Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Inc.

PLAN of MA & RI is so proud to continue our partnership with The Carroll Center for the Blind for the fourth year! We look forward to working together to empower those who are blind or visually impaired to achieve independence and to lead a fulfilling life. Greg Donnelly Joan McGrath

PLAN of MA & RI is at Harvard University for the third day to support our partners at Special Olympics MA and celebrate inclusion. Stop by the PLAN table to speak to our licensed social workers about Special Needs Trusts.

Anthony Shriver joins the Today Show and Savannah Guthrie to announce our new initiative called EUNIE'S BUDDIES, in honor of his mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, that offers parents and caregivers early support and resources upon receiving their child’s diagnosis of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Learn more and get involved at https://lnkd.in/eTS7CsNp #EuniesBuddies #FamilySupport #IntellectualDisabilities #IDD #DisabilityParenting #YouGotThis #WeGotYou 

PLAN of MA & RI spent a beautiful morning at Polar Park in Worcester at the Best Buddies Friendship Walk: Central MA. We spoke to families about Special Needs Trusts. A Special Needs Trust (SNT), or supplemental needs trust, is a legal vehicle enabling assets to be held on behalf of someone with disabilities without affecting their eligibility for means-tested benefits. Assets held by the trust are not considered a “resource” when qualifying for the type of government benefits that are restricted to people with “resources” below a certain level, such as Social Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. Best Buddies in Massachusetts & Rhode Island

Wishing peace and prosperity this Passover. Chag Sameach!

Before becoming involved with Best Buddies International, Zach was not very socially active and did not participate in many extracurricular activities. After joining his high school Best Buddies chapter during freshman year, that all changed. Zach made tons of friends, went to parties, and even was named the Best Buddies Buddy Director at his school. This led Zach to have the chance to catch a touchdown pass from Tom Brady at the Best Buddies Challenge event in Boston, which Zach says was one of the best moments of his life. From there, Zach went on to join his college Best Buddies chapter and to live and work in New York City. Zach is currently part of the Jobs program and is also matched in a one-to-one friendship in the Citizens program. One of the biggest challenges Zach faced in 2021 was trying to find a Job. After graduating college in May 2020, he did not have much luck getting responses or invitations to interview. That’s when the Best Buddies Jobs team came in. The New York City Jobs team supported Zach in finding employment as a GSIS Statistician at the National Football League (NFL) headquarters, which has been a perfect fit and huge growth opportunity. “My life has improved in so many aspects since securing my job at the NFL,” says Zach. “Not only have I developed amazing social relationships with my co-workers, but I’m now living on my own for the first time in my life. I’m responsible for paying my own rent, cleaning, buying groceries, and figuring out transportation around the city. Not only has my position at the NFL brought me the tasks that a job provides, but has made it so that I have more responsibilities to succeed now that I’m living on my own in the largest city in the U.S.”

April is Autism Acceptance Month, a time to highlight the issues affecting people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families, and to educate the public on support services. PLAN of MA & RI is hosting an exhibition table today at the 33rd Annual Autism Connections Conference at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel. Stop by and see Jean and Carrie, two of PLAN's Licensed Social Workers, and learn how a PLAN Special Needs Trust can help a beneficiary improve their quality of life!

Tiana Moore, Intake and Benefits Specialist, has been with PLAN for 2 years. She obtained her Associate's degree in Social Work and is currently a full-time student at Quincy College pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Tiana has been in the social work field for 8 years and has experience with psychiatric hospitals, nursing facilities, group homes, therapeutic groups, mentoring, and case management of all ages.

Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Inc. (PLAN) is proud to sponsor the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts Conference. Visit our table to learn more about how PLAN proudly serves all people with disabilities-whether due to illness, injury, or age-helping to preserve assets, to protect access to public benefits, and to live well!

Social Workers at PLAN of MA & RI have decades of experience and are specialists in various areas of care. Every beneficiary of a PLAN of MA & RI Special Needs Trust is assigned to one of our licensed social workers for the life of the Trust. Amy Hanson, LSW, has been working in the Social Services Field assisting people with disabilities in both Long-Term Care and Community Settings since 2010. Amy received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Salem State University in 2011. She has several years’ experience in Geriatric Case Management and Resident Services and is a Certified SHINE Counselor. Amy has been assisting individuals with their Medicare needs since 2016.