Planning for Different Life Phases

Disability life planning is not a single event — it is an ongoing process that must adapt as the individual grows, circumstances change, and new transitions emerge. This webinar provides a comprehensive roadmap of planning priorities across major life phases — from early childhood through aging caregivers.

Early Childhood & School Years – we really don’t cover this part.  We are transitioning and beyond – Don’t like kids – we offer early protection and “plant the seed” and financial planning, but that’s it

• Establishing documentation of functional limitations early
• Understanding the IEP process and its relationship to future benefits
• Beginning the conversation about long-term planning before the transition age

Transition Age (14–22)

• The “disability cliff” — what happens when school services end
• SSI eligibility at 18 — the redetermination process and what changes
• Transition planning, vocational rehabilitation, and employment supports
• Beginning the waiver application process before the waiting list becomes urgent

Early Adulthood (22–35)

• Establishing benefits, waiver enrollment, and employment supports
• Housing planning and residential options
• Special Needs Trust and ABLE account coordination
• Supported decision-making and legal planning

Mid-Life Planning (35–55)

• Reassessing benefits as circumstances change
• Planning for aging caregivers — what happens when parents can no longer provide support
• Updating legal documents, trusts, and beneficiary designations
• Microboarding and person-centered housing models

Aging Caregivers & Long-Term Future Planning

• Letter of intent — documenting the individual’s life, preferences, and support needs
• Successor caregiver planning
• Trust administration and professional trustee considerations
• End-of-life planning and benefit implications

Ideal for: Families at any stage of the disability planning journey, school transition teams, Support Coordinators, estate planning professionals, and disability service agencies.

• Webinars for Professionals, Schools & Employers
• SSI & SSDI Eligibility — What Families Need to Know
• Working While Receiving Benefits — What You Need to Know Before You Start
• Power of Attorney vs. Guardianship — Protecting Rights While Planning for the Future
• Special Needs Trust Funding — Building Financial Security Without Losing Benefits
• Blending State & Federal Funding Programs — How Benefits Work Together
• Medicaid vs. Medicare — Understanding the Differences That Matter
• Understanding the ABLE Act — Savings, Independence & Benefits Protection
• Frequently Asked Questions: Disability Planning Webinars & Workshops

Ready to Get the Information You Need?

Whether you are a family navigating the disability benefits system for the first time, a professional looking to expand your expertise, or an organization seeking training for your staff — Leahy Life Plan’s educational webinars and workshops deliver accurate, practical, experience-based guidance that makes a real difference.

The earlier families access the right information, the more options remain available. Education is where planning begins.

Serving families, professionals, and organizations in Pennsylvania, the greater Philadelphia area, the New York City metro area, New Jersey, and nationwide via remote consultation.