Welcome
I appreciate the opportunity to share information on this website with you. Although my background is in finance, I am a parent of a child with a disability. And, as a parent of a child with a disability, I understand that many of you lead very chaotic lives. I have experienced the frustration of getting my son qualified for benefits, finding services for him, and the struggle to get him educated. I know some of you may be concerned that your child will end up in the criminal justice system.
I also understand the stress that having a child with a disability puts on your family. There is a high divorce rate among parents of children with special needs. Most of us would agree it also takes a toll on your other children.
I know I am not the only parent who has lain awake at night, worrying about their child’s future. In 1950, the life expectancy of a child with special needs was about 30 years. Today, many of our children have nearly normal life expectancies. The point is, many of our children will outlive us, and we need to plan for what will happen to them. Two of the most important concerns we have are:
Who will take care of my child when I no longer can due to my death, disability, or old age?
How can I leave an inheritance to my child to enhance his or her quality of life without disqualifying him or her from government benefits?
I want to introduce to you estate planning concepts that address these issues. Hopefully, it will reduce some of the stress in your life.
Harry L. Ehrenberg, CLU
Founder, Estate Planning Special Needs Taskforce