Re: one last word from the professional side

March 20, 2011

I can so appreciate what Terrie is saying - it's very hard to be in a field of

speciality and have people " pick your brain " for specifics. I find this often

in my practice as well (medical not legal) and find that I am willing to answer

questions to a point. But, when we are asking for lots of information looking

at our own situations, it becomes difficult. I often struggle with where to

draw the line - I think in psych terms that's called having good boundaries. I

have been following this thread on questions to professionals in the group.

And, I really understand the difficulties we all face in trying to figure out

answers for our family members - from an emotional as well as a financial

standpoint. The answer is not an easy one...But, I do find that this group is

overall a WONDERFUL resource, the sharing is invaluable and the support

parent-to-parent the best. Thank you for all of your input and insights.

kathy Lipke

one last word from the professional side

Hi all:

I would like to share an email I received from Terrie Varnet, one of our IPADDU

members who happens to be a parent and one of our legal experts. This is a very

good explanation of the fine line between sharing general information versus

providing fee for service information. Laurie, Marie and I are very grateful

for the assistance we get from our knowledgeable member-experts and we hope all

of our IPADDU members understand the limits of their assistance.

Hi Ellen, When I joined IPADD, I did so as a mom and not as an attorney.

That's why I write on my email and not on my work email. However, because

I have worked as a school social worker and since 1989 as an attorney I am

fortunate to have information that the typical mom doesn't have which I'm always

happy to share. When parents from IPADD call asking for points of clarification

and general information, I'm always willing to provide " general " advice.

However sometimes callers will ask very specific questions about their own

personal situations and I have to decline to answer specific questions with

specific answers without completing an intake which means opening a file. The

reason for this is if I don't have a full picture, I could respond to the

specific question being asked with the wrong information. So many times the

answer varies with the circumstances which is why I am not able to answer

specific questions with a specific answer without asking mo re questions. I

can't speak for other professionals but general advice I'm happy to provide.

Specific advice requires opening a file which may result in a fee depending on

the circumstances.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

March 20, 2011

I look at IPADD as a two way street.Â We all learn something, and you

professionals learn and gain from this experience as much as we lay people do.Â

You are able to get valuable information and insight into where the needs in

your field lie, as well as leads for future business.Â We, the parents and

askers of questions, are able to get valuable information to help us navigate

the system.Â

From: ELLEN BRONFELD <egskb@...>

Subject: one last word from the professional side

IPADDUnite

Date: Sunday, March 20, 2011, 11:12 PM

Â

Hi all:

I would like to share an email I received from Terrie Varnet, one of our IPADDU

members who happens to be a parent and one of our legal experts. This is a very

good explanation of the fine line between sharing general information versus

providing fee for service information. Laurie, Marie and I are very grateful for

the assistance we get from our knowledgeable member-experts and we hope all of

our IPADDU members understand the limits of their assistance.

Hi Ellen, When I joined IPADD, I did so as a mom and not as an attorney. That's

why I write on my email and not on my work email. However, because I have

worked as a school social worker and since 1989 as an attorney I am fortunate to

have information that the typical mom doesn't have which I'm always happy to

share. When parents from IPADD call asking for points of clarification and

general information, I'm always willing to provide " general " advice. However

sometimes callers will ask very specific questions about their own personal

situations and I have to decline to answer specific questions with specific

answers without completing an intake which means opening a file. The reason for

this is if I don't have a full picture, I could respond to the specific question

being asked with the wrong information. So many times the answer varies with the

circumstances which is why I am not able to answer specific questions with a

specific answer without

asking more questions. I can't speak for other professionals but general advice

I'm happy to provide. Specific advice requires opening a file which may result

in a fee depending on the circumstances.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

March 21, 2011

Well said.

Kathy