"Who Cares for Our ASD Adult Children After We're Gone?" (Video links below)
With Lorna Drope, Michael Gilfix, Anthony Rowe, Kurt Ohlfs and Jill Escher, May 28, 2014, at Palo Alto JCC

L to R: Lorna Drope, Michael Gilfix, Anthony Rowe, Kurt Ohlfs
The greatest fear for most ASD parents is who will care for our children after we’re gone or lose the ability to look after them? Social workers, such as Regional Center caseworkers, have giant caseloads and admit they cannot supervise the well-being and programming for our grown kids, except, at most, a few times a year. Capable siblings, if they exist, can only do so much. Services are highly fragmented and often underfunded and poorly supervised. There is an urgent need to develop new models for rigorous, hands-on case management and lifespan care supervision, as well as a new breed of trusted professionals to carry on the parental role. In addition, parents must plan ahead, while they are still able.
Jill Escher, president, Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area: Introduction: The Exploding Population of Dependent Adults with Autism
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Lorna Drope, attorney: Post-parental Conservatorships and Trustees
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Michael Gilfix, attorney, Gilfix & LaPoll: Estate Planning and Letters of Intent
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Anthony Rowe, director of operations, Greater Opportunities: Supported Living: The Circle of Support and Beyond
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Kurt Ohlfs, executive director, Pacific Autism Center for Education: Adult Case Management: New models for ongoing supervision of adults with autism
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This panel was presented by Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area, in partnership with Autism Speaks.