Theresa Varnet seminar

[Guest guest]

Transitional Planning for Children with Disabilities

with

Theresa Varnet

Attorney at Law

Saturday September 18th, 2010

9:00 am - Noon

At

Ray Graham Association's

Hanson Center

15W431 59th Street

Burr Ridge, IL 60527

The host, Nixon is the Executive Director of Life's Plan Inc. Life's Plan

is a non-profit pooled trust that was founded by the Ray Graham Association.

Life's Plan provides trustee services in managing special needs trusts. Life's

Plan was the first pooled trust here in Illinois opened in 1986. Life's Plan

has over 20 years of experience and expertise in working with individuals with

disabilities and their families. Life's Plan fills a critical role in answering

a fundamental question: " Who is going to take care of my child when I am gone. "

Theresa Varnet has been an advocate for persons with disabilities for over 40

years. In addition to being a lawyer, she is a certified teacher, licensed

social worker and the parent of a disabled adult daughter. She has served as

Social Services Director in a residential school for children with multiple

disabilities, Coordinator for a Special Education ative and as a Citizen

Advocacy/ Disability Rights Coordinator.

Ms. Varnet is an active volunteer in the National, State and local chapters of

The Arc, is a member of TASH, AMI, The Autism Society, past member of the

Developmental Disabilities Council in MA and KY. She received her Master's

degree in Social Work from the University of Connecticut. She received her J.D.

from De University in 1989. She is currently the chairperson of the Special

Needs Law Section for the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

She is also co-author, with Spain, of " Home Control Through Estate and

Financial Planning, " a co-author of ICLE's " Special Needs Trust. " Ms. Varnet

presents on numerous seminars on her special needs planning and advocacy all

over the country.

Theresa will discuss steps parents need to take at various stages of a special

needs child's life. Upon entering the school system parents need to understand

their child's right to a free and appropriate public education. Upon leaving

public schools parents need to be aware of how to access adult services,

guardianship and less intrusive alternatives to guardianship, eligibility for

SSI and Medicaid and why these programs are so critical to a young person's

future vocational and residential options. At midlife and as seniors, parents

need to start thinking of who is going to advocate for and look out for their

child with special needs and how the parent can leave an estate for their child

without jeopardizing eligibility for needs based benefits at a time when their

adult child needs these benefits and services the most. "

Food, coffee and refreshments will be provided for the presentation starting at

8:30 a.m.

Please RSVP for event with , Life's Plan Trust Administrator

Via email, ejones@... or by phone at 630-628-7169.