Legal Advocacy & Education
Quality Trust’s Legal Education and Advocacy program works on a broad range of systemic and individual matters that impact the lives of District residents with developmental disabilities.
Quality Trust attorneys work on systemic issues to ensure that systems are in place to create environments, residences and work places free from abuse and neglect; ensure high quality medical care; support decision making and alternatives to guardianship. We work for legislative reform critical in the lives of people with developmental disabilities, such as the Health Decisions for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Temporary Amendment Act of 2006 and the Disability Rights Protection Act of 2006.
Quality Trust works closely with the DC Superior Court and attorneys appointed to represent individuals to listen as systemic problems are identified and to partner and identify solutions.
Quality Trust attorneys provide legal advice, counseling and referral to people with developmental disabilities and their families on a wide range of issues including Social Security and Medicaid, guardianship, wills and power of attorney, abuse and neglect, and other matters. In some instances, Quality Trust attorneys may provide legal advocacy or serve as co-counsel. Quality Trust attorneys also provide training, support, and technical assistance for the court-appointed attorneys who represent people with developmental disabilities in the Family Court.
Highlights:
- Provide legal intervention and support to QT advocates and attorneys
- Serve on various Developmental Disabilities Administration committees to
provide technical assistance and support
- Work closely with the District’s protection and advocacy organization, the
University Legal Services
Roosevelt's story
Roosevelt is an adult with developmental disabilities and had a guardian who was a family member. Roosevelt's guardian had physically abused him and was very restrictive, not allowing him to take public transportation or participate in certain social activities. Quality Trust's attorneys worked with Roosevelt to explore alternatives to guardianship. Roosevelt felt like he was ready to make his own decisions and to live without a guardian. Roosevelt felt he would only need some help if there were complicated medical decisions. Quality Trust helped him identify a friend who was willing to be his medical power of attorney and helped him execute that document. Then, Quality Trust was co-counsel on a petition to terminate the guardianship that he had been subject to for many years. His guardian was removed and the court ruled as we hoped, that he did not need a guardian any more. Today Roosevelt is able to make his own decisions about things like where he lives, what he does during the day, and how he spends his money.
To learn more about our legal services and supports
or to volunteer contact lflegel@dcqualitytrust.org.
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