As a parent, you do all that you can to make sure your child’s every need is met. Aside from the necessities of food, clothing, shelter and medical treatment, there’s the million other little things that make your child’s life as close to “normal” as possible every day – a magazine subscription, a haircut, or the latest CD from their favorite rock star.
But what would happen if you were not here for your child? Who would know how to handle all the medical issues? Who would make sure your child has a place to live? Who would make sure that all of your child’s needs were met? And how would they pay for it?
This is not a pleasant thing to think about, but it is reality. If you do not specify what you want for your child’s life, decisions may be made that you would not have chosen. Planning now for your child’s needs later provides the whole family with peace of mind and assurance that your child will be taken care of even if you are not here to do it yourself.
For parents of children with disabilities, special needs planning answers the question, “Who will take care of our children when we are gone?” It is meant to provide both a care plan and a financial plan, and ultimately, peace of mind. It allows you to know you have done the very best you can to prepare for the future of your special needs child.
