New Partnership Offers Lifeline to Angelman Syndrome Families

SUMMIT, NJ – January 14, 2026 – For families raising a child with Angelman syndrome, a rare neurogenetic disorder, the future is a landscape of profound love and constant uncertainty. Today, a new strategic partnership promises to bring clarity and confidence to that landscape. Simplicity Group's Protected Tomorrows®, a planning service specializing in support for individuals with disabilities, has joined forces with the Angelman Syndrome Foundation (ASF), the nation's leading advocacy organization for the disorder. The collaboration is designed to provide families with a crucial roadmap for the future, addressing the complex legal, financial, and lifelong care needs of their loved ones.

The Unspoken Worry: Planning for a Lifetime of Care

Angelman syndrome (AS) affects approximately one in 15,000 people, caused by the loss of function in the UBE3A gene. While individuals with AS often have a happy demeanor and a near-normal life expectancy, they face lifelong challenges, including severe developmental and intellectual disabilities, a lack of functional speech, balance disorders, and recurrent seizures. This means they require comprehensive, 24/7 care for their entire lives.

For parents and caregivers, this reality creates a persistent and heavy emotional burden. The primary question that looms over every decision is a deeply personal one: “What happens when I’m no longer here to care for my child?” This anxiety is a constant companion for the thousands of families navigating the complexities of the disorder.

“The need for robust, long-term planning support is one of the most pressing concerns our families face. The worry over ‘What happens when I'm no longer here?’ is constant,” said Amanda Moore, CEO of the Angelman Syndrome Foundation. Moore emphasized the partnership's role in directly addressing this core fear. “By partnering with Protected Tomorrows, we are providing a vital lifeline—a trusted, proven resource that understands the specific challenges of the disability community. This partnership enhances our mission to support and empower families by giving them the confidence and the clear roadmap necessary to ensure their loved ones with Angelman syndrome will thrive throughout their entire lives.”

A Lifeline of Compassionate Expertise

The partnership will give the ASF community direct access to Protected Tomorrows' signature planning process. This isn't just about managing money; it’s a holistic approach that integrates every facet of a person's life. The services include expert guidance on navigating complex government benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid, establishing crucial legal protections such as special needs trusts and guardianship, and creating sustainable financial and long-term life care plans.

The philosophy behind this service is one of “compassionate planning,” a term championed by Mary Anne Ehlert, Founder of Protected Tomorrows and a Partner at Simplicity Group. Ehlert, who has firsthand experience as a caregiver, understands that true security comes from a meticulously detailed and empathetic plan.

“Planning for the future of a loved one with special needs is the single most important action a family can take, yet it often feels overwhelming and isolating,” said Ehlert. “Having been a caregiver myself, I understand that true peace of mind comes from a detailed, compassionate plan that covers every stage of life. We are honored to partner with the Angelman Syndrome Foundation to extend our specialized expertise to their community, helping every AS family transform their uncertainty into positive, actionable steps toward a secure tomorrow.”

Beginning this month, the initiative will roll out a series of educational webinars and provide specialized resources and personalized consultations to families. The collaboration will also feature in-person support sessions at the national Angelman Syndrome Foundation conference in July 2026, offering families direct engagement with planning experts.

Strategic Compassion in a Growing Market

This partnership is more than a single act of corporate goodwill; it represents a significant move in the evolving financial services landscape. The special needs planning market is a highly complex and growing sector, driven by an increasing awareness of the need for specialized advice and the demographic reality of aging caregivers. Families require advisors who can navigate a labyrinth of regulations governing everything from special needs trusts to ABLE accounts, all while protecting eligibility for essential public benefits.

For Simplicity Group, a rapidly expanding financial services partnership, this collaboration is a cornerstone of a much larger strategy. The firm has been actively building a national platform dedicated to serving families with special needs, and the integration of Protected Tomorrows in 2024 was a key step in that process.

“When we joined forces with Protected Tomorrows in 2024, we did so with the clear goal of bringing compassionate planning to as many American families as need this critical service,” stated Bruce Donaldson, Simplicity Partner and CEO. “Today, our partnership with ASF represents a critical milestone in the development of our national platform to help all families with special needs members.”

By partnering with a trusted, disease-specific organization like the ASF, Simplicity not only expands its reach but also gains deep, community-specific credibility. This model of strategic compassion allows the firm to address a significant unmet need in the market while solidifying its position as a leader in a niche, high-impact field.

Building a More Secure Future for the Disability Community

The alliance between a financial planning entity and a disability advocacy group points to a broader trend in long-term care: the creation of a comprehensive support ecosystem that blends private resources with public programs. For individuals with lifelong conditions like Angelman syndrome, a secure future depends on the seamless integration of these two worlds. A well-funded special needs trust, for example, can supplement a person’s quality of life without jeopardizing their access to critical healthcare through Medicaid.

However, navigating this intersection requires a level of expertise that most families do not possess. By making specialized planning more accessible, partnerships like this one empower families to build a durable safety net that can withstand the tests of time. This proactive approach helps ensure that individuals with disabilities can live with dignity and security long after their primary caregivers are gone.

By connecting families with the tools to create legally and financially sound life plans, the ASF and Protected Tomorrows are helping to build a future where individuals with Angelman syndrome are defined not by their limitations, but by the robust support structure that allows them to thrive. This collaborative model aims to ensure that a diagnosis is not the end of the story, but the beginning of a life supported with dignity, security, and purpose.