The ASA's 38th National Conference on Autism Spectrum Disorders (July 11-14, 2007) of ASA

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, AZ

http://www.autism-society.org/
For a complete author index with session numbers, please click here
Saturday, July 14, 2007: 10:00 AM-11:15 AM
Mapmakers A & B
#2912- Bringing You Protected Tomorrows: Creating the Future Care Plan for Family Members with Special Needs*
The Protected Tomorrows® presentation is an interactive workshop which provides a good basic understanding of some important facts, such as how to apply for government benefits for instance SSI, SSDI, Medicare, and Medicaid. The presentation also reviews how to prepare financially and how to have your family’s wills and trusts set up so as not to disqualify your loved one for benefits in the future. Most importantly, the topic of family communication is covered in a fun yet serious manner.

Presenter:Mary Anne Ehlert, CFP, Protected Tomorrows, Inc., President & Founder - Mary Anne Ehlert is a financial professional and sister to an individual with disabilities. She is highly regarded as a specialist in working with families of individuals with disabilities, and serves on the boards of several organizations, including Special Olympics of Illinois. She speaks to conferences and other audiences on financial planning, and has recently completed her book, entitled “The Gift I Was Given.”
 
Bringing You Protected Tomorrows® Creating the Future Care Plan for Family Members with Special Needs Mary Anne Ehlert President and Founder Seminar Description As family members of a person with a disability, we so often tend to view life in light of the challenges presented to us. Bringing You Protected Tomorrows looks at our lives in a whole new light, as Mary Anne Ehlert provides a passionate glimpse of her life with her sister, Marcia. The presentation will be uplifting and entertaining, as well as provide a good basic understanding of some important facts. The Protected Tomorrows presentation is an interactive workshop which provides a good basic understanding of some important facts, such as how to apply for government benefits such as SSI, SSDI, Medicare, and Medicaid. The presentation also reviews in an uncomplicated manner how to prepare financially, and how to have your family's wills and trusts set up so as not to disqualify your loved one for benefits in the future. Finally, and most importantly, the topic of family communication is covered in a fun yet serious manner. Presenter Biography Mary Anne Ehlert is a financial professional and sister to an individual with disabilities. She is highly regarded as a specialist in working with families of individuals with disabilities, and serves on the boards of several organizations, including Special Olympics of Illinois. She speaks to conferences and other audiences on financial planning, and has recently completed her book, entitled “The Gift I Was Given.” Company Description Protected Tomorrows, Inc.® enhances the lives of people with developmental disabilities through a comprehensive life planning process. Its nationwide network of Advocates creates Future Care Plans, which include the educational, residential, financial, legal, health care, government benefits, employment and recreational needs of the individual with special needs. Protected Tomorrows' passionate team of professionals all have a personal connection to the special needs community, so they understand the concerns of families firsthand. It drives them to continuously identify, design and implement solutions to life planning, bringing peace of mind to families about the years ahead for their loved one. For more information, please contact Protected Tomorrows at (847) 522-8086 or speeches@protectedtomorrows.com

® Do you feel as if your families are caught in a maze? ® & © 2003-2006 Protected Tomorrows, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission by Protected Tomorrows, Inc. www.protectedtomorrows.com Let Us Help You Point Them in the Right Direction with a family seminar! CREATE THE FUTURE MAP™ 1. What are my dreams for my family member's future? 2. What are my fears for my family member's future? 3. What will the cost be to provide for my family member? 4. Where will the money come from? 5. Who do I trust to watch the money? CAPTURE POTENTIAL BENEFITS™ 1. SSDI, SSA 2. Medicare 3. SSI 4. Medicaid 5. Asset and income limitations 6. Cash benefits and health benefits and services 7. Insurance 8. Family and work FILTER THE LEGAL OPTIONS™ Wills and Trusts: 1. What is a special needs trust? Is there more than one kind? 2. Other areas to discuss with a special needs attorney, such as wills and living trusts. 3. Do I need any other legal documents? 4. What will happen in case of a divorce? 5. How do I find the right attorney? Guardianship/Conservatorship 1. What happens when my child turns 18 (or legal age)? 2. What are the different kinds of powers of attorney? 3. What is guardianship all about? 4. Who will make decisions in my place? 5. Selecting trustees and guardians. BEGIN THE TRANSITION™ 1. Residential 2. Recreation 3. Employment 4. The world of acronyms 5. Who, when, where and how to start? FAMILY COMMUNICATION: DOCUMENT THE WONDER™ 1. What the immediate and extended family needs to know. 2. Documenting critical information. 3. Expanding the circle of caregivers and sharing with them the information they need. 4. Annual review to manage changes. Your Protected Tomorrows® Advocate can personally guide them through the many options available, such as: Contact Protected Tomorrows at 847-522-8086 to schedule a meeting. ® Organizations Where We Have Spoken Accessibility Summit - Vienna, VA Association for Independent Development (AID) ALS Support Group ARC of Illinois Arlington Heights Disability Community Arlington Pediatric Therapy Asperger's Parent Support Group Autism One Autism Society Barrington District 220 Bartlett Learning Center/Clarewoods Academy B.E.S.T (Bus. & Education for Students in Transition) Blare House Brentwood Eldercare Seminar Brinker Investment Management Buffalo Grove School District Buffalo Grove Park Dist. Sr. Program CALU Group DeKalb CAN TV Career Exploration Day Centers for Independent Living Central Texas Estate Planning Council Chicago Sun Times – Q & A Column Children's Memorial Hospital Children's Mental Health/Illness Conference Claremont Rehabilitation Center Clarewoods Academy Clearbrook College Church Disability Mission Condell Hosp. Intergenerational Day Care Center Coach Care Comprehensive Services, Inc. Council for the Jewish Elderly Countryside Foster Parents Group Countryside Rehabilitation Center Crystal Lake High School Parents Group Crystal Lake Special Needs Program Cystic Fibrosis Institute Devereux Foundation District 15, Palatine School District District 65 – Park School Downers Grove High School Dr. Chez Autism Conference DuPage TPC ECHO School Easter Seal Society Elgin Center for Independent Living Esperanza School Evanston Northwestern Hospital Neo-Natal FPA Forum and Expo - IL Financial Planning Association (FPA) National Meeting Financial Planning Association of Illinois Gateway to Learning Giant Steps Gilda's Club Chicago Glenkirk Grundy County Special Ed. Coop Heart of Illinois Down Syndrome Association IDEAS National Conference Illinois Association of Rehabilitative Facilities Illinois CPA Society Infinitec North, Southwest, West International Rett Syndrome Foundation Jewish Children's Bureau John Marshall Law School Kendall County Special Ed. Cooperative Kenosha-Racine Special Ed. Kent Law School Lake County Center for Independent Living Lake County Disability Advocacy Group Lake County Inter Agency Council Lake County Life Underwriters Lake County Senior Expo Larkin Center Luthern Church of the Cross Kingswood Lutheran Church Libertyville Senior Center Life's Plan Group ® & © 2003-2006 Protected Tomorrows, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission by Protected Tomorrows, Inc. www.protectedtomorrows.com ® Organizations Where We Have Spoken Maine Township High School MDA Fair MDRT – Court of the Table Best Practices Forum Michigan Dyslexia Institute Miners School MS Support Group Multiple Sclerosis, Calumet City National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) National Angelman Syndrome Foundation National Association of Personal Financial Advisors National Kidney Foundation National Lewis University Pace Program National Obsessive Compulsive Conference Next Steps National Spinal Muscular Atrophy Conference Neumann Association North DuPage Special Education Co-op North Suburban Autism Chapter Northern Trust Bank Northpointe Achievement Center Northwest Library System - Elder Care Program Northwest Special Recreation Association NSAR, Park Ridge NSSED NSSEO Open Door Rehab. Opportunity, Inc. Orland Park Special Recreation Over The Rainbow Parent Advocate Support Group Pathways Plainfield Special Ed. Support Group Regency Health & Rehabilitation Centre River Valley Special Recreation Association Round Lake Special Recreation Association Rudolf Learning Center School District 59, Arlington Heights, IL SEDOL SEDOM Shady Oaks Camp Sibling Connections SMA Conference SOTOS National Conference Shore Community Services Sibling ConnectionsSOTOS National Conference Southside Occupational Academy, Chicago, IL Special Education District of Lake County Special Education Resource Committee Special Kids Resource Fair Special Olympics – St. Louis, Decatur Special Olympics Illinois Special Olympics Illinois – Area Directors Special Olympics Hawaii Special Olympics Maryland Special Olympics Minnesota Spina Bifida Association Spinal Muscular Atrophy National Meeting South Carolina School for the Deaf St. Colletta's – Wisconsin, Illinois St. Francis Hospital - Peoria Step Out Stevenson HS Community Foundation Suburban Disability Commission Summit School Swedish Covenant Hospital TASH Conference Texas Retired Teachers Association University of Illinois at Chicago UCP of Illinois USA Anaridia Network Vernon Hills Library Warren Achievement Center Wheeling Disability Council Will-Grundy Transition Planning Conference Willow Grove School, Buffalo Grove, IL Willpower, Inc. Wilmette Women's Organization World Congress on Disabilities YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities ® & © 2003-2006 Protected Tomorrows, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission by Protected Tomorrows, Inc. www.protectedtomorrows.com

See more of General Submissions

See more of The ASA's 38th National Conference on Autism Spectrum Disorders (July 11-14, 2007)