NAELA Shines Spotlight on the Importance of Special Needs Law at Stetson University Conference

News provided by

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)

Oct 08, 2025, 10:00 ET

VIENNA, Va., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the nation's leading professional association of attorneys serving older Americans and individuals with disabilities, is highlighting the importance of special needs planning by exhibiting at the Stetson University College of Law's National Conference on Special Needs Planning and Special Needs Trusts in Tampa, Florida, October 22-24.

NAELA and SNA recently released a consumer fact sheet outlining five essentials of special needs planning that can help individuals with disabilities and their families make informed decisions.

NAELA is heading to Tampa, Florida, October 22–24 for Stetson’s National Conference on Special Needs Planning and Special Needs Trusts, where our volunteer leaders will speak on the vital role of legal planning for individuals with disabilities.

The conference, held during Special Needs Law Month, will allow NAELA to bring further awareness to the critical role special needs law attorneys play in helping individuals with disabilities and their families prepare for the future. A number of NAELA volunteer leaders, including President Eric Einhart and NAELA Foundation President Bridget O'Brien Swartz, are scheduled to speak at the event.

"As the child of a deaf adult and the parent of a child with disabilities, I have seen firsthand how essential thoughtful planning is to creating opportunity and security," said Alexander T. Graham, CEO of NAELA. "Special needs planning is not just about legal tools — it's about honoring the dignity, independence, and voice of people with disabilities and supporting the families who love them. NAELA is proud to highlight this work during the Stetson Conference and Special Needs Law Month, and to stand with our members in helping families navigate this journey with confidence and hope."

To celebrate Special Needs Law Month, NAELA and the Special Needs Alliance (SNA) recently released a consumer resource, "5 Things You Need to Know About Special Needs Planning," to help individuals with disabilities and their families better understand their options and make informed decisions. The goal is to provide practical guidance that supports financial security, legal protection, and the ability to live full and meaningful lives, both now and in the future.

The resource focuses on how:

Traditional inheritance can harm benefits
Special Needs Trusts are essential, but not the whole picture
Planning should begin early and be reviewed often
Good planning should support an individual's autonomy and personal agency
Families don't have to do it alone — and shouldn't

NAELA and SNA also jointly produced an "Explainer" document highlighting how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act impacts individuals with disabilities, with a focus on practical guidance for attorneys whose practices include special needs law.

For the "5 Things You Need to Know About Special Needs Planning" document, click here.

For more information about Special Needs Law Month, click here.

About NAELA
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) is the leading professional association dedicated to improving the quality of legal services for older Americans and individuals with disabilities. With more than 4,000 members and 33 active state chapters, NAELA provides elder and special needs law attorneys with education, advocacy, community, and the resources they need to better serve their clients. Learn more at NAELA.org.

SOURCE National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)