ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- For those caring for someone with a developmental disability, ensuring that loved one is long taken care-of is a process experts say should start early. Unfortunately, one many families start too late. 

"They are dealing with the day-to-day care and trying to obtain services," says Wendy Watkins, Service Access Intake Coordinator of AIM. "So it really doesn't hit until later in life."

Because of that, AIM is hosting a public workshop to walk families through the planning process next week. A local attorney specializing in special-needs planning and education will be on hand, answering any and all questions residents may have.

"Many parents who have young adult children are reaching out," says Watkins. "[They're] wanting to know information about guardianship, is this something they should do, how they go about the process, how much it may cost [and] if they can do it themselves or do they need an attorney."

Also on the agenda--letters of intent and personal journals, special-needs trusts and estate planning.
    
Watkins believes knowing these answers early is the key to ensuring all medical and financial decisions can be made if an individual can not make those decisions on their own. 

Those resources can be accessed by calling AIM Independent Living.
    
Next week's workshop is happening on Tuesday, April 24th from 6 to 8 pm at their Elmira location.

To register, you can reach Wendy Watkins by phone at 607-733-3718 ext. 223 or by email at wwatkins@aimcil.com