Amici curiae (“friend of the court”) brief to support an appeal of a Missouri case involving critical right-to-counsel issues in adult guardianship cases. 10 disability and civil rights organizations joined this brief.
The amici brief argues that a person subject to guardianship has the right to hire a zealous advocate to challenge the terms of the guardianship under federal due process grounds, and it educated the court about best practices identified through national trends in the field.
This Report summarizes activities and findings from a project to promote alternatives to guardianship and Supported Decision-Making for youth through an innovative, replicable decision-making workshop that was piloted in the summer of 2021 as part of Medford Public Schools’ transition program in Massachusetts. This PowerPoint summarizes the key results. This project was funded by the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council and facilitated by the Center for Public Representation (CPR) and Emily Berheide, CPR consultant.
The Center for Public Representation developed this Handbook and PowerPoint as part of a project designed to educate court personnel on rethinking guardianship. This project was generously supported by the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council.
Amicus brief filed in Britney Spears’ conservatorship case by American Civil Liberties Union with the support of Center for Public Representation and 25 civil rights and disability rights organizations.
The amicus brief argues that Britney Spears has the right to select her own attorney for her conservatorship proceedings. The brief also urges the court to ensure Ms. Spears has access to assistance and tools, including supported decision-making, to make this choice.
Article on people who had their guardianship or conservatorship terminated. Features Cory, participant in CPR and Nonotuck Supported Decision-Making pilot, who had his guardianship terminated in favor of Supported Decision-Making.
Visit resource: The Horror of an Unwanted Conservatorship, According to People Who Lived It
Radio show on Britney Spears and guardianship reform on Wisconsin Public Radio’s Central time featuring Anna Krieger of Center for Public Representation and Professor Rebekah Diller of Bet Tzedek Civil Litigation Clinic at Cardoza Law. Discussion includes Britney Spears’ case and alternatives to guardianship like Supported Decision-Making.
Access the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities Supported Decision-Making toolkit here.
News article describing state guardianship reform efforts in California. Discusses Supported Decision-Making as an alternative to guardianship.
Visit resource: After Britney Spears testimony, lawmakers push changes to conservatorship laws
Letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General Merrick Garland regarding federal response of guardianship and conservatorship reform as highlighted by Britney Spears’ experiences.
Report from The Arc of Northern Virginia and the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University about the success of the Virginia Supported Decision-Making Pilot Project. Includes reporting on the ten individuals who participated in the pilot and used Supported Decision-Making with positive outcomes. Four pilot participants use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
Pilot was funded by the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities.
Article based on podcast interview with reporter Sara Luterman discussing #FreeBritney movement and disability justice context. Includes discussion of Supported Decision-Making as an alternative to guardianship. Access full podcast and transcript here.
Visit resource: For the Disability Community, Britney Spears’ Situation Is All Too Familiar
