As parents, we are entrusted with protecting our children. But there comes a point, especially as they approach adulthood, when protection must be balanced with dignity, respect, and a deep belief in who they are capable of becoming.

If you are raising a child with a disability, odds are you have been told, often repeatedly, that guardianship is what you will need when your child turns 18. I heard it so often that I assumed it was simply required. It was presented as a given, not a choice.

What many parents are never told is that guardianship is not just support. It is a legal declaration that an adult is incapacitated. It removes fundamental rights, often permanently, such as the right to vote, to marry, to make medical decisions, to sign contracts, and to decide where or with whom to live. Once those rights are taken away, restoring them is incredibly difficult. Read more…