Parents & Guardians
Considering how to provide financial support now and in adulthood.
A STORY ABOUT POSSIBILITY, FAMILY & PLANNING
Every person deserves room to thrive. Every family deserves answers.
Maya’s family wants what every family wants: a future filled with opportunity, dignity, and care. Their questions open the door to understanding a Special Needs Trust.
WHO THIS STORY IS FOR
For parents, caregivers, educators, community leaders—and anyone who supports people with disabilities.
MEET MAYA 01 / 07
Not just a plan for care.
A plan for possibility.
WHO THIS IS FOR
Wherever you stand in someone’s circle of care, you belong in this conversation.
Special needs planning touches more than one household. It connects families, schools, care teams, advocates, and communities.
Caregivers & Family
Helping build continuity, comfort, and opportunity over time.
Educators & Advocates
Learning the language to guide families toward qualified resources.
Community Leaders
Connecting people with accessible information and practical next steps.
MEET THE FAMILY
Maya is more than her support needs. Her future is full of color.
Maya is seven. She loves painting bright pictures, moving to her favorite songs, and making her family laugh. Her parents, Elena and Marcus, celebrate her interests and want her opportunities to keep growing.
They also have a serious question: how do they set aside money for extra experiences without unintentionally affecting the benefits that help with Maya’s daily support?
“How can we make sure Maya always has everything she needs, even when she grows up?”Turn the pages of Maya’s story
THE JOURNEY
One small question.
A meaningful next step.
Follow Maya’s family from quiet uncertainty to a conversation about planning for quality of life, long-term support, and the people who love her.
01. The question
What happens tomorrow?
Elena and Marcus consider the care, joy, and opportunities Maya will need as she grows.
Read this chapter
02. The conversation
Getting informed
A community advocate introduces a new planning conversation.
Read this chapter
03. The hope
Building tomorrow together
The family takes its first steps toward asking informed questions.
Read this chapterAN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION
What is a Special Needs Trust?
A legal planning arrangement that may help provide supplemental financial support to a person with a disability while taking applicable public-benefit rules into account.
Support a fuller life
Families often want to plan for education, recreation, equipment, and other supplemental needs—not only immediate bills.
Register for the Free EventUnderstand eligibility
SSI and Medicaid have resource and payment rules. The type of trust, its funding, and how money is spent can affect benefits.
Register for the Free EventKnow the differences
First-party, third-party, and pooled trusts may follow different rules. A qualified attorney can explain which options apply.
Register for the Free EventAsk better questions
Learn who may manage a trust, how supplemental expenses work, and what to review before moving assets or making gifts.
Register for the Free EventA story is a starting point, not a legal guarantee. Properly structured trusts may help protect eligibility, but trust distributions and program requirements matter. See the Social Security Administration’s trust guidance and New York State Medicaid trust information.
BRING THESE QUESTIONS
Care is personal.
So is planning.
You do not need all the answers before attending. Start with the questions you want to understand.
What happens to benefits if relatives give money directly?
Rules differ by program and type of asset. Ask a qualified professional how gifts may affect eligibility and whether a trust is appropriate.
Who manages the trust and makes decisions?
Ask how trustees are chosen, what responsibilities they have, and how the beneficiary's needs and preferences can inform decisions.
Can planning support adults with disabilities, too?
Yes. Trust planning can be relevant to adults as well as children, though eligibility, funding, and program rules differ.
What should families ask an attorney before funding a trust?
Ask about trust type, beneficiary rights, benefit-program coordination, eligible expenditures, trustee duties, costs, and any repayment obligations.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
A free estate-planning event for people who care about tomorrow.
Join Courage Coach Jess Ministries and Mission Team for an educational discussion about protecting families and planning with confidence. The event covers four trust topics, with Special Needs Trust planning especially relevant to Maya’s story.
Living TrustMedicaid TrustDisability TrustSpecial Needs Trust
Register for the FREE event Free admission • Registration required • General educational information, not individualized advice
ESTATE PLANNINGPLAN WITH CONFIDENCE
WHENMonday, November 9, 20266:00 PM – 8:00 PM Eastern
WHEREIn person + Zoom1120 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas)
Conference Room
New York, NY 10036
Conference Room
New York, NY 10036
ADMISSIONFree with registrationRegister using the official Zoom page.
Go to Zoom registration ↗MEET THE PRESENTERS
Conversations informed by experience and service.
Nick Moore
Certified Financial Crimes Investigator
Fragrance Chen
Financial Advisor
Courage Coach Jess
Ministry Leader & Special Needs Financial Advocate
Angelina Moore Roman
Financial Educator
THE SAFETY NET OF LOVEProtect the support they need.