As children with autism reach adulthood, one of the biggest challenges is finding suitable employment. By some estimates, the rate of unemployment for adults on the autism spectrum is 90 percent.

Employment programs for individuals with special needs do exist, and people with autism have shown that they can be some of the most dependable and productive employees. Now, more businesses are beginning to realize that people with autism have unique talents that can be an asset in the workplace.

On April 14, the Labor Department proposed new rules to provide greater protection for retirement savings. The proposed rules, if finalized, would strengthen requirements for brokers and investment advisers to act in the interests of investors with regard to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and 401(k)s. The proposed rules are intended to protect investors from being…

Charitable giving is a way to benefit a good cause while also earning tax advantages. However, there are ways to make charitable gifts even more advantageous, both during one’s lifetime and as part of one’s estate plan. One method is to donate appreciated securities. If you own stock that has appreciated over time, you may…

In the past, making alterations to irrevocable trusts was an expensive and public process that was generally done through the courts.  In 1992, New York was the first state to enact a decanting statute.  In 2011, this statute was amended, making it easier to alter irrevocable trusts. Trust decanting is a powerful tool which allows…

The Social Security claiming strategy known as “file and suspend” is often used by married couples entering retirement, but it can be useful for single retirees as well. Most people approaching retirement age are aware that the decision of when to start taking Social Security retirement benefits affects the amount of the payments. Retirees can…

A new intergenerational community center has opened in White Plains. The Lanza Family Center for All Ages opened February 24, 2015. It is modeled after the award-winning My Second Home in Mount Kisco, also operated by Family Services of Westchester (FSW). Seniors benefit emotionally, socially and physically from being around children. Rita Bellamy, the director…

There is a lesson to be learned from Tywin Lannister, the influential patriarch of Game of Thrones. Despite amassing great wealth and power throughout this life, his attempts to create a business legacy for his family failed. A family-owned business is a hard-won commodity and is considered a legacy to be passed from one generation…

By Alberthe Bernier, Esq. – Before the House adjourned for a two-week recess, representatives passed legislation overhauling the outdated method for paying physicians who accept Medicare.  Physicians and seniors across America are breathing a sigh of relief, as the bill ensures access to better healthcare services and professionals, many of which quit treating Medicare patients…

By Tom Breedlove, Director, Care.com HomePay As the April 15th tax filing deadline gets closer, those who have put off their taxes until the last minute – and there are a lot of us – are apt to forgetting minor details that can impact our returns. In the household employment world, two commonly overlooked tax-time…

Littman Krooks attorney Amy C. O’Hara, Esq., presented on the Able Act at Arc of Westchester’s Family Resource Day, a day of transition and transformation including seminars, demonstrations, art exhibition opening and a special needs vendor resource fair. To view our materials from this event, please click on the appropriate link below: The Able Act…