- A durable power of attorney is one of many alternatives to guardianship.
- Generally, if you have a guardian you have the right to see, call or write to friends and family and the guardian cannot otherwise isolate you.
Guardianship & Alternatives
Special Education
- Be sure to communicate with school staff; ask questions, express concerns, and ask staff to clarify information that you find confusing.
- Put things in writing, including:
- Requests for evaluations
- Concerns
- Questions
- Suggestions for programming, supports and services, with a rationale for the suggestion
- Information about what programming has been tried, and what has or has not been effective
- Email counts as putting things in writing—and is a simple way to document contacts and the content of conversations, while creating a record of what has been said.
- Follow up on in-person and phone conversations with an email asking for confirmation that your understanding of what was said is accurate.
- Be respectful! It is the best way to preserve the relationship and be seen as reasonable.
- When meetings are held, enlist assistance and support from others who know the student, such as the child’s mental health provider or Community Mental Health caseworker, a family friend or relative.
Institutional Rights
- Persons in a State Hospital have the right to a discharge plan tailored to their needs.
Voting Resources
- If you requested an absentee ballot and never received it, call or visit your city/township clerk’s office as soon as possible to cancel your first absentee ballot and request a new one. Voters can apply for an Absent Voter Ballot for the May 02, 2023 Election starting 75 days before Election Day. Check back on February 16, 2023 to use the online AV Application system. If you need to register to vote, click on “Registering To Vote.”
- If you have your absentee ballot but decide to vote in person on Election Day, take your absentee ballot to your polling place on Election Day and surrender it. You will then be issued a new ballot that you can vote in the polling location.
- If someone challenges your right to vote 1) Ask to be sworn in by the poll worker, (2) Answer whatever questions are necessary to establish your eligibility to vote, (3) Vote.
- If you make a mistake on your ballot or the voting machine malfunctions, ask for a new ballot right away. You have the right to a new ballot if you catch the mistake before your ballot is inserted into the tabulator machine and counted.
Employment
- It is important to put requests for reasonable accommodations to your employer in writing.
- DRM’s Client Assistance Program (CAP) can assist you if you’re having problems with Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS).
Housing
- There are resources to help tenants pay for reasonable modifications like ramps. Call DRM for more information.
- The Fair Housing Act (FHA) prohibits landlords from charging you a fee for having a service or emotional support animal.
Social Security
- If you are on Social Security Disability but thinking of returning to work, check out the wide range of Social Security work incentives.
- When submitting documents to the Social Security Administration, ALWAYS keep a copy for your records.
Community Mental Health
- CMH must give you a say in creating your Individual Plan of Services (IPOS) which should be based on your goals and needs.
- When you first receive services, CMH should give you a copy of the booklet: Your Rights When Receiving Mental Health Services in Michigan. If you didn’t receive it or lost it check out our CMH page to get a link to a copy of it. Know your rights!
Long-term Care
- Know your options for long-term care in the community as an alternative to nursing homes.
- Persons in Nursing Homes deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. The local Long-Term Care Ombudsman can help if you are abused or neglected.
- It is important to know and plan for receiving long-term care in the community instead of a nursing home.
Public Benefits
- You have the right to appeal a denial of services from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).
- Know where to find the location of your local MDHHS office.
Accessibility
- Take time to find out about your options for accessible transportation locally or when traveling’
- If you are organizing a meeting, conference or gathering, you must ensure that the building site is accessible for persons with disabilities.
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