Module 6: Guardianship & Other Legal Considerations
Learning Objectives for Module 6:
- Identify legal issues specific to transition age youth diagnosed with ASD, including guardianship, medical proxy, and educational decision-making.
- Enhance understanding of how to navigate legal issues in support of transition age youth diagnosed with ASD and their families.
Module 6 PowerPoint Slides:
Resources:
The following links below provide guides to the transition process for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families:
- “It’s My Choice” person-centered planning by William T. Allen, Ph.D., and the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities.
- Free link (with name/email provided) to Autism Speaks Transition Tool Kit from Adolescence to Adulthood.
Articles on Guardianship/Legal Considerations for TAY diagnosed with ASD/ID:
Bryan, T., Stiles, N., Burstein, K., Ergul, C., & Chao, P. C. (2007). “Am I supposed to understand this stuff?” Youth with Special Health Care Needs Readiness for Transition. Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, 330-338.
Cheak‐Zamora, N. C., Teti, M., & First, J. (2015). ‘Transitions are Scary for our Kids, and They’re Scary for us’: Family Member and Youth Perspectives on the Challenges of Transitioning to Adulthood with Autism. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 28(6), 548-560.
Ratner, K., & Berman, S. L. (2015). The influence of autistic features on identity development in emerging adults. Emerging Adulthood, 3(2), 136-139.