How to Make Decisions About Who Can Be Involved in Supporting Your Special Needs Child

Was one of your new year’s resolutions to finally sit down and start special needs planning for your family? We find that one of the biggest hang-ups in starting special needs planning is the decision-making around who will step in for you when you are no longer able to care for your child on your end. We get it. It’s emotional, and difficult to think about. Below we have written our top ten tips on how to approach this process. And remember, we are here to help! Schedule an introductory meeting today to get started.

  1. Educate yourself on the different roles.
    There are many different roles that people can play in supporting a special needs child, such as trustee, guardian, microboard, trust protector, care committee, and more. It’s important to understand the responsibilities and expectations of each role so that you can make informed decisions about who to involve.
  2. Consider hiring a professional to help you flesh out the process.
    If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you may want to consider hiring a professional to help you through the decision-making process. A professional can provide you with guidance and support along with helping you to create a plan that meets your child’s individual needs.
  3. Hold yourself accountable/set deadlines.
    It’s important to set deadlines for yourself so that you don’t procrastinate. This will help you stay on track and make decisions in a timely manner.
  4. Begin holding conversations with friends, relatives, other loved ones.
    Talk to your friends, relatives, and other loved ones about your child’s needs and your plans for supporting them. They may have valuable insights and suggestions.
  5. Consider speaking to your child about their preferences, wants, and needs.
    If your child is old enough, talk to them about their preferences, wants, and needs. They may have strong opinions about who they would like involved in their support system.
  6. Know that you can always change things later – nothing has to be forever.
    Don’t be afraid to make changes to your child’s support system as their needs change. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and what works for your child today may not work for them in the future.
  7. Consider redundant supports.
    It’s a good idea to have redundant supports in place in case someone is unable to fulfill their role. For example, you may want to have more than one alternate trustee or guardian.
  8. Set aside scheduled time to think about this.
    Don’t try to make all of your decisions at once. Set aside specific, scheduled time to think about this so that you can give it the attention it deserves.
  9. Talk to friends in similar situations about what they have done.
    Talk to friends who have children with special needs, ask them what they have done to support their children. They may have some great ideas that you can adapt for your own family.

Put it down on paper.
Once you’ve made your decisions, put them down on paper so that you have a record of them. This will help you to stay organized and make sure that everyone is on the same page.

To schedule introductory meeting:

Mary’s scheduling link

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