DESCRIPTION
This one-hour webinar provides family law practitioners and Guardians ad Litem with a focused, high-level overview of the most common legal and service-related issues that arise for adolescents and young adults with special needs. Emphasis is placed on issue spotting and practical considerations rather than exhaustive coverage.
The session begins with a discussion of red flags and planning issues attorneys and GALs should identify during divorce and custody proceedings involving teens with disabilities. It then briefly reviews the key legal changes that occur when a young adult turns 18, including guardianship options and supported decision-making, followed by an overview of the service cliff at age 22, when school-based supports end and families must navigate state and federal benefit systems. The webinar concludes with a targeted discussion of complaints in equity and how practitioners can frame requests for ongoing financial support and position these cases effectively for judicial review.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the conclusion of the webinar, participants will be able to:
- Spot common special-needs–related legal and planning issues in divorce and custody matters involving adolescents.
- Identify key legal and service transitions at ages 18 and 22, including guardianship considerations and basic benefit frameworks.
- Understand when and how complaints in equity may be used to seek continued financial support for a young adult with special needs.
WEBINAR PRESENTERS
Lisa M. Cukier,JD has a law practice that bridges the intersection of matrimonial law, trust & estate controversies and fiduciary service matters such as Guardianship, Conservatorship and Trusteeship, and legal interventions in cases involving individuals with diminished capacity. Her work involves crafting creative solutions to protect family members, family relationships, and family wealth. She is a Partner at Rubin Rudman LLP in Boston.
Liz Fahey, MPA assists families with the transition from special education to adult services and prepares them for the proverbial cliff drop. She helps identify whether transition needs are being met while students are still receiving their IDEA special education entitlement. She explains public benefits and resources to families, guiding them toward building a resource pool for adult life. And, she educates and assists families seeking eligibility, funding, and programming from adult service agencies such as the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). Liz's personal experience creating a robust life of work, independent living, and social engagement for her now 30-year-old son, combined with her contacts and knowledge throughout the state from working with hundreds of families, is comprehensive and unique. Liz serves on the DDS Self-Direction Advisory Board and Citizens' Advisory Board and is the Director of Transition Services at the Integrated Center for Child Development (ICCD) in Canton and Newton, MA.
Vanda Marie Khadem, JD represents clients both in family law cases and special education matters. She is an experienced Mediator and Parent Coordinator and also serves as a Guardian ad Litem in cases involving children with special needs and represents families of children with disabilities in special education matters. Ms. Khadem’s practice includes a unique concentration on children diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Her practice is located in Dover, MA