Resource Link

https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/options-help-someone-impairment-or-disability

Resource Description

Introduction: This website explains different ways to help people with disabilities make decisions and manage their lives. It describes eight types of help, starting with those that give people the most freedom to make their own choices and ending with those that give more control to others.

Resource Summary

Content Summary: The website shows how each type of help works using a simple chart. The chart tells you what kind of help each option gives and whether courts need to be involved. The first way to help is called supported decision-making. This lets people with disabilities get help from people they trust, like family or friends, to make choices. They can plan ahead about what kinds of choices they want help with. This help can be changed or stopped at any time. Power of attorney is the second option. This lets someone pick another person to make certain choices for them, like about money or legal matters. They can say exactly when and how this person can help. This plan can also be changed or ended. The third choice is an advanced healthcare directive. This is like power of attorney but just for health choices. People can write down what kind of care they want if they get too sick to speak for themselves. These plans can be changed when needed. Fourth is a representative payee. This is someone who helps manage Social Security money. They must spend the money in ways that help the person with disabilities. A special needs trust is the fifth option. This is a special bank account that helps people keep their public benefits. Once it's set up, it can't be changed. Someone called a trustee watches over the money. The sixth option is called a guardian ad litem. This person stands in for someone with disabilities in court and can make choices for them. The last two options are limited and full conservatorship. These give someone else the right to make choices for a person with disabilities for a set time. These are the most restrictive options because they take away some rights from the person with disabilities.