Your child will be turning 18 in a few months and the school has told you that if you don’t get guardianship you will not be able to participate in your child’s education related decisions in the future. Sound familiar?
Fact: Everyone who reaches the age of majority (18 years old) is a fully emancipated person with all the rights enjoyed by other citizens. Only a court can remove a person’s rights.
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Myth: Parents automatically continue to be the guardians of adult children who are profoundly disabled.
Fact: The impact of disabling conditions on a person’s need for guardianship must be determined in a court.
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Myth: All people with disabilities need to be protected by guardians.
Fact: In a perfect world with perfect supports, no one would need a guardian. However, even as imperfect as things may be, the majority of people with disabilities do not need a guardian.
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Myth: Without guardianship caregivers cannot participate in developing their children’s Individual Education Programs.
Fact: Most schools and students want and respect caregiver input. One simple solution is for caregivers and students to complete “Consent to Authorize Advocacy” forms.
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Visit http://texasprojectfirst.org/Guardianship.html for a sample form and to learn more about alternatives to guardianship.
The Arc of Dallas will be offering a workshop on guardianship and less restrictive alternatives in coming weeks. Keep your eye on the website for dates and locations.
Reminder…Check out “Featured This Week” on The Arc of Dallas home page. You can now view a video tutorial about how to join and use our online Forums. Become part of the conversation!
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