Why is NCCDD funding this initiative?
- Critical issues related to healthcare decision-making arose during the COVID-19 pandemic for individuals with I/DD.
- Individuals with I/DD have historically been prevented from making many critical life decisions because their rights have been unnecessarily taken from them through guardianship when some type of other supported decision-making or independent decision-making was possible.
What are the major goals and timeline?
- Build on the work of NCCDD’s previous initiatives that focused on rethinking North Carolina’s guardianship system and promoting alternatives to full guardianship.
- Educate individuals with I/DD, family members, the legal community, and other key stakeholders about the new Guardianship Rights law titled “An Act to . . . promote the rights and independence of persons subject to the guardianship process.”
- Educate community members on how these rights may specifically offer more independence in healthcare decision-making in preparation for or in light of any future pandemic.
What achievements are accomplished to date?
- Identified and assembled an Advisory Committee consisting of 17 people who include people with I/DD, family members and professionals who are all people with lived experience and/or subject matter experts.
- Convened four Advisory Council meetings.
- Consulted with 14 subject matter experts during the first quarter through establishing checkpoints with them to provide written content and feedback on the Step-By-Step guide, including the Decision Tree.
- Reviewed the North Carolina Guardianship Capacity Questionnaire, an Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) form, and differentiated between decision-making, communication and skill-based items appearing on the form.
- Expanded the original list of 12 options for supported decision-making, only three of which related to health. New options include the use of assistive and adaptive technologies.
Who can I contact for questions?
NCCDD: Philip Woodward, Systems Change Manager, [email protected]
Additional Resources
Download a PDF about this initiative: After the Law: Guiding the I/DD Community to Supported Decision-Making
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