurodiverse or has a disability when transitioning out of high school. The discussion will include answers to these frequently asked questions: What options are available after high school? What makes a college good for students with disabilities? What unique planning considerations should I consider?Join us as we explain how to successfully plan for your future.

Our speaker is Dr. Sehrish Shikarpurya who researches transition practices to increase the post-school outcomes of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This session will introduce the audience to inclusive postsecondary education opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We will discuss the purpose of these programs, where they are located, and their common goals. Additionally, we will review the requirements for some programs in Texas and discuss how caregivers can better prepare their youth for these opportunities.

As a parent of a child with special needs, you know there are many decisions to be made as it relates to the future of your special needs family member. To protect your loved one, the decision about guardianship and alternatives to guardianship are paramount.

Join this webinar to learn from Gigit Tyler, Principal Attorney at the law firm of Tyler and Maderer, PLLC, as she shares information about planning for your family's future.