Surrogate Decision Making for People with Developmental Disabilities Susie is 18 years old. She has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, which makes it difficult for her to socialize and communicate with others. She attends a school for children with special needs but is planning to attend a special course of study at a local community college after she graduates from high school. As there is a presumption that all 18 year-olds are competent adults, Susie is expected to be able to make legal, financial, and medical decisions for herself, but she plainly needs assistance in those areas. Since Susie is high-functioning, she can sign a power of attorney and a health care proxy designating her parents as agents to make legal, financial, and residential decisions for her. Susie, however, has a legal right to revoke those documents at any time. Bill also is 18 years old. He has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Bill also attends a school for children with special needs, but his ability to communicate is severely limited. He cannot read or write. The law presumes that Bill can manage his financial and medical affairs now that he is 18 years old, but he is unable to do so. Bill requires a guardianship so that his parents can make legal, financial, and medical decisions for him. Guardianship is a legal proceeding whereby a court appoints someone to make decisions for a person who is cognitively impaired and cannot manage his or...

Adults with developmental disabilities might need guardians for decisions; options vary from power of attorney to full guardianship.

Guardianship and Developmental Disabilities

 Surrogate Decision Making for People with Developmental Disabilities   Susie is 18 years old. She has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, which makes it difficult for her to socialize and communicate with others. She attends a school for children with special needs but is planning to attend a special course of study at a local community college after she graduates from high school. As there is a presumption that all 18 year-olds are competent adults, Susie is expected to be able to make legal, financial, and medical decisions for herself, but she plainly needs assistance in those areas. Since Susie is high-functioning, she can sign a power of attorney and a health care proxy designating her parents as agents to make legal, financial, and residential decisions for her. Susie, however, has a legal right to revoke those documents at any time. Bill also is 18 years old. He has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Bill also attends a school for children with special needs, but his ability to communicate is severely limited. He cannot read or write. The law presumes that Bill can manage his financial and medical affairs now that he is 18 years old, but he is unable to do so. Bill requires a guardianship so that his parents can make legal, financial, and medical decisions for him.  Guardianship is a legal proceeding whereby a court appoints someone to make decisions for a person who is cognitively impaired and cannot manage his or...

Adults with developmental disabilities might need guardians for decisions; options vary from power of attorney to full guardianship.

Three years ago the world was introduced to Winter, a sweet dolphin that was injured and had to have her tail removed. Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of many people, a prosthetic tail was created, allowing Winter to move more like she should. Dolphin Tale was the story of how Winter survived. Now, Dolphin Tale 2 continues on her story and introduces a new dolphin to viewers: Hope. The entire cast returns for this sequel: Harry Connick, Jr. (Dr. Clay Haskett who runs the facility), Nathan Gamble (Sawyer Nelson), Ashley Judd (Sawyer's mother), Kris Kristofferson (Clay's father), Cozi Zuehisdorff (Clay's daughter Hazel), Austin Stowell (Kyle), Morgan Freeman (Dr. Cameron McCarthy who invented Winter's prosthesis), and Bethany Hamilton joins the group as herself. The film begins with Winter being a little lackluster these days. For some reason she isn't up to her usual self. Then, her "surrogate" mother Panama, an old dolphin who has been Winter's best friend, suddenly dies. Did Winter know Panama was dying? Anyway, after Panama's death, Winter is even more sullen. It is evident she feels the loss of the other dolphin. But that's not the only problem facing the team. According to the law, Winter cannot be kept alone. She must be paired with another female dolphin. Then, a dolphin is found beached. She is brought to the facility, but after she recovers from her injuries, she is released back into the ocean. There is no reason to keep a dolphin that can survive in the...

Dolphin Tale 2 is about Winter's loss, a new friend Hope, and the cast's dedication, including a cameo by Bethany Hamilton.

Dolphin Tale 2 Combo Pack

Three years ago the world was introduced to Winter, a sweet dolphin that was injured and had to have her tail removed. Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of many people, a prosthetic tail was created, allowing Winter to move more like she should. Dolphin Tale was the story of how Winter survived. Now, Dolphin Tale 2 continues on her story and introduces a new dolphin to viewers: Hope. The entire cast returns for this sequel: Harry Connick, Jr. (Dr. Clay Haskett who runs the facility), Nathan Gamble (Sawyer Nelson), Ashley Judd (Sawyer's mother), Kris Kristofferson (Clay's father), Cozi Zuehisdorff (Clay's daughter Hazel), Austin Stowell (Kyle), Morgan Freeman (Dr. Cameron McCarthy who invented Winter's prosthesis), and Bethany Hamilton joins the group as herself. The film begins with Winter being a little lackluster these days. For some reason she isn't up to her usual self. Then, her "surrogate" mother Panama, an old dolphin who has been Winter's best friend, suddenly dies. Did Winter know Panama was dying? Anyway, after Panama's death, Winter is even more sullen. It is evident she feels the loss of the other dolphin. But that's not the only problem facing the team. According to the law, Winter cannot be kept alone. She must be paired with another female dolphin. Then, a dolphin is found beached. She is brought to the facility, but after she recovers from her injuries, she is released back into the ocean. There is no reason to keep a dolphin that can survive in the...

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Special Needs
Articles

Guardianship and Developmental Disabilities

Dolphin Tale 2 Combo Pack

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs Articles

Guardianship and Developmental Disabilities

Dolphin Tale 2 Combo Pack

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs
Articles