This area provides a comprehensive list of sites that we feel are of interest to the TelAbility community. Use the search interface above to search by keyword or category for sites related to your area of interest. We are constantly reviewing and adding new links so please check back often.

Know a good link, don't see it here? Recommend it!

Benefits for Children with Disabilites A link to a booklet is written primarily for the parents and caregivers of children with disabilities and adults disabled since childhood. It illustrates the kinds of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits a child with a disability might be eligible for and explains how we evaluate disability claims for children. Millions of children already get benefits from Social Security. This will help you decide if your child, or a child you know, is eligible for Social Security or SSI.

Covenant with NC's Children Made up of more than 130 civic organizations, professional associations, advocacy groups and individuals who share an interest in improving the lives of children and youth in our state the Covenant works to ensure that children’s issues get a thorough hearing by the state legislature. The Covenant's Work Groups (including Early Childhood, Education, Health, and others)analyze the issues in their field and make recommendations for action to the full Covenant. At this website you can learn more about this organization, send messages to your representatives in the General Assembly as a "cyberlobbyist", get weekly updates of what's happening in the legislature and more.

Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program (EPSDT) The Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) Program is the child health component of Medicaid. It's required in every state and is designed to improve the health of low-income children, by financing appropriate and necessary pediatric services. This website provides information about how EPSDT works with public health, families, managed care organizations, pediatricians, and other health providers.

Evaluating Managed Care Plans for Children with Special Health Needs: A Purchaser's Tool Employers, governmental agencies and families are seeking to purchase comprehensive, high quality, family-centered and affordable health care for children, including those with chronic conditions. Today, employers insure close to two-thirds of all children and Medicaid almost one-fourth. Families also contribute to the purchase of private health insurance. On average, they pay 25% of the premium share along with additional cost-sharing requirements. Together these purchasers have an important stake in the design of children's coverage policies and in the selection of qualified managed care plans. Decisions about plan choice are made on the basis of a combination of factors - costs, scope of benefits, experience with plan providers and quality performance. Each of these factors is addressed to help purchasers make informed choices.

Hogan & Allen PLLC A law firm in Raleigh, NC that provides estate planning and special needs trusts for people with disabilities.

Lifetime Connections Lifetime Connections is an innovative social change initiative offered by First in Families NC. Lifetime Connections helps families and individuals with disabilities plan for and invest in their future. The project offers future planning consultation, estate planning, housing options and other topics of interest. They also help families develop community support systems.

Merrill Lynch Special Needs Program Information about this company's financial planning, estate planning and special needs trust programs for families of children with disabilities.

MetDesk MetDESK (MetLife's Division of Estate Planning for Special Kids) is an internal unit within MetLife which provides information and assistance to families of children with special needs to help them with their financial planning. This information is important in planning for your child's future and especially helpful for adolescents with disabilities who are making the transition to adulthood. Some of the topics covered include: Government benefit eligibility requirements for SSI and Medicaid Types of special needs trusts Guardianship, Conservatorship and Client Self-Determination and Empowerment Issues Appropriate funding vehicles — including life insurance, to guarantee your child's future quality of life

National Center on Financing for Children with Special Health Care Needs Based at the Institute for Child Health Policy in Florida, this organization seeks ensure that all families of CSHCN will have adequate private and/or public insurance to pay for the services they need. This site includes information about the project, issue briefs, educational handouts, and links to useful resources.

Taking Charge of Your Future: A Financial Planning Guide for People with Spina Bifida and Their Families An online guide that includes information about insurance, financial planning, estate planning, budgeting, and more. Includes both a Financial Planning Guide for Parents/Caregivers of Children with Spina Bifida as well as a Financial Planning Guide for People with Spina Bifida. From the Spina Bifida Association of America and the National Endowment for Financial Education.

The Family Village Estate Planning & Special Needs Trusts A compilation of listservs, articles and websites about financial planning, estate planning and special needs trusts for families of children with disabilities.

The Special Needs Trust An online article to about special needs trusts to help you with financial planning for a child with a disability. From the National Institutue on Life Planning for Persons with Disabilities.

Videos About Transition to Adulthood A list of several videos available for on-line viewing that cover topics like health care transitions, the Healthy and Ready to Work program, the PASS program from the Social Security Administration and others. From the Institute for Child Health Policy in Gainesville, Florida.