Have A Child With Autism? What You Should Know About Special Needs Planning
As the parent of a child with autism, you have probably already started thinking about future plans to ensure that your child is cared for in the event of your death. If you are new to long-term special needs planning, you may not know quite where to start. Here are some of the things that you need to think about as you make the decision to create a plan and decide what's in it.
Why Create A Special Needs Plan?
When you have a child with autism, you need to be prepared for any eventuality. That means recognizing when your child might need future or long-term care that you won't be able to provide forever.
You might think that your other children will take care of your child with autism. Unfortunately, you can't rely on that. You need peace of mind to know that you have done everything possible to protect your child who may not be able to protect themselves.
Your special needs plan will ensure that your child is provided for in the manner that you see fit even if you aren't there to do it.
What Goes Into A Special Needs Plan?
The special needs plan for your child needs to be complete to ensure that it is enforceable and will protect your child.
This means considering all of the things that you provide for your child. Make sure that you know who will meet his or her day-to-day needs, including any close supervision that may be required. You may find that a residential facility is the best option because you need to be sure that whomever you've selected will fully understand your child's needs and be able to meet them.
You'll need to consider legal protections as well as future needs projections to ensure that everything is addressed and your child has the support system that will evolve and remain steadfast even when you aren't there to reinforce it anymore.
You also want to consider financial support systems. Your child will need financial support after your passing, so the plan should include a trust of some sort to meet those needs as well.
The more proactive you can be about securing your child's future, the easier it will be to face the possibility of the day you aren't there to help him or her anymore. When you're dealing with a child on the spectrum, this is a definite source of worry and stress, and the better prepared you are, the easier it will be. Use these tips as you create your special needs plan today. Work with a special needs planning company like Life's Plan Inc for more information.