Most parents of children with disabilities spend years focused on therapies, medical appointments, school services, and daily support needs. In the midst of all of that, one important question is often left unanswered: What will happen to my child when I am no longer...
We meet the lifetime legal needs of children and adults with disabilities, the elderly, and their families.
Children With Special Needs
Planning Options for Disabled Individuals: Trusts Versus ABLE Accounts
Did you know that beginning January 1, 2026, individuals who become blind or disabled before age 46 will be eligible to open a STABLE Account—an increase from the current age limit of 26? Learn more about special needs estate planning tools—including STABLE Accounts, pooled trusts, and first-party special needs trusts—that can help your loved one maintain essential public benefits while also providing funds to enhance their quality of life.
Food Assistance in Ohio: Understanding SNAP
As of early November 2025, many Ohio residents have not received their November SNAP benefits because of the federal government shutdown. If you are facing food insecurity, you can find help by calling 2-1-1, visiting 211oh.org, or contacting your local food bank or pantry (a locator tool is available at https://www.greaterclevelandfoodbank.org/get-help/find-food).
Special needs estate planning in Ohio: Protect your child’s future
Planning for a child with special needs takes more than leaving them money or assets. In Ohio, special needs estate planning helps you keep your child eligible for SSI and Medicaid while also setting aside resources for their long-term care. What is special needs...
Estate planning and beneficiaries with special needs: Is a gift a problem?
It is a gift that comes with the best of intentions. A well-meaning individual, driven by love and concern, wishes to leave a substantial inheritance to a special needs child, hoping to secure their future and provide for their needs. However, this generous gesture,...
Five tips to help special needs children transition from school to the workplace
Transitioning from high school or school-based care to the workplace and adult services can be a challenging time for families of special needs children. In Ohio, this transition involves not just potentially starting a new job but also navigating a new system of...
Historic Update for Trustees of Special Needs Trusts
If you are a corporate trustee or a family member or friend serving as trustee, you should be aware of an important policy change taking effect this fall that affects beneficiaries of special needs trusts who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Clear up the confusion: Medical vs. school assessments
It is a common scenario with our clients: Parents obtain medical assessments that diagnose their child with a condition such as ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder or anxiety. They share the medical assessments with their child’s school to obtain a 504 Plan or...
Trustee School: Administering a Special Needs Trust – March 9, 2024
On March 9, 2024, Hickman Lowder held another session of our webinar, Trustee School: Administering a Special Needs Trust. It was hosted by Attorneys Ethan A. Welch, George O. Aljoe, and Helen L. Rapp. A recording of this presentation is now available for viewing at https://youtu.be/Zf4Dva_HrNM.
The 14 disability categories in the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that schools provide additional education supports and/or services for eligible students. These additional supports are specifically defined in an Individual Education Plan (IEP). An IEP creates goals for...