Fourth Annual All-Inclusive Day of Play and Resource Fair

This year the fair was sponsored by First 5 San Diego, Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego, California State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and San Diego Family.

The Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego’s mission is to help parents and advocates in the special needs community overcome the challenges of the family’s journey by bringing together people, information, and resources. Marcus Family Law Center (MFLC) is honored to partner with this organization and participate in the Day of Play event every year as a resource vendor.

This year the fair included ample opportunities to get involved and have some fun with a Super Mario Wheelchair Course, Life-sized Candyland game, Ernie’s Rubber Duckies Literacy Bathtub, FOAMO Car Wash, giant JENGA and Connect Four, Wikki Stix Creation Station, and a Ghostbusters Ghost Trap Craft table among several other activity booths. The giveaways included a prize wheel for a toy (everyone was a winner!), a free zippered book bag for all children in attendance, and a chance to win raffle prizes.

MFLC participates every year as a resource vendor to provide the community with helpful family law resources. MFLC specializes in helping families with special needs navigate the often complex family law process. This year Attorney Lopez-Pastenes, Attorney McDonough, and Paralegal Ponsot gave away nearly 100 resource bags containing firm literature and swag, coloring books, and crayons. MFLC also hosted a cornhole game at their booth and gave away lollipops as prizes.

Each family that came to our booth was not only welcomed with a warm smile and invited to participate in our activity, but provided with invaluable information about the vast family law resources that MFLC provides. We were able to engage with toddlers and elderly alike, and all walks of life in-between. The visible happiness and overwhelming excitement on each attendee’s face were truly what makes this event so rewarding.

A majority of the families that came to visit our booth asked about conservatorship and our estate planning services; specifically, whether MFLC could assist with setting up Special Needs Trusts. The answer is “yes!” Not only do we provide expert guidance for guardianship and conservatorship, but we also offer a wide range of wills, trusts and estate planning services.

One mother expressed her concern for her teenage daughter’s future care and support. She explained that she had raised her nonverbal autistic daughter as a single parent and constantly worried about her daughter’s future. Leaving behind a legacy and ensuring her daughter is cared for after her death was weighing heavily on her mind. She was put at ease by our willingness to listen and offer to help. She even mentioned it was “meant to be” for us to meet that day.

This mother’s worry about the future care and support of her child is a common concern. Whether we are dealing with estate planning, custody, and visitation, or child support, MFLC has experience in educating the courts about the unique and sensitive issues that families with special needs children face on a daily basis. Helping families put their concerns at ease is the very reason we specialize in family law.

The fourth annual All-Inclusive Day of Play event was a success and we look forward to participating in this rewarding event for many years to come!