Planning for the Future: Give Your Child with
a Disability the Gift of a Safe and Happy Life
By L. Mark Russell and Arnold Grant
|
Wouldn’t it be great if you had friend you could ask any question about how best to protect your child with a disability? I mean most any question. Whether it’s about guardianship, or applying for SSI, or special needs trusts, writing a letter of intent, whatever.
The problem is it’s hard to find a friend with that kind of knowledge. But I have something not as friendly as a real live person, but it contains 30 years of professional experience regarding protecting your child with a disability. It’s the book Planning for the Future: Give Your Child with a Disability the Gift of a Safe and Happy Life. Trust me, it’s not a novel. It’s not a “fun” read. It’s essentially a 600-page textbook. But it is like having that friend who knows a lot about almost any topic regarding protecting your child with a disability. |
Reviews
"When educators assemble libraries, they tend to select two categories of books: those for themselves as instructor and those to be shared with persons with disabilities, their families, and their caregivers. Educators concerned with transition will find that this indispensable book can fit into either category." Gerald Giordano, Ph.D., Book Review Editor Career Development For Exceptional Individuals "I congratulate the authors for their approach, their comprehensiveness, and their obvious commitment to people with disabilities. This book should be read numerous times before and during estate planning with one’s own advisors.” Marilyn Price Spivak, Founder, National Head Injury Foundation |
"Planning for the Future is the most complete compilation which I have seen of useful information for planning the future of a mentally disabled family member. The authors lay out the issues and options in great detail, including sample letters. They also skillfully take the mystery out of legal jargon. Highly recommended." E. Fuller Torrey, M.D. "Planning For The Future is an extremely comprehensive and step by step approach – from education and social activities to legal and financial elements – to enable parents to ensure the future quality of life for their child with a disability." Jeffrey A. Ditty, Ph.D.,President, Neuro Education Center |
"Planning For The Future is the perfect book for families who have a loved one with a disability. One must consider how to provide for long-term care therefore making this book a must read for all." Patricia M. Johnson, Executive Director, Publisher A "Planning For The Future is a valuable reference book for both parents who have children with handicaps and for professionals who offer consultation to parents and their children with handicaps …I enthusiastically endorse the text." Bernard R. Wagner, Ph.D., President, Evergreen Presbyterian Ministries, Inc. "Using this book is probably the single most important planning step that you can take for your child.” Professor Kenneth Friedman, From a Review in The Association For Persons with Severe Handicaps (TASH) Newsletter "I have never seen so much information in one place in my entire life about future planning for a child with a disability...This book has already answered every single question that I've ever had about the future, in regards to my son, who has autism." Jackie D. Igafo-Te'o, Bridges4Kids "Now, as the time arrives to look to the future of a child with a disability, a future in which families will be absent due to aging, illness or death, the need to plan becomes urgent. This book is the place to begin the process of future care planning. It is comprehensive and thorough, taking the reader through each step and available option. The authors are generous and accurate in the information they provide." Carol Obloy, Chairman, Guardianship and Trusts Network, NAMI, From a review in the NAMI Advocate "As the mother of a son who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, I have worked for several years with a dedicated group of people who were concerned about the future of family members with severe disabilities. This book has the answers to all the questions that have haunted me. I congratulate the authors for their expertise, and their obvious compassion for people with disabilities." Gwill Newman, President Emeritus, National Association for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression; Vice Chairman, Chicago Brain Research Foundation |
"Planning For The Future is a book we distribute at all Arc events. We have found it to be a great deal of value and very easy to understand for all parents concerned about planning." Tony Paulauski, Executive Director, Arc of Illinois "A comprehensive publication which presents an easy to follow approach to addressing vital questions and burning issues that caregivers and consumers encounter. A must for every professional in the field of mental retardation." B.R. Walker, Ph.D., Past President, AAMR "This book is easily understood and very helpful in addressing the many issues that face parents with disabled children.” Nancy Schurtz, Professor of Law, University of Oregon Law School "Planning For The Future provides families with a manageable way of organizing their knowledge, hopes, and fears for the future. Reading it increases parents’ chances of getting to sleep at night." Carolyn Beckett, Program Specialist, Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center .”Expert information on this very important often complicated topic. Very valuable for parents and professionals.” Stanley D. Klein, Ph.D., Editor in Chief, Exceptional Parent Magazine “For the last 25 years, I have worked with parents/families in varying administrative roles responding to their questions and concerns regarding the future of family members who have disabilities. Always I wished I would have had this type of information available. This book is very well written and I really can’t think of a piece of information that is missing.” Sister Elaine Weber, O.S.F., Executive Director, St. John’s Villa, Carrollton, Ohio "Our work has been positively and significantly enhanced by this resource that removes the mystery from an extremely complex, too often avoided, legal and personal dilemma for families confronted with the many issues of disability. Going beyond my expectations, these authors have created a resource readable and practical for families experiencing disability and the professionals who support family efforts." Ronnie Barclay, Illinois Parent Education Coordinator |
As mentioned in...
Note: Although this book is an old book and out of print, most of the concepts in the book are still relevant. You can probably find the book at your local library. Or, your local library can order the book from another nearby library.