Resources

• Creating transformative experiences for people of all abilities and their families.

• Instagram: @esp_inc

Java Joy, empowered by ESP (above), spreads unmatched joy through moments of engagement with people of all abilities. Employs adults with special needs!

Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) is Georgia’s early intervention program that offers a variety of coordinated services for infants and toddlers with special needs, from birth to three years of age, and their families.

• We have Katie Beckett as Wynnie’s secondary health insurance.  It picks up everything that her primary, private health insurance plan does not cover.  Yes, even copays!  It is a B*** trying to get approved, but I encourage everyone to use Debbie Dobbs to help get the job done.  Having Katie Beckett allows you to spend more money on programs, camps and fun stuff for your kiddos, rather than all their therapies, treatments and surgeries!

• Katie Beckett Medicaid Program (KB), permits the state to ignore family income for certain children who are disabled. It provides benefits to certain children 18 years of age or less who qualify as disabled individuals under §1614 of the Social Security Act and who live at home rather than in an institution. These children must meet specific criteria to be covered.

• There are so many laws dictating your financial planning for your family when you have a child with special needs.  One of the first things we learned was that Wynnie could not have more than $2,000 in her name or she would become ineligible for most federal benefits, such as SSI.  This is particularly scary if something were to happen to us. Having a special needs trust, ours is with VOYA (see attached flyer) makes us feel so much better.  In this trust, Wynnie can have savings, which wouldn’t affect her ability to receive federal benefits.  I am no financial guru, so I rely on helpful people like Jason Norton. Jason owns Ability Wealth Group and is very knowledgeable, as he himself had a child with special needs.