You must prepare far in advance for your child’s “secondary transition” out of the school district into post-school activities. Register your child now with the Montgomery County Supports Coordinator so that your child is on the county’s radar for services after school.
You can contribute now to an ABLE Account, which is a tax-advantaged savings account for individuals with disabilities and their families. The beneficiary of the account is the account owner, and income earned by the accounts will not be taxed. Contributions to the account made by any person (the account beneficiary, family and friends) will be made using post-taxed dollars and will not be tax deductible, although some states may allow for state income tax deductions for contributions made to an ABLE account.
For up-to-date regulations for Pennsylvania ABLE Accounts
For more information about ABLE accounts, please visit the ABLE National Resource Center
If you haven’t already, set up a Special Needs Trust to ensure your child is cared for financially. A Special Needs Trust is a very specific kind of trust that offers the option of keeping someone eligible for public benefit programs while also receiving the benefit of a supplemental fund. This supplemental fund can pay for an entire range of services and goods that are not covered by public programs. More information on Special Needs Trust