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Medical and Dental Help
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 The Tufts Dental Clinic, has services in Amherst, Baldwinville, Canton Groton, Hathorne, Palmer, Shrewsbury, Taunton, and Wrentham. The TDF program accepts all qualified individuals regardless of their dental insurance situation, and is also a Mass Health provider. The Tufts Dental Program continues to provides high quality, specialized care to individuals with intellectual disabilities. Please contact them directly if you are interested in referring any individuals at 781.562.0349 or visit the Tufts Dental Clinic's Website
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The Massachusetts Family-to-Family Health Information Center, is a FREE parent-run project at the Federation for Children with Special Needs, that advises families on how to receive benefits and to qualify and apply for MassHealth. In addition, they assist families with children and youth with special healthcare needs in accessing public and private health insurance benefits, community resources, offer a listserv, an annual family conference, conference calls, and host workshops about healthcare financing. Visit www.massfamilyvoices.org, or contact project director Beth Dworetzky at 1-800-331-0688, ext. 210 or massfv@fcsn.org.
The Catastrophic Illness in Children's Relief Fund
at www.mass.gov/cicrf
617-994-9818, TTY:617-624-5992, or Kathy.Patisteas@state.ma.us
The Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council. www.mass.gov/mddc/cefp/index.htmp provides funds of up to $500.00 per year for legal residents of Massachusetts with developmental disabilities and/or a family member/guardian to attend conferences or other events. Applications must be received and approved before the event. Contact Harold Lieberman 617-770-7676, ext. 115 or Harold.Lieberman@state.ma.us
SSI Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal Income Benefits Program of the Social Security Administration, which can be available to families with disabled or blind children. To see if your child is eligible, call 1-800-882-1435, or visit www.mass.gov/dph/fch/dshn.
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Financial Support - Autism Only: Some organizations offer grants to help families of children on the autism spectrum who are in financial crisis. Grants can go through a vendor for biomedical treatments, supplements or therapies for the child with autism.
The Autism Alliance of MetroWest, through a grant from The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, offers Funding specifically for lower to moderate income families and families in crisis. Families must live in Metrowest and meet the guidelines for financial, distressing, catastrophic events, or single parents, multi child diagnosis homes, parents health issues, etc. For more information, contact 508-652-9900, or http://www.autismalliance.org
National Autism Association:
www.nationalautismassociation.
org/helpinghand.php
Act-Today for Autism:
www.act-today.org/grants2.html
Autism Family Resources:
www.autismfamilyresources.org/
needassistance2.htm
United HealthCare Children’s Foundation:
www.uhccf.org
Grants from The Danny Foundation: The Danny Foundation at times has limited funding up to $500 for organizations, individuals, families and professionals who care for, educate, diagnosis or treat individuals with autism. To request more information, send a note with either your e-mail address or a stamped self addressed envelope to: Janet Abrahamson, Chairperson 119 Glendale Road, Sharon, MA 02067-1431.
special edu
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Massachusetts Law
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Learn about Massachusetts Special-Education Laws: June 24th - 28th, 2013, Northboro. A "Parent Consultant Training Institute” from The Parent Training and Information Center at the Federation for Children with Special Needs. Course offers Massachusetts parents and professionals information about the state and federal Special Education laws and process.
Speakers will be from the Massachusetts Department Elementary and Secondary Education, attorneys and professionals in special education. Topics include: Federal (IDEA 2004) and State Law, Individual Education Program (IEP), Writing Measurable goals, objectives and benchmarks, Program Quality Assurance and the due process system, Access to the General Education Curricula, Evaluations, Positive Behavioral supports, Effective Communication, Transition for students 14-22, etc. Fees apply, scholarships available. For more information visit the FCSN Parent Consultant Training Page.
Financial Planning for the Future of Your Child with Special Needs: May 30, 2013, 7 p.m., AANE, Watertown. Ken Shulman, Special Needs Attorney and Dave Harmon, Advisor Financial Consultant will discuss what will happen to your son/daughter once you are gone, or if you should become seriously ill or disabled, and setting up a will or a special needs trust. Learn about legal and financial decisions and your options from a lawyer and a financial planner who understand the special needs of families with children with Asperger Syndrome. Fees apply. For more information visit www.aane.org
When the School Bus Stops Coming: April 23rd, 2013, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., Danvers. Presenter is Hillary Dunn, Esq., Fletcher Tilton PC, Special Needs & Elder Law Practice Group. For parents and guardians of young adults with disabilities. Focus will be on Transition Planning and Services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and state special education law. Under special education law, every student receiving special education services is entitled to receive a “free and appropriate education” (FAPE) and is entitled to services from the school district until he or she graduates from high school or turns 22 years old. Topics include:
• Transition Services: legal requirements and eligibility under the IDEA and Mass. law
• The process for developing an individualized and comprehensive Transition Plan and IEP
• Transition Assessments: What they are, why they are important, and how to use them
• Graduation Issues
• Resolving disputes with the school
• The Chapter 688 process: What it is and what it is not
• The age of emancipation and related legal considerations
For more information or to register contact kkelly@ne-arc.org at the Northeast Arc or call 978.624.2342
Estate Planning for Special Needs: April 24th, 2013, Natick, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Free event for families living with and planning for their children with special needs. Speaker Amy H. Weinstein is with Kotin, Crabtree & Strong, in Boston, specializes in estate and tax planning for special needs. Workshop focus will be on the process and legalities behind Special Needs Planning, Estate & Tax Planning, Guardianships and Estate and Trust Administration, and a Q&A period. RSVP to cwaitt@rcslearning.org or 508-650-5940 x 3043 or visit www.rcslearning.org
Legal Q & A for Parenting Children with Special Needs: March 19th, 2013, 7 p.m., Foxborough. Free and Open to the public: Topics to be discussed include:
- Transition Planning
- Adult Services
- Special Ed Law- Special Ed Dispute resolution
- Discipline
- Bullying
Speaker Hillary Dunn is an attorney in the Special Needs and Elder Law Practice at Fletcher Tilton PC and serves on serves on the Massachusetts Sibling Support Network's Board of Directors. For More information visit the Foxborough Special Education Parent Advisory Council or contact chaissonfx@aol.com www.freewebs.com/fsepac/
Understanding Special Education Rights: January 31st, 2013, 6 - 8 p.m., Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester. This information session with representatives of The Disability Law Center will cover:
• What to do when your child turns 3 and is no longer eligible for Early Intervention Services
• How to secure an Individual Education Program (IEP)
• Obtaining additional special education services
• Obtaining delivery of the services that are already included in the IEP
RSVP to 617. 288. 7120 or visit Project B.I.N.D Boston Inclusion Network for Disabilities
or 508.583.8030, ext. 224mkinsella@bgcdorchester.org or call
Making Plans: Defining Your Family's Future – Free: November 15, 2012, 7:00 pm Algonquin Regional High School, Northborough. Speakers Leo Rotman, a financial planner that specializes in working with families who have a loved one with special needs, and Don J.J. Cordell, are part of a team of experienced lawyers that assist with the many complex issues in the areas of Special Needs and Disability Planning for adults and minor children. Workshop will help you to look at your family's situation and make the necessary changes if your current plan does not do what you want. The presentation will be a primer on some of the financial and estate planning considerations that families should think about when constructing a special needs plan. This includes:
-defining and communicating your vision for the future
-developing and executing a financial plan that aligns to thevision
-determining where and when to utilize public resources
The presentation is free and open to everyone. RSVP to NSPAC1@GMAIL.COM
or visit Northborough/Southborough Special Education Parent Advisory Council (NSPAC) www.nspac.org for details |
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Disability Financial/Insurance
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Mini-Funds Available from the Real Friends Project: The Real Friends Project, a partnership between The Arc of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services, is offering disability projects mini-grants for creative approaches that support the development of relationships between people with and without developmental/intellectual disabilities. Grants of up to $7,500 each will be provided for projects throughout the state that impact people with a variety of developmental/ intellectual disabilities of all ages and in different settings. Proposals are due to The Arc of Massachusetts no later than 5PM on June 14, 2013. Award process is supposed to begin in early July, 2013 and run through June 2014. For more information, visit The Arc of Mass Real Friends Page.
Social Security's Disability Programs: May 13th, 2013, Thayer Public Library, Braintree. Kristen Alberino, a Metropolitan Public Affairs Specialist with the Social Security Administration, will discuss the variety of SSA Disability Programs.
Topics include:
- How to Qualify for Benefits
- What Social Security offers for Online Services
- Q&A Session for all Attendees.
RSVP by May 7, 2013 to Katie Hanley at khanley@arcsouthshore.org or 781.335.3023 ext.2227 or visit the Arc of the South Shore’s Event Page.
Confused About the New Medicare & Medicaid "Dual Eligible Demonstration?" April 29th, 2013, Abington Public Library. Hosted by The Arc of the South Shore and the Brockton Arc, presented by Leo Sarkissian, Executive Director of the Arc of Massachusetts. In 2013 MassHealth has developed a plan that affects adults age 21 - 64 years who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Instead of the current system, Integrated Care Organizations (ICO's) will be responsible for providing and financing health care and LTSS (Long Term Support Services) services for its dual eligible members. Examples of ICO's include Blue Cross and Fallon health insurance companies. If your son or daughter is currently receiving Day Habilitation, Personal Care Attendant Services or Adult Foster Care services he or she may impacted by this development.
RSVPs are requested to khanley@arcsouthshore.org or by calling 781-335.3023 ext.2227.
Public Benefits: MassHealth, CommonHealth & Other Assistance for Families - Free and Open to the Public: February 4th, 2013, 7 p.m. Maynard SEPAC. Presented by Gail HavelPresented by Gail Havelick , from the Department of Public Health. The presentation will help guide you through the decision-making processes when applying for benefits for your child, and will increase the understanding about Mass Health/CommonHealth, Secondary Masshealth and child disability supplement. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and other public benefits for children will be discussed as well. RSVP to sepacchair@maynard.k12.ma.us or 978-897-2705 or visit http://SEPAC.maynardschools.org
Making Cents of Health Care Financing and MassHealth: January 17, 2013, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Weymouth. Specialist: Cathy Hickey of Family-to-Family will discuss an overview of MassHealth (the Massachusetts Medicaid system), including
. Review of eligibility
. The application process
. An understanding of coordination of private health insurance benefits with MassHealth
. How to make a decision about coverage
. Strategies for maximizing healthcare coverage.
RSVP to rmccorkle@soshoresupport.org 781-331-7878 ext. 19 Location: Family Support Center – 317 Libbey Industrial, South Shore Support Services Weymouth, MA 02189
Grants for Children’s Healthcare Treatments. The United Healthcare Children's Foundation is seeking grant applications from families in need of financial assistance to help pay for their child's health care treatments, services or equipment not covered, or not fully covered, by their commercial health insurance plan.
To be eligible for a grant, children must be 16 years of age or younger, families must meet economic guidelines, reside in the United States and have a commercial health insurance plan.
Qualifying families can receive up to $5,000 to help pay for medical services and equipment such as physical, occupational and speech therapy, counseling services, surgeries, prescriptions, wheelchairs, orthotics, eyeglasses and hearing aids. Grants are available for medical expenses families have incurred 60 days prior to the date of application as well as for ongoing and future medical needs.
Parents or legal guardians may apply for grants at www.uhccf.org
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