I would hold off on getting doctor letters - we were required to have our daughter go through an exam with a professional of their choosing to qualify for SS (which, by the way, you can apply for 30 days BEFORE the child's 18th birthday.) Later, we also had to do a separate independent exam to qualify for targeted case management.
We had an attorney do all the guardianship paperwork for us, and the fee was $450 - we're in NC, maybe it's more complicated in other states - all we had to do was apply then appear before the clerk of court for a hearing. Our next step is getting the attorney to set up a special needs trust and redo our wills to mesh with the guardianship transferring to our son at some point, the trust, etc. We've developed a great working relationship with her (she has also BEEN a guardian before) and she's become a great resource for us.
My best piece of advice for you is to GET GUIDANCE FROM OTHER PARENTS WHO HAVE RECENTLY BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS. All the years your child is in the public school system, you are kind of in a "cocoon" - they basically take care of most of your needs, unless your child has a lot of medical issues. And, guess what, they don't tell you about ANYTHING else that's out there or how to go about setting up post-school services.
Last year, I got a grant and started a "support group" for teens with special needs to help them develop self-advocacy & social skills, learn about local resources, and develop friendships with their peers. The teens' parents also meet at the same time and share info about resources. Find out if there's something similar in your community - if not, start one!!
Libby
We had an attorney do all the guardianship paperwork for us, and the fee was $450 - we're in NC, maybe it's more complicated in other states - all we had to do was apply then appear before the clerk of court for a hearing. Our next step is getting the attorney to set up a special needs trust and redo our wills to mesh with the guardianship transferring to our son at some point, the trust, etc. We've developed a great working relationship with her (she has also BEEN a guardian before) and she's become a great resource for us.
My best piece of advice for you is to GET GUIDANCE FROM OTHER PARENTS WHO HAVE RECENTLY BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS. All the years your child is in the public school system, you are kind of in a "cocoon" - they basically take care of most of your needs, unless your child has a lot of medical issues. And, guess what, they don't tell you about ANYTHING else that's out there or how to go about setting up post-school services.
Last year, I got a grant and started a "support group" for teens with special needs to help them develop self-advocacy & social skills, learn about local resources, and develop friendships with their peers. The teens' parents also meet at the same time and share info about resources. Find out if there's something similar in your community - if not, start one!!
Libby