Module 6: Guardianship & Other Legal Considerations

Learning Objectives for Module 6:

  1. Identify legal issues specific to transition age youth diagnosed with ASD, including guardianship, medical proxy, and educational decision-making.
  2. Enhance understanding of how to navigate legal issues in support of transition age youth diagnosed with ASD and their families.

Module 6 PowerPoint Slides:

    This module includes a video on guardianship, housing, and other legal issues by Simone Dufresne, MA.

    Resources:

    The following links below provide guides to the transition process for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families:

    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.

    Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. (2016). Special Education: Secondary Transition. Retrieved from http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/secondary-transition/.

    Ratner, K., & Berman, S. L. (2015). The influence of autistic features on identity development in emerging adults. Emerging Adulthood, 3(2), 136-139.

    Shattuck, P. T., Narendorf, S. C., Cooper, B., Sterzing, P. R., Wagner, M., & Taylor, J. L. (2012). Postsecondary education and employment among youth with an autism spectrum disorder. Pediatrics, peds-2011.

    Taylor, J. L., & Henninger, N. A. (2015). Frequency and correlates of service access among youth with autism transitioning to adulthood. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 45(1), 179-191.