Helpful Links
Review these resources to learn what elder law special needs planning attorneys do and how to find one in your area:
National Academy of Elder Law Attorney: How to choose Elder Law or Special Needs Planning Attorney
Planning for your special needs child’s future involves much more than creating a special needs trust with an attorney. Explore these resources:
AARP: Article on how to build support system for special needs adults
ARC of Texas Master Pooled Trust
Parent to Parent USA: Select your state to get in touch with your community and resources.
Resources and Support for Military Families
Navigate Life Texas: Letters of Intent
Special Needs Alliance: Letters of Intent
Parenting Special Needs: Letters of Intent
HHSC: Children with Special Health Care Needs
Your special needs child is about to become an adult! Explore these resources about transitioning to adulthood:
ACL: Advancing independence, integration, and inclusion throughout life
Uh oh! Your special needs child has lost SSI, and therefore Medicaid health insurance, because they became eligible for another benefit or because a COLA pushed their income above the limit:
Explore these resources to learn about guardianship and alternatives for your child turning 18:
ACLU: Supported Decision Making & Guardianship
Center for Public Representation: Supported Decision-Making Gives People with Disabilities a Voice
Center for Public Representation: Supported Decision Making
Texas Guides to Alternative to Guardianship
Do you need free or reduced-cost legal help with supported decision making and alternatives to guardianship? Contact these agencies:
A special needs trust combined with an ABLE account can be a game-changing boost to the autonomy and happiness of a disabled person. Explore these resources to learn more:
ABLE National Resource Center: 10 things you should know
ARC: Should I Use a Special Needs Trust or an ABLE Account?
Parenting Special Needs: Able Account or Special Needs Trust: How to Decide?
Special Needs Answers: ABLE Accounts and SNTs. How to choose?
Special Needs Answers: Able Accounts vs Special Needs Trust or Both
Special Needs Answers: Pros and Cons of ABLE Accounts
Special Need Answers: National and State Directory of Pooled Trusts
Explore these resources to learn how to find a home and obtain care for your loved one:
Excellent resource to learn about Medicaid. Be careful as the website is national. Search within website to find Texas specific information:
Elder Law Answers
San Antonio Independent Living
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Paid by Facility (i.e. free to family) to Find a Home for your Elder Loved One (Note: website not secure) Texas Placement for Elderly
Medicare: Compare Nursing Homes
Bexar County Aged and Disabled resources:
Alamo Area Council of Governments: Aging and Disability Assistance
State of Texas Aging and Disability Resources
TX HHSC: Long Term Care Aging and Disability Resource Center
Disability Rights of TX Home Page
Ombudsman: Protecting Rights of Nursing Home and Assisted Living Residents
Funeral costs:
Basic SSI information:
How to check for nursing home ratings and violations:
