Planning for your child with a disability

The NJ Department of Education, Special Education Report from 2021 (the latest available on their website) states that the number of children between the ages 3-21 in the Middlesex County receiving special ed services is 18,058. From this number almost 900 kids live in South Brunswick. This is a little more that a %10 of kids enrolled in school (pre-k-12).

Have you ever wonder what happens when a child with disabilities receives an inheritance? If a child inherits money from mom, dad, or other family member, the disabled child could be disqualified from receiving government benefits. They would also be disqualified if the disabled child receive money under a life insurance policy, retirement plan, or other account, says Attorney Tina James. "If a child suffers from a condition that may entitle them to government benefits, then you should consider using a special needs trust. However, if your child is not likely to receive government benefits, a revocable trust is what you might want to consider", cites a recent article by Karin Price Mueller | NJMoneyHelp.com for NJ.com. To help navigating these regulations, Attorney Tina James will be sharing her experience and knowledge with people who need this crucial information to make decisions for their future.

Planning for your Child with a Disability will be held on Saturday, March 4th at 11:00 AM in the Library's Community Room, and people can register to attend in-person or virtual on the library's website or by emailing jgonzalez@sbpl.info. This is a free event, and light refreshments will be served! We hope offering a virtual as well as in-person option increases participation and accessibility. The goal of this presentation is to educate families who have a child, grandchild, or even a sibling with a disability. South Brunswick Public Library strives to continue offering diverse and inclusive programing and events.

Hopefully, the statistics above raise awareness about the diversity in our community and remind us to be kind to one another, specially to our neighbors with a disability that may face challenges on a daily basis.