Week 1

This week I accompanied my mentor as he gave a presentation to special ed educators and ARD supervisors of a school district. He presented on informing adolescents with mental disabilities and their parents on alternative to legal guardianship. Due to the nature of guardianship giving the parents and caretakers the power to make nearly all decisions for their child it is a very extreme role, however, many families aren't very educated on the ins and outs of it, or alternatives, and see getting a guardianship as the only option. My mentor discussed the importance of allowing people with disabilities to excercise their self determination and decision making skills, to maximize their free will. I found this concept very compelling and important.