Parents of children with disabilities invited to financial planning presentation

DENVILLE -- The NJCTS Parent Connection at Morris/Sussex scored a successful debut on September 12 when it bridged the gap for parents of children with Tourette Syndrome and other associated neurological disorders who often find it extremely difficult to locate, get to know and ultimately bond with other families struggling to mitigate through similar circumstances.

The Tourette Syndrome Association of New Jersey, in collaboration with the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome & Associated Disorders (NJCTS), hopes to build on that momentum when it partners with the nationally renowned Cole Shotz law firm to foster a discussion about establishing trusts to provide financial security for children with disabilities at the next NJCTS Parents Connection at Morris/Sussex meeting on Thursday, November 7, at St. Clare’s Hospital, 25 Pocono Road in Denville. The meeting will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The NJCTS Parent Connection is a bi-monthly meeting designed to provide face-to-face discussion, encouragement, friendship and networking for TS families through focusing on coping strategies. Tourette Syndrome – an inherited, misdiagnosed, misunderstood neurological disorder that affects 1 in 100 children – is difficult to live with and often can be very complicated and frustrating for fathers and mothers.

Part of that difficulty includes coming up with the necessary funds to combat the sky-high cost of caring for a child with a neurological disorder, such as TS, or another disability. A lack of planning – whether or not the use of a trust is involved – can negatively impact a family’s ability to receive government assistance for their child. During this meeting, discussions on the funding of trusts, financial planning and issues such as the designation of a guardian for a child with special needs upon his or her attainment of age 18 where appropriate will take place. A question-and-answer session will follow the Cole Schotz presentation.

“Parents of children with Tourette Syndrome often express the need to connect with other families in their area,” NJCTS Family Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator Leanne Loewenthal said. “The NJCTS Parent Connection is an opportunity to get to know parents nearby and share the joys and challenges – including financial ones – of living with a child diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. A support network of others is vital to a family’s success, so we hope all TS families in the Morris/Sussex county area seek to ‘make a connection’ at this important, informative event.”

The NJCTS Parent Connection at Morris/Sussex is also scheduled to meet in 2014 on January 2, March 13 and May 8. But Families interested in participating in the November 7 NJCTS Parent Connection at Morris/Sussex should RSVP by e-mailing Leanne Loewenthal at LLoewenthal@njcts.org. As a NJCTS Parent Connection date approaches, please stay tuned to www.njcts.org for updates on if the group still will take place on that date.