Month: March 2016

Special Needs Planning Seminar in Cedar Grove, April 21, 2016

by Bloomfield SEPAC

Special Needs- Planning for the Future Seminar  Thursday, April 21st, 2016 at 7 pm.

Memorial Middle School

500 Ridge Road , Cedar Grove, NJ 07009

Presentation  Team:

  • Attorney- Lori Wolf, Esq.

  • Financial Professional- Joseph Nachbauer, Prudential

Topics for presentation: 

Key differences in the planning process for Special Needs families vs traditional families:

  • Planning for two generations

  • Keeping track of changes in laws and statutes

  • Keeping track of key dates in your child’s life:

o    Age 16 – High School Transition Planning

o    Age 18 – Guardianship / Supplemental Security Income

o    Age 22 – Transition Planning – end of schooling

Build a solid financial foundation:

  • Estate Planning

o    Special Needs Trust

o    Letter of Intent

  • Risk Protection

o    Insurance protection

  • Protect today (income replacement)

  • Fund your child’s future

  • Wealth Distribution

  • Retirement Planning

o    How much do you need to save?

Things to consider:

  1. Family Support

  2. Emotional Support – take care of yourself

  3. Financial Factors – make a plan – insurance and financial planning (save now vs save later)

  4. Legal Factors –

  5. Government Benefits – be aware of what your child may be entitled to

 

Many thanks for an informative meeting.

by Bloomfield SEPAC

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Many thanks to Paul Prior Esq., a partner of the law firm of Hinkle, Fingles, Prior & Fischer, for his very helpful and informative presentation to our Bloomfield SEPAC members last night. I think we all came away from this meeting knowing a good bit more than we knew before about the law as it applies to special education.

Thank you to all the parents, School District Staff and BOE Members who attended and asked such good questions. And very special thanks to the Berkeley School’s Home & School Association & Berkeley Staff for their most gracious hospitality and refreshments.

Please note that our next Meeting was marked incorrectly on the Agenda as May 5th.  It is actually, May 18, 2016, at Carteret School.

Bloomfield SEPAC Meeting, 3-16-16 at Berkeley School. 7 – 9 P.M.

by Bloomfield SEPAC

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Our next Bloomfield SEPAC Meeting is this Wednesday evening from 7 – 9 P.M. at Berkeley Elementary School, 351 Bloomfield Avenue. Please be prompt.

Our very special guest this month will be Paul Prior Esq. a partner in the law firm of Hinkle, Fingles, Prior and Fischer, Their firm specializes in Special Needs, Special Education Law and more. 

Mr. Prior will speak about how best to advocate for your special needs child; how to preserve their special needs services and placement and a brief overview of guardianship of older special needs students. Mr. Prior then have a Question and Answer session with our members.

BMS Student Plays Piano in Mini-Concert!

by Bloomfield SEPAC

Pianist and Composer, Barry Spatz played a beautiful concert today (March 13, 2016) as part of the Music at Immaculate Concert Series, at The Church of The Immaculate Conception in Montclair. Mr. Spatz played a lively and eclectic blend of Jazz Piano pieces including Kurt Weill and Bill Evans numbers and one of his own compositions, “The Green Monk.” He was very well received by a most appreciative crowd.

Ms. Erica Spatz is a teacher at Bloomfield Middle School and the sister of Mr. Barry Spatz. She was aware of the piano playing talents of one of her students, seventh grader, Drew Abney. Ms. Spatz very thoughtfully invited Drew to attend the concert. Drew was very excited to see it. Then she went one giant step further. She arranged with her brother to let Drew play some piano after Mr. Spatz’s concert had concluded!

Drew watched the show with great interest and towards the end of the program he started flexing his fingers and playing a bit of air piano. Now it was time. The audience gave Mr. Spatz very loud applause and after he took his well deserved bows, he met with Drew and then Drew sat at the piano and began to play marvelous bits from his extensive repertoire; including Scott Joplin’s rather tricky Maple Leaf Rag.

It was so very kind and generous of Mr. Spatz to allow Drew to play and to encourage him as he did. BMS Teacher Ms. Erica Spatz really went out of her way to coordinate things with her brother and to think of Drew and encourage him to play at the huge beautiful grand piano in the Church, as well-wishers surrounded Mr. Spatz and welcome Drew as he played.

It was a very lovely afternoon for all.

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April Activities for Special Needs Adults (age 18 & over) with the Bloomfield Parks & Recreation Department

by Bloomfield SEPAC

Horizons Program.     This program is for adults 18 and older and is a community outreach program. It also follows the school calendar and distribute its own calendar of activities on a monthly basis. Activities include night at the races, movie night, dinner, theatrical plays and bowling to name a few – all activities encourages life skills. There is a $50 registration fee plus the cost of each activity. It meets Friday nights from approximately 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm dependent on the activity. Transportation is not provided unless stated.