Being able to make your own decisions about your own life is one of the most important rights that people have. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) have the same right to make decisions about their lives as people without disabilities. However, their ability to make their own decisions is often questioned by teachers, doctors, family members, and others. Research has shown that individuals with reduced self-determination have diminished quality of life outcomes and are less likely to live and be integrated into their community. Guardianship can be an obstacle to the development of self-determination skills. However, people with I/DD are at an increased risk of being placed under guardianship, and guardianship is frequently still the only option presented and utilized by families and supporters of people with I/DD. This webinar will describe guardianship and less restrictive decision-making alternatives, as well as help debunk some of the myths about guardianship and supported decision-making that persist.
Presenters: Shawn Ullman,Morgan Whitlatch
Morgan Whitlatch is the Legal Director of Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities, a non-profit advocacy organization that has advanced the interests of people with developmental disabilities since 2002. She is also the Lead Project Director of the National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making.
As Senior Director of National Initiatives, Shawn Ullman leads The Arc’s individual and family support initiatives, which seek to provide reliable information and assistance to people with I/DD, their family members, and the professionals who support them on topics such as navigating special education and disability services, healthy aging, housing, decision-making, financial planning, and healthy relationships.
This webinar will describe guardianship and less restrictive decision-making alternatives, as well as help debunk some of the myths that persist about guardianship and supported decision-making.
