November 2022
November: The Guardianship Issue
When your child with special needs turns 18, he or she legally becomes an adult who can make his or her binding decision with resulting consequences.

When legal adulthood approaches, parents worry that their child can’t make safe or sound decisions and/or is susceptible to fraud or undue influence. To protect and support their child, parents frequently pursue the action of becoming their child’s official legal guardian.

Wondering how you can make sure everything goes smoothly when they transition into adulthood? How does a parent know whether a Guardianship or Powers of Attorney are appropriate for their child? Read our latest blog to learn more.
Get to know our Guardianship Attorney:
Prior to joining Clancy & Associates, Kate Devine Schye practiced for 12 years in family law. Kate’s work in family law and her experience as a parent of a child with special needs prepared her for compassionate and personalized advocacy for families.

Kate lives in Glen Ellyn with her husband and three young kids. She loves spending time outdoors, taking bike rides with her family, and watching her kids participate in various activities throughout the year. We asked Kate a few questions to get to know her a little better...

Q: What is your philosophy when representing families?

It's important to look closely at the family as an entire unit, as well as the child's specific circumstances. Though the child is the main focus of our planning process, family members will take on roles that support the child as he or she moves through life. Sometimes parents are just realizing that their child's long term limitations for the first time. It is my honor to provide an understanding and compassionate sounding board for them.

Q. How does your experience as a special needs parent influence your work?

I felt so overwhelmed and helpless when my husband and I received our son's autism diagnosis. Because I share our clients' personal experiences, they know I understand so much without their having to explain. I am proud that I can use my own difficult experience to comfort others and guide them when they need help.

Q: What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

A: Our whole family goes bowling on Black Friday - no shopping for us!


Q: Name something on your bucket list.

A: I've always wanted to have a dog! Just a few days ago, our puppy Bruce joined our family.
Timmy, Kate, and Fur-ocious Bruce
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📢 Events and Resources - Coming in 2023
Coming in 2023!

Our popular annual Letter of Intent Clinic is coming in early 2023! Please check our Events page and future issues of this newsletter for dates.
Lincoln Way District 210 Parent Training - Virtual (Zoom)
April 12, 2023

Stay tuned for more information!
Be sure to check out our Events Page regularly for newly scheduled events.

News Around the Office
The Options Fair 2022 at Downer's South High School

The C&A team was proud to be an invited representative at this year's Options Fair. We had a wonderful time meeting students and families in the community. The Options Fair was established to offer students with special needs and their families an opportunity to meet with colleges and universities, as well as agencies that can provide support after high school.

Did you miss the event? View their website for the complete list of representatives and services.

17th Annual Illinois Statewide Transition Conference

Jennifer Sabourin and Alexandra Baig, MBA, CFP® both represented our firm at the 17th Annual Illinois Statewide Transition Conference.

Jennifer's presentation was about "Legal & Financial Planning: Special Needs Trust and Guardianship & Alternatives" and Alex's topic was "Work to Your Full Potential and Keep your Social Security and Medicaid Benefits.

The “Stepping Stones of Transition” conference shares services and resources to prepare for success in adulthood. Thank you both for spreading such important information to our community!

"The Illinois Statewide Transition Conference is a wonderful opportunity for families and practitioners alike to learn with and from each other. The conference focuses on best practices in promoting effective, person-centered transition planning that addresses all aspects of adult life for youth with disabilities. The collaboration among institutions- universities, medical centers, adult service agencies, and legal service providers- can't be found anywhere else and C & A is proud to serve as a resource for colleagues and families." - Jennifer Sabourin
News You Can Use!
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 8.7 percent in 2023, the Social Security Administration announced today. On average, Social Security benefits will increase by more than $140 per month starting in January.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program primarily designed to aid people who have become disabled after having worked for a certain amount of time. Although the typical SSDI recipient has worked for a fairly long time before the onset of their disability, an adult who became disabled before turning 22 can also qualify for SSDI if they have a parent who meets certain qualifications. Learn more here.
Access to affordable health care through the Medicaid program is one of the great benefits afforded to most recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI). In many states, full Medicaid coverage is often equal to, or even better than, many private health insurance plans, allowing SSI beneficiaries and other Medicaid recipients to effectively manage their illness or disability. Learn more here.
Planning for individuals with special needs and their families.
Clancy & Associates Ltd. is Illinois's only full-service special needs planning law firm dedicated to supporting individuals with special needs and their families. Our mission is to help families protect and empower their loved ones with a disability through streamlined, comprehensive planning. We use our innovative full-service approach to both identify opportunities and secure solutions and benefits for our clients at our Firm. We “keep watch” for families so they can attend to the daily priorities of their loved one’s life and leave the legal planning to us.
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November 2022 | clancyassociates.com | ​773-929-9000