Claire first learned about alternatives to guardianship at an Arizona Youth Leadership Forum presentation. The Arizona Youth Leadership Forum is hosted by Diverse Ability and serves youth who have a disabilities. This program supports youth and is a safe space for individuals to express their ideas, feelings, and experiences. She believes “supported decision making and alternatives to guardianship are very important so that people with disabilities can exercise self-determination to the maximum extent possible.”

Claire experienced people overstepping by making decisions for her, without her. She was left out of her IEP meetings in middle school. That led to the school making decisions without her and making goals for her that she felt were irrelevant. Her parents helped fight for her when she had teachers who did not want to follow her IEP recommendations. Her parents and friends are her biggest supporters. They know her personality and strengths very well and inform her about what she needs to know before making major decisions. Now, when someone tries to to make a decision for her, Claire takes the opportunity to say “hey, I have my own people in my life who know me well and have helped inform me on making this decision, and I feel I know what’s best for me.”

Sometime around age 18, her parents discussed what having a power of attorney would mean for her. A power of attorney is a tool that allows one person make certain decisions on another’s behalf. They asked if she thought it would be good for her, to which she said yes. Now her parents can act on her behalf when it comes to money and going to the doctor. She still has the main control over those areas.