May 23, 2018; 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Eastern
Register online or by using the printable registration form (PDF)
Guardianship is the legal authority to make decisions for another individual. Independent Living philosophy is grounded in the unwavering belief that people with disabilities must have the authority to make decisions about their own lives. CILs can and should help consumers avoid guardianship. Not only is it an important civil rights issue, but helping consumers maintain their self-determination dovetails perfectly with the new CIL core services of transition, diversion, and support for youth in transition. Our presenters will share statistics about guardianship decisions, describe how guardianship prohibits the independence and civil rights of people with disabilities, and how you can help consumers pursue practical alternatives to guardianship, like supported decision making.
You don’t want to miss this important discussion. Sign up today!
Registration Fee: $75.00. Fee is per site (connection) and does not apply per participant; registrants are encouraged to gather as many individuals as desired to participate by teleconference or webinar.
Target Audience: CIL Executive directors, program managers, and other staff concerned with the impact of guardianship on independent living goals.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this training, participants will have knowledge and resources that will enable them to:
- Describe the basic tenets of the Independent Living philosophy and connection to self-determination and consumer control in decision making.
- Describe what guardianship is and how it creates barriers to independence for consumers and consumer direction.
- Identify alternatives to guardianship and the importance of preserving the civil rights for adults with disabilities.
- Describe guardianship as an advocacy issue that can support or strengthen advocacy activities and support for youth in transition.
Meet Your Presenters
Jerri Davison is Assistant Director of Able South Carolina. Jerri oversees an array of programs related to promoting access and independence for individuals with disabilities. In 2016, she spearheaded the creation of the SC Supported Decision Making Project, a collaborative effort to educate the community about alternatives to guardianship. Jerri has a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law and spent six years as a disability rights attorney at the state’s Protection & Advocacy system before joining Able South Carolina in 2013 to pursue disability advocacy at the grassroots level.
Charlie Walters is Director of Transition Programs at Able South Carolina. Charlie has a professional background that spans children’s museum education, outdoor education, and inclusive postsecondary education. While receiving his master’s degree in special education at the University of South Carolina, he worked as the Employment Specialist for CarolinaLIFE, a two to four year college program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It was here that Charlie first saw the possibilities that opened up for youth with disabilities when they were provided environments that fully supported them in taking the lead on their lives. That led him to the team at Able SC where he provides trainings across the state for education professionals on transition and self-determination, supervises many of Able SC’s youth initiatives, and works directly with young adults to support them in taking a more active role in the IEP process.
Presented by CIL-NET: A program of the IL-NET national training and technical assistance project for Centers for Independent Living (CIL-NET) and Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILC-NET). The IL-NET is operated by Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU), in partnership with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL), and Utah State University’s Center for Persons with Disabilities.
