The ADRC in Lafayette County is part of a four county consortium including the counties of Grant, Green, Iowa and Lafayette. The ADRC provides services for older adults, adults with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, mental illness and substance abuse. The ADRC provides a single point of entry to Long Term Care Services and Information and Assistance to residents in these counties. The resource centers are the first place to go to get accurate, unbiased information to help people understand the various long term care options available to them, helps people apply for programs and benefits and serves as the access point for publicly-funded long term care.
The ADRC in Lafayette County is part of a four county consortium including the counties of Grant, Green, Iowa and Lafayette. The ADRC provides services for older adults, adults with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, mental illness and substance abuse. The ADRC provides a single point of entry to Long Term Care Services and Information and Assistance to residents in these counties. The resource centers are the first place to go to get accurate, unbiased information to help people understand the various long term care options available to them, helps people apply for programs and benefits and serves as the access point for publicly-funded long term care.
The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Dane County provides information about resources and support on all aspects of life related to aging or living with a disability. The ADRC is a one-stop shop for older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers and families. ADRC staff are unbiased and knowledgeable professionals who listen to your concerns, help clarify your options and direct you to appropriate resources. The ADRC is also the access point for information about long-term care options and applying for public benefits. Services provided by the ADRC are free and available to all Dane County residents regardless of income or assets.
Planning ahead can help guide a person with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD) to lead a good life as independently as possible. A plan is important throughout all stages of life and especially in the future after the parent or caregiver is no longer able to provide support. To better serve families and individuals with I/DD in future planning, “Build Your Plan”® is a tool that enables families to create accounts and begin to build their plans within the Center.
Many families have disabled children or other beneficiaries who are or will require governmental assistance to meet their medical and basic living needs. Our attorneys are well-versed in the complex laws and regulations that govern an individual’s right to receive Medicaid and/or Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) benefits. These laws and regulations must be considered when preparing an estate plan that will benefit disabled beneficiaries who receive these types of benefits. We can assist individuals and families with the drafting of an estate plan that will allow an individual who receives public benefits to continue to receive those benefits upon the receipt of an inheritance. We also advise individual and corporate fiduciaries on administration issues relating to special needs trusts, to ensure that an individual’s benefits are not jeopardized.
Special Needs Planning Planning for the care and support of family members with special needs encompasses planning for living, vocational, and financial support.
Planning for the care and support of someone with special needs encompasses arrangements for living, vocational, and financial support. We can assist you with a plan for the ongoing future support for yourself or a loved one with a disability. This planning may include the use of a special needs trust, certain other legal documents, and possibly court proceedings to provide for the needs and wellbeing of the individual with disabilities. We guide individuals and families of various circumstances, to customize a plan with the right balance of independence, protection, and assistance.
Kristi Baker has advocated for children in challenging circumstances throughout her life, first as a volunteer, volunteer coordinator, and foster parent, and now as an attorney. Kristi focuses her law practice on providing permanency and educational support to children. She does this as a fair, compassionate, and zealous voice for her clients in special education and expulsion matters, guardianships, guardian ad litem appointments, foster parent and grandparent rights cases, and voluntary CHIPS matters. She also helps families in divorce and paternity matters. She especially enjoys assisting with name changes and gender marker corrections for her transgender clients. For this hard work, she was recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Practice Areas:School Law (including IEPs and expulsion)GuardianshipGrandparent RightsGuardian Ad Litem AppointmentsFoster Parent RightsCHIPSDivorce and DissolutionChild Custody, Placement, and SupportPaternityAdoptionLGBTQ+ Family LawTransgender Law
1. Resources - a vetted professional network to connect families with from Estate Planning Attorneys to Residential house cleaner and organizer.
2. Education - short video "Empowerment Sessions" sharing answers to challenging questions families have.
3. Financial Support - we provide grants to families with special needs dependents to complete their long-term planning documents like wills, trusts, special needs trusts, and other legal documents in order to secure their and their loved ones futures.
This guide provides important information about empowering individuals with disabilities and aging adults to make informed decisions about their life that protect both their rights while ensuring their safety and privacy. Being able to make choices about your life is crucial for the independence and happiness of all people, including those with disabilities. Decision-making is a skill, and everyone needs practice.Just like all of us, people with disabilities continue to grow and gain experience throughout their lives. Regularly involving young people with disabilities in decision-making results in adults who are able to make informed decisions and direct their own lives.Click on the website link below to access this resource.
Supported Decision-Making is an alternative to guardianship through which individuals get help from trusted family members, friends and professionals to help them understand the situations and choices they face, so they can make their own decisions. Supported Decision-Making enables individuals to ask for support where and when they need it. Supported Decision-Making agreements can be used for many kinds of decisions including medical, financial, housing and other life matters. Powers of attorney, representative payees and simple release of information forms can also help families provide the needed supports and safeguards without going to court and imposing guardianship restrictions.To access this resource, click on the website link below.