Issue 9

Welcome to ICI’s ninth edition of the Alternatives to Guardianship (A2G) newsletter. This quarterly newsletter features content from our two projects: Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice (CYVYC) and Guardianship Alternatives and Transfer-of-Rights (GATOR).

Allison Cohen Hall, Principal Investigator

Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice

Guardianship Alternatives and Transfer-of-Rights

Read our quarterly newsletter featuring content from our two projects:

• Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice (CYVYC)
• Guardianship Alternatives and Transfer-of-Rights (GATOR)

Successful Supported Decision-Making (SDM) Stories

The Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice (CYVYC) recently published four new supported decision-making stories:

Hasan Ko

Hasan is a CYVYC Youth Ambassador Trainer and a Youth Ambassador from Vermont. He is also a leader of Green Mountain Self Advocates’ work on including people with disabilities from diverse backgrounds. In his supported decision-making story, Hasan discusses how his culture is an important part of his life and influences how he and his family make decisions. Read Hasan’s SDM story.

Otto Lana

Otto is a self-confident published author, award-winning poet, public speaker, entrepreneur, and disability rights advocate and activist. He is also a CYVYC Youth Ambassador from California. Otto and his friends help people understand the importance of technology for communication. Read Otto’s SDM story.

Claire Adams

Claire is a disability advocate and college student at the University of Arizona. She serves as the youth co-lead for the CYVYC Arizona State Team. She is a peer mentor for Project FOCUS at the University of Arizona, where she supports young adults with disabilities in navigating college life, job skills training, advocacy, and living independently. Read Claire’s SDM story.

Dashiell Meier

Dashiell is a 19-year-old filmmaker, disability advocate, and college student. Dashiell is also a CYVYC Youth Ambassador from California. He is a National Down Syndrome Society Ambassador and a Special Olympics multi-sport athlete, Health Messenger, and Global Ambassador. He also advocates for people with disabilities and educates people about disability. Read Dashiell’s SDM story.

Youth Ambassadors in the Spotlight!

Read Otto’s article for Autism Digest titled “You Have One Life to Live but Infinite Choices to Make…” The article is about supported decision-making and Otto’s work as a CYVYC Youth Ambassador. 

A local Grand Rapids, Michigan news network highlighted Jeanie Rowe (Youth Ambassador from Michigan) in a story about a rehabilitation facility, along with the Michigan Supported Decision-Making toolkit and CYVYC! Read the story: ‘Voice for the voiceless’: Young woman using ability to advocate for others with disabilities.

Watch the video!

LifeCourse Nexus Wants Your Feedback

The LifeCourse Nexus is creating Health Care Transition Kits for youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These Health Care Transition Kits aim to empower youth to manage their own health care as they transition into adulthood. 

Youth can get paid to provide feedback on the kits.

If you are interested, or if you know anyone who is interested, please apply by Friday, May 17, 2024.

Check out this flyer for more details!

2024 Speaker Series for Educators

On April 30, CYVYC launched the kick-off webinar for our Speaker Series for Educators Exploring Alternatives to Guardianship for Students with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities. The webinar recording is available for anyone who missed it. 

CYVYC will hold the second session in its 4-part Speaker Series for Educators on Wednesday, May 29, at 4pm ET. The session’s speakers will include young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) and content experts from CYVYC and the GATOR project.

Register today and spread the word about the session Planning Early for Turning 18: Self-Determination and Decision-Making for Students with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities.

When? Wednesday, May 29, 2024 from 4–5pm EST

Register here!

Useful Handouts

Supported Decision-Making Flyer

This handout shares stories of youth who chose supported decision-making and how it transformed their lives.

A2G Publications List

This list of publications with QR codes contains personal stories, videos, tip sheets, briefs, and helpful tools. It covers topics related to alternatives to guardianship (A2G), supported decision-making, guardianship, and transition planning for youth with IDD.

Future Planning Resource

The Arc’s Center for Future Planning aims to support and encourage adults with IDD and their families to plan for the future. The Center’s website has reliable information and assistance for individuals with IDD, their family members and friends, and professionals who support them. The Center helps with person-centered planning, decision-making, housing options, and financial planning.

Webinar: Promoting Autonomy for Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities through Decisional and Other Supports

Youth Ambassador Holden Roberts from South Carolina presented alongside CYVYC Project Director Allison Cohen Hall and Jim Berchtold from Justice in Aging to the National Center on Law and Elder Rights (NCLER). Their 75-minute presentation was titled Promoting Autonomy for Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities through Decisional and Other Supports.