It is important to know where we have been, in order to know where we are going.
On occasion, AdvocacyDenver will get a call or a referral, where a family member or provider will ask if we provide guardianship services or could serve as a guardian for an adult with an intellectual and developmental disability. This question is not outside of the norm; there are many chapters of The Arc that offer guardianship services.
In the early years much of the focus of our agency was on the education of children with disabilities. With time, the focus of advocacy was on individuals, birth through life, with intellectual and developmental disabilities. At the turn of the century and mid-century parents were expected to institutionalize their child. Some children and adults lived in private facilities, others became a ward of the state.
By the 70’s Denver ARC had a small staff of advocates that worked with parents as well as adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In the spirit of true advocacy, their work took them into the nursing homes and institutes that housed individuals young and old with disabilities. The April 1986 publication of Denver ARC’s newsletter MOMENTUM discussed Denver ARC’s guardianship program.
The program was a part of an advocacy effort to move individuals from most restrictive setting into their community with appropriate supports. With time for some of our former “wards”, guardianship became more limited or was terminated. Today AdvocacyDenver no longer serves as guardian to any adult.
Our mission then and now is to promote and protect the human rights of people with disabilities and actively support their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes. Today when a family asks about guardianship, AdvocacyDenver explains the different options to the family and the adult, share the names of community agencies, but also encourage them to consider Supported Decision-Making.
