When a child with an intellectual or developmental disability is approaching adulthood, it’s sometimes suggested that their parents file to put them under a legal guardianship. Guardianships are meant to assist those who can’t make decisions for themselves. But they also remove a person’s legal rights — like voting, making medical decisions, or getting married.
The Legislature passed a billMonday that would provide an alternative to guardianship, among other things.
Meaghan Kramer is an attorney with the Arizona Center for Disability Law. She said some people with disabilities are pushed into guardianships when they might not be necessary.
“While that may work for some, and maybe it’s appropriate for some, it’s definitely not appropriate for everyone,” Kramer said.
Supported decision making, she said, is an alternative that puts people in charge of their lives, usually with a team to help them understand their options.
“At any time, someone can petition for legal guardianship if they think that someone truly needs a legal guardianship,” Kramer said.
Kramer said in some cases, it may become more possible to adapt to a person’s changing needs. And she’s glad to see a bipartisan effort to start addressing laws she says are outdated.
