A Letter of Intent is a very important document used by special children families in the US. It not only creates a reference source for future care takers, but also for any of the family members including parents. This document is written in detail describing from general information like contact numbers of persons associated with child care i.e. doctors, lawyers, NGOs etc. to specific ones like color clothes child prefer, which only parents would be aware of. The objective is to ensure that whosoever takes care of the child after the parents can understand child need very minutely. Moreover, workers compensation lawyer in SC is a living document which is updated annually to accommodate the change in the needs of growing child. Thus, this one document is looked as a living guide book for the child care.
Most special need parents in India are not able to plan for their child due to lack of information and resources. But by using this document they can lay the foundation for a comprehensive planning for the child future. The letter can be typed or even a hand written is helpful, although changes are easy to accommodate in a typed letter.
Here are components a Letter of Intent should have –
Basic Information
This is the first information about any association with child. This will have information on child disability, family members’ history including parents, guardians of the child and trustees who are managing the trust. This will contain addresses and contact numbers of all such persons associated with child care.
Child Preferences and Personality
This section will contain information on the personality of the child. What are child likes or dislikes w.r.t. food, clothing etc., what kind of attention does child requires, does the child feel comfortable with male or female attendants, the details about the child wear including size he wears at present , places child like to visit and any such information which relates to the personality of the child. All such information gives an in depth information to any person who will take care of the child in future.
Personal Care
This will cover details on the personal care of the child such as Assistance child requires for wearing clothes, bathing, hairing, etc., the kind of equipment’s required for support, regular medication need, etc. Even information on person associated for preparing food for the child or any allergy from a specific food to the child is a part of this content. All this information is very vital in understanding the requirement in daily care of the child.
Activities
This section of a Letter of Intent carries information on activities of the child. The child behavior during morning, afternoon, evening and going to bed. What all activities the child takes part in, the places he/she likes to visit, any specific activities prescribed for the child. If the child is attending any school then what are the activities he participate there, the daily activities chart etc.
Medical History of Child
This will have information on the child medical history. His existing medical conditions, regular medication needs, therapy requirement, and all other information which has relevance to the child medical requirement. The information on any kind of allergy or reaction to specific medicine, previous hospitalization records, information on doctors and all others which has bearing to the child medical requirements.
Abilities & Disabilities
This will highlight the child strength and weaknesses. What is that child has extraordinary and where the child is lagging behind? What is the support child will require with regard to kind of equipment’s, child behavior towards family members, friend and relatives etc…
Income
This will have information on the income which special need receiving currently form any source. This may include government support, rental income, trust benefits etc. which are required to supporting child expenses
Hopes and dreams
As a parent what you desire for the child future is covered here. Your existing arrangements for the child protection and what you have planned for the future is described in detail. You can include details of wills you have written, formation of trust, where the asset should go after the child and even your dream for child final arrangement are pen down in this section of Letter of Intent.
You can add all other information which can help the future guardian of the child in providing best possible care and keeping the child in best supervision. The objective of this document is to give all possible information about your child so that the future care providers can refer it to maintain the quality of life which you desire and is essential for the special need.
Parents in India should also make it an essential component of estate planning and probably the first one to lay the foundation for the special child future.
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