January 30, 2019 | By: Anonymous
Categories: Transition to Adulthood
My daughter was in 3rd grade when I was introduced to the concept of guardianship. I was at a conference. The speaker was Dohn Hoyle. I was his session facilitator.
As the session began, I realized I had a lot to learn. I heard words such as “incapacitated person," "ward," and “best interest of the ward."
This was an ah-ha moment. I was paying attention and taking notes:
This part of the session shook me to my core. My mind started racing.
As a family, we have always challenged the status quo. What happens if the courts do not agree with our decisions? Will they presume competence? Do they know there is dignity in risk? Who is the best person to make decisions? My daughter is the best person to make decisions!
My thoughts were spiraling out of control. I started to panic. I knew she would need support to make some decisions, but this could not be the answer.
Then I heard Dohn say there were alternatives to guardianship. I was able to listen again. Dohn shared information about:
As the session came to a close I was feeling better. We had options. We had time to teach self-determination. I had time to learn more.
My daughter is now an adult. Here is what we came up with:
How you support your son or daughter to make decisions is a personal choice. Don’t let others tell you what to do. It is for you and your child to decide.
These 3 articles provide lots of information about: legal options, legal help and guardianship for people over the age of 18 who have disabilities.
As a parent of an older son with disabilities, I have struggled with his education in math and reading for most of his school career. As parents, we sometimes have unrealistic goals for our children. However, at some point, we must pause and think about the future.
Categories: Transition to Adulthood
Today, people with disabilities have more options than ever before. They can attend college, go to work and live independently. But they need a good start through school and community experiences. As a hands-on and informed parent, you can help your child gain the skills they need for self-determination.
Categories: Transition to Adulthood
In Texas, when a child with a disability turns 14, they should begin attending Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings with their parents. It’s the time to create a Transition Plan for life after high school.
Categories: Transition to Adulthood