A Met Life Center representative will speak about special needs planning.
ENFIELD – Allied Rehabilitation Centers will sponsor a family information session on Tuesday.
The session is designed to address a variety of topics of interest for families of individuals with developmental disabilities.
The event will feature a talk from Anthony Recck, of the Met Life Center for Special Needs Planning. Edward LaMontagne, of Allied Rehab, said Recck will talk about guardianship and conservatorship, and setting up trusts.
“He will talk about protecting government benefit eligibility,” LaMontagne said. “When individuals become clients of private provider agencies through the state Department of Development Services, where we get our funding, they can only have so many dollars in assets.”
Families will learn about setting up trusts for their sons or daughters so they are not denied services by the state, Lamontagne said.
“A lot of times families leave money in wills to their sons or daughters, or they set up a savings account for them, with all good intentions, to make sure they’re cared for in the future,” he said. “They don’t necessarily understand the concept that if they go to adult services, they can only have so much in assets.”
The event will also include an update on the state budget, an introduction of Allied Rehab’s new chief operating officer, Joan Danziger, and information about Allied’s various programs and services.
Allied Rehab offers both day and residential services. For day services, Allied offers vocational training, leisure services, therapeutic programs, activities of daily living skills and community experiences.
The organization also has its own businesses that Allied operates, which include a thrift store, a vending service and a jewelry business.
Allied also provides work-related services to individuals in the community, through partnerships with businesses such as Big Y, Stop & Shop and Price Rite.
“They work independently, and we offer job coaching services,” LaMontagne said.
Allied’s residential program includes five group homes, and support for individuals who live in their own apartments.
LaMontagne said the information session is intended for families of its clients, but it is also open to families looking for information, especially those with children who are nearing high school graduation.
“We provide services upon graduation,” he said. “Once they graduate and they go to the Department of Developmental Services for eligibility, they need to know some of the things (Recck) will be talking about.”
The information session begins at 6 p.m. at Allied Rehabilitation Centers, 3 Pearson Way, which is located across from the Department of Motor Vehicles. It is free and open to the public.