Provides guidance for caregivers and practitioners that are “supporting independence and promoting involvement in all aspects of society” for loved ones and clients with special needs using Jacob, a hypothetical child growing up with Down syndrome, living in Anytown, USA. This article addresses financial, strategic, and educational benefits available to Jacob as he becomes an adult, and examines several types of special needs trusts and illustrates how these trusts can provide a benefit without endangering government entitlements. Stebbins concludes by providing practical strategies that caregivers and practitioners can use to ensure that Jacob, now grown, continues to enjoy a high quality of life even after his parents pass away.