New online resources from the advocacy group Indiana Disability Rights explore options other than guardianship for people with disabilities.
Melissa Keyes, legal director of Indiana Disability Rights, said there is a national push toward thinking beyond guardianship for people with disabilities.
Supported decision-making agreements are one alternative. They allow a person with a disability to have the final say in anything from their own healthcare to their personal finances. It differs from legal guardianship, where the guardian ultimately decides.
This past June, Jamie Beck became the first person in Indiana to have a guardianship terminated and replaced with this type of agreement.
Keyes said the arrangement works well for Beck, but information is not easy to find for others who could benefit.
"What we wanted to do is make sure that there was a one-stop shop for accurate and appropriate resources for people with disabilities who are interested in learning more about alternatives to guardianship," she said.
The website outlines these alternatives and provides links to organizations that can help.