We meet the lifetime legal needs of children and adults with disabilities, the elderly, and their families.
This is an unbelievable time. We are embarking on uncharted territory as COVID-19 affects everything from small businesses, to taxes, elections, sporting events, and even the supply and demand of toilet paper. With mandated school closures across Ohio and much of the country, families, administrators, and lawmakers are scrambling to put procedures together and are trying to figure out what…
.We find ourselves in unprecedented times, with schools closed to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. It can be overwhelming and uncertain, but as your trusted advocate, I am here to help guide you through the process and provide the best information I can. Here is what I can tell you right now. This has never happened before, so…
Taking care of an elderly parent – even providing necessary supervision – can be the only thing keeping Mom or Dad out of assisted living or a nursing home. But providing that care can be a full-time endeavor for the caretaker, often requiring significant, life-changing decisions about their own income and living arrangements. The Medicaid rules are set up to…
In formulating an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for your child with a disability, a good Evaluation Team Report (ETR) is crucial. The ETR drives the IEP, which allows your child to succeed in their educational environment. The following are some tips on how to use that ETR as your guide throughout the IEP process. Category of Eligibility Isn’t Everything: Sometimes,…
With technology and innovation creating access to the legal world easier than ever before, it is common for me to see a power of attorney that someone downloaded from the Internet that is ineffective in dealing with matters related to aging and securing long-term care. Prior to Ohio’s adoption of the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, every attorney drafted their…
The institutional reform movements of the 1970’s led to a significant downsizing of large facilities housing people with developmental and other disabilities. Advocates began a concerted effort to establish community-based homes, but faced numerous obstacles, most often from local communities which used zoning and building laws as a barrier to allowing development of smaller group homes. Getting a group home…
The Children and Young Adult Services department at The Independence Sight Center recognizes the difference between accommodations and modifications when teaching students who have low vision using the general education curriculum alongside their peers. Sylvia Snyder, the Director, has generously shared some helpful resources: Accommodations and Modifications at a Glance The Michigan Vision Services Severity Rating Scale Expanded Core Curriculum…
For most families with a loved one with disabilities, much of the assets which will be used for the loved one’s long-term needs are found in pre-tax accounts, such as IRAs. SECURE Act Means Drastic Changes to Retirement Account Inheritance Rules Congress recently passed, and the President signed into law, the “SECURE Act” (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Act…
We recently welcomed Rachel Avner Torrance of Accessing Abilities Behavioral and Educational Consulting to our Independence office to discuss Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with a small group of parents. She spoke to us about the importance of a proper and thorough functional behavioral assessment in developing a positive behavior plan. Here are some of our key takeaways: ABA is a…
If you’re in the disability-world, you’ve probably heard rumblings about waivers or the new waiver waiting list. But what exactly is a waiver and how could a waiver help your family? Here’s a quick overview. Waivers are administered through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) and county Boards of Developmental Disabilities. In order to be eligible, you must have…