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The National Foundation for Dentistry for the Handicapped was founded in Denver, Colo., to provide nationwide access to dental care for those who are disabled and lack the funding to pay for a trip to the dentist. Now called the Dental Lifeline Network, the organization has a network of volunteers in most of the United States, including Texas, and there are providers in Dallas who will provide free dental care for those who qualify. Other organizations also exist to help the disabled receive the dental care they need.
A transition plan focuses on preparing students with disabilities to smoothly move from the high school environment to adult life. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires transition planning to begin at age 16 and be included in the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP), which specifies the special services that the child received in school. The student and his IEP team determine specific skills he would like to accomplish for life outside high school.
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974, as amended, regulates benefit plans for employees of the federal government. Not all employee benefit plans are ERISA plans, so it is important to be aware of the threshold at which a plan is considered subject to ERISA's extensive and complex rules and regulations. Employee assistance plans are subject to ERISA only in certain instances.
Long-term disability plans cover various types of illnesses and injuries that can prevent a person from working for an extended period. Long-term disability plans vary by state and company. Most people do not know that illness causes more disability than injuries do, according to the Council for Disability Awareness.
Sickness, defined as a serious medical condition or conditions that can be proven as the cause for an employee's absence, and accidents, including accidental death and dismemberment, as well as disability income and sick pay plans are all considered disability plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
