by Julie Carter

At the end of February, I attended the Exceptional Futures Sibling Summit in Atlanta and was thankful for a team of speakers who understand the importance of helping siblings plan for the future. The presentation was structured to equip siblings and future caregivers with the legal, financial, and emotional tools necessary for intentional and compassionate succession planning.

The Sibling Summit was hosted by Exceptional Futures, a GA non-profit providing affordable day programs, art, and vocational opportunities (like "Joe on the Go" coffee) for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They also provide a "Family Navigator" program to assist parents with Medicaid waivers, special needs planning, and legal/financial resources.

The first speaker was GANCC Member Nalder Biernath. They discussed preparing essential legal and financial documents, and they gave us a checklist for what to do when our siblings turn 18-year-old.

Then, we had a stretch break, which is honestly something I’ve never experienced at a presentation before, but feel that it’s absolutely needed in this type of setting. They had Zen with Eden come and do yoga with us. It was the best break time I’ve ever seen!

Then, my sweet friend, Jillian Palmiotto from Together We Care spoke about different types of funding that are available to our siblings. After that we had another amazing stretch break.

Then, Lauren Marks (EF Co-Founder) spoke about quality of life options. And after one more yoga break, Christina Mahoney got up to talk about caregiver care.

The journey of planning for a loved one with special needs is a lifelong commitment, and for many families, this planning includes preparing the next generation. My wheels are already turning, trying to decide how we can plan and execute the same type of presentation for families in North Georgia.