How many people have disabilities?

Has anyone heard about Conservatorships and how it will impact people with disabilities? ?

• I'm learning a lot about how people with disabilities are being abused in every area of their lives by the people they depend on the most and that's everyone they come into contact with. I'm in my graduate studies focusing on rehabilitation counseling. I'll be working with people with disabilities and to help them reach to the full potential. If anyone who knows about conservatorships and how it will impact people with disabilities I am open to your opinions. Here are some of my concerns and questions and looking to hear what others think about it. Are people with disabilities more likely to be taken advantage of by strangers/acquaintances or family/friends? How do they prevent family from taking advantage of them? Can the people with disabilities decide to end the conservatorship at any time? Can the people with disabilities report the abuse and how when their rights have been taken away? If the family want conservatorship but the people with disabilities doesn’t what happens? Will it just be forced upon them? If strangers/acquaintances are taking advantage of people with disabilities then shouldn’t something be done to help them become advocates for themselves instead of just taking their rights away? Why do we have to take their rights away to protect them? Should be empower them, teach them skills, assist them?

• Answer:

  I had to have a conservatorship for my Mother when my Dad passed away. She was in assisted living and not competent. I had to report to a judge to a lawyer, provide monthly statements for the lawyer to review. She had to be declared incompetent by two psychiatrists from different groups before I could do anything. An accounting of all assets and liabilities had to be given to the judge before the conservatorship was granted, another after she passed away. I had to account for every penny and the nursing home had to file a affidavit as to her quality of care before she deceased. Luckily my degree was in accounting. Sometimes you don't have other options. Hope this helped.