Shevin Consulting
	(315) 443-5179 info@shevin.org	Mayer Shevin, Ph.D. 275 Fellows Avenue Syracuse NY 13210 USA

Alternatives to Guardianship:  "There Must Be a Better Way!"

Guardianship is an issue that has rarely been considered as a civil rights and human rights concern for people with disabilities.  Instead, it is usually thought of as a "fact of life" for people identified as having cognitive or behavioral disabilities, an administrative detail that goes along with turning 18.  The word "guardianship" itself has a benign, protective ring to it... which masks the fact that guardianship can represent a lifelong denial of rights, self-determination, and the very protections of vulnerable people it is presumed to provide.

This workshop, usually presented in a 2-3 hour format, covers the following topics:

• The history of guardianship
• Why is guardianship sought?
• What are the risks and costs of guardianship, to peoples'
• rights,
• self-determination,
• safety and well-being?
• What are alternatives to guardianship, which provide support and protection a lifelong abdication of rights as the cost?

This workshop is complemented by a half-day workshop on person-centered planning or collaborative problem-solving .