AB 1663 and Self-Advocates

This is a Civil Rights Issue for People With Disabilities

Conservatorships take away the civil rights of people with disabilities. As a person with a disability, you should be able to make choices in your life, and you should also get support when you need help with making those choices, without having your rights taken away. People without disabilities ask for support all the time with decisions they find difficult. These people are seen as smart for recognizing their own limitations and getting advice from others. Their rights are not taken away just because they need help. People with disabilities should be given the same appreciation for getting support when needed.

Why the Right to Make Choices with Support Matters

All people, no matter what disability they have or what support needs they have, can make choices. This page has an excellent explanation of how supported decision-making works. >> 

Many self-advocates from around the country submitted videos to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee for their 2021 hearing on toxic conservatorships, including the two Californians whose videos are shown at right. You can watch videos from other self-advocates here. >>

Many self-advocates from around the country submitted videos to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee for their 2021 hearing on toxic conservatorships, including the two Californians whose videos are shown below. You can watch videos from other self-advocates here. >>

Tim Jin

Marie Bergum

Resources on Supported Decision-Making
for Self-Advocates

There are lots of resources out there to help you practice supported decision-making:

Supported Health Care Decision-Making