Robyn's Story
How has your life changed since becoming a client at Annas Resources?
I have lived on my own for 3-4 years. I have been president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer of my self-advocacy group. I have worked for UNC for 10 years, as of this coming July. I go out and train the Occupational Course Study students (9-12 grade students) to be trainers for other students. I teach people about seizures, cancer, and strokes by giving out brochures. At work, I have learned a lot from my friend, who is the first person with a disability to graduate from the Americorps program in North Carolina.
Annas Resources has helped me try to keep my house clean and has helped with trying to develop organizational skills. It is helpful to have my representative payee to keep my checkbooks.
Guardianship: Considering the possibilities
Published in the Annas Resources Newsletter
When I was 15 years old, the Department of Social Services became my legal guardian due to my living situation. I first learned that I could possibly be my own guardian or get limited guardianship when Deborah Greenblatt of Carolina Legal Assistance came and spoke to my Partners in Policy-making class in 2001. With the encouragement of Deborah and Denise Mercado I then began the process of trying to become my own guardian.
One of the first steps I took was to talk with my Circle of Friends (which included my case manager) and my guardian at the time. I was lucky to get help with the process of reinstating my guardianship from Carolina Legal Assistance. I gave the names and phone numbers of people who knew me well to Carolina Legal Assistance so they could interview them about my abilities. This information-gathering phase took several months and I met several times with Carolina Legal Assistance. Finally my day in court arrived!
On August 29, 2009, I brought several of my circle members with me to court. The judge first asked me and then my guardian why I should or should not be my own guardian. I told the judge that I am capable and that I know I will need help with some things such as financial planning but that my Circle of Friends would help me with that. The judge then made his ruling and as of September 5, 2002 (my 24th birthday!).
I now have full-guardianship over my own self!!!! As my own guardian, I don’t have to worry about getting my guardian to sign documents allowing me to go to West Virginia for Christmas, travel out of state with my job, or travel outside of my county with Special Olympics. I want parents to know that no matter what, they should let their children do as much for themselves as possible. Parents should consider all the options when their child is about to turn age 18, which includes limited or full-guardianship and not automatically take away their children’s rights.
Additional information about different types of guardianship, including frequently asked questions, is available at the Project STIR (Steps Toward Independence and Responsibility) Web site: www.self-advocate.org (link opens new browser window). Project STIR is a project of the Clinical Center for the study of Development and Learning at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. It is funded by the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities and the United States Administration on Developmental Disabilities. |
