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Letter of Intent
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Letter of Intent
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A Life Plan is a Letter of Intent
Some call it a Life Plan and others call it a Letter of Intent, but no matter what it's called, it does the same thing. A Life Plan is a set of instructions that a caregiver uses to take care of a disabled person.
Now, it's possible that by some miracle you will live forever, and won't ever need to have any instructions written down for anyone else. But how likely is that, really?
A Life Plan helps a caregiver take care of your special needs child when you are not around to ask. (We'll refer to the disabled person as a child, but the age and relationship do not matter.) Your plan needs to include all the information that your child will not be able to explain or might forget. It also should include your wishes for your child.
What is in a Life Plan?
What belongs in your Life Plan depends on several factors.
- Your child's age - Caregivers for young children need information on school placement and hobbies. Teens and adults, on the other hand, may require explanations of government benefits, residential placement, and jobs.
- Your child's needs - You know what your child needs, but the point of the Life Plan is to tell everyone else. Information on diet, medical conditions and treatments, behavior, disabilities, and many other subjects might be needed for your child.
- Your child's abilities - The more your child can advocate for herself, the less you need to write down. Conversely, a nonverbal child may need everything written down. You know your child—write down what caregivers need to know that your child cannot tell them.
What a Life Plan is not
A Life Plan is not a will. Wills are very important. Wills divide up your property when you die and can assign a guardian to your child. It is especially important for you to have a will because you don't want to leave any money to your special-needs child. (This could endanger governmental benefits she is entitled to.) If you don't have one, have an experienced special-needs lawyer draw one up.
A Life Plan is not a trust. Trusts can be very important. In most states, a trust can provide money to your special-needs child when you die while protecting her governmental benefits. Your special-needs lawyer can advise you on whether you need one.
A Life Plan is not an estate plan. An estate plan includes a will (and may include a trust) and other documents designed to ensure your money goes where you want it to. It protects your heirs from paying high taxes, depending on the size of your estate. If you need an estate plan, you will need a lawyer (and possibly a financial planner) to draw one up.
Sections of a Life Plan
Most Life Plans have the same basic sections:
- Background information about the family
- Advisors (financial, legal, etc.)
- Details of other documents, such as wills, trusts, and estate plans
- Medical care and history (doctors, medical problems, and procedures)
- Diet
- Safety
- Placements, both school and residential
- Hobbies and recreation
- Religion
- Finances and governmental benefits
Even though Life Plans are very important, 70% of disabled people do not have one. To help you overcome the difficulties in getting started, read the Life Planners newsletter.
Who are Mike and Linda Moran?
Mike and Linda Moran are New Jersey-based writers and speakers. Their past projects:
- Mike has presented workshops on writing a Life Plan.
- Mike and Linda have facilitated support groups for parents of children with disabilities.
- Mike and Linda are the writers of their own child's Life Plan.
- Linda has presented workshops on advocacy.
- Linda's disability essays have been published in Exceptional Parent magazine, and in various newsletters of The ARC, the National Down Syndrome Society, The American Association on Mental Retardation, and the National Down Syndrome Congress.
The Morans are parents of four children, ages thirteen, twelve, ten, and seven. Their oldest, David, has Down syndrome.
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Last Modified: Wednesday, 06-Feb-2008 07:22:17 PST Betterway Press
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