Abilis Offers Free Information Session on Understanding Government Benefits and Entitlements for Children with Special Needs

Abilis, the nonprofit organization that provides services and support for individuals with special needs and their families, is hosting a FREE information session – Understanding Government Benefits and Entitlements for my child with special needs – on Thursday, October 17, 2019, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The information session will be held at the Abilis headquarters located at 50 Glenville Street, Greenwich, Connecticut. This information session is available for parents, caregivers, professionals, guardians, and advocates who are caring for children with special needs. It is open to the public and offered at no cost. Seats are limited and registration is required. Advance registration and more details is available at abilis.us/calendar.

Presenters are Michael Beloff,CFP, ChSNC, CAP, ChFC, RICP, Wealth Advisor, Stratos Wealth Management, and Kim Trudden, LMSW, coordinator of Case Management with Abilis.

Michael Beloff has more than 15 years of financial services experience, enabling him to look at the complex issues facing families and small businesses from different perspectives to create strategies and tactics personalized for their specific opportunities, issues, needs, and goals. Inspired by his son with Autism, Michael has become a Chartered Special Needs Consultant with extensive training and continuing education on the complex topics and particular challenges of caring for a dependent with special needs, including the constant changes in federal and state laws.

Michael’s expertise and ability to educate and empower has made him a noted speaker on the topic of special needs planning at both national and local venues including the National Autism Association, the Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress, the Autism Society of America, the US Autism and Asperger Association and COPAA.

He has also appeared on CNN and in various publications including Financial Advisor magazine. He is a board member and treasurer of Abilis and a board member of SEEK CT, as well as a member of the First Selectman’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities in Greenwich.

Kim Trudden graduated from the University of New England with a Masters in Social work.  Kim has been working with Abilis for ten years.  Recently she completed the Community Work Incentives Counselor (CWIC) Training with the Social Security Administration.

As the director of Case Management, Kim assists with overseeing each individuals IP planning with DDS and will provide Benefits Counseling with Ticket to Work participants.

Topics of the information session will address the following:
Means Tested Programs
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Medicaid
  • Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Plan (SNAP)
  • Housing Choice Voucher Program
Non-Means Tested Programs
  • Social Security Disability Income (SSDI)
  • Medicare
The event is at 7:00 pm on Thursday, October 17, 2019 at Abilis, 50 Glenville Street, Greenwich, CT 06831
Abilis is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that supports more than 700 individuals with special needs and their families from birth throughout their lives. Abilis has been a leader in serving the special needs community in Fairfield County in towns including, Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Westport, Weston and Wilton, and has a long-standing reputation for individualized, high quality care.