Autism needs are clear; DDA eligibility is uncertain or denied
Plan decision support and adult health care
Address decision support and health transition separately; use the least restrictive decision-support option that fits the person's abilities and preferences.
Official sources checked 2026-07-25Start here
Review alternatives to guardianshipBefore you start
- A decision-specific description of the adult’s abilities, preferences, risks, current supporters, and health-transition needs.
Who to contact
Maryland Court Help or qualified counsel for legal questions; the person’s health-care team for clinical transition.
Step by step
- Review supported decision-making and other less restrictive alternatives before assuming guardianship is required.
- Separate health-care transition tasks from legal or financial decision-support tasks.
- Use the DDA Healthy Living resources to plan adult providers, records, medications, communication, and changing roles.
- Use Maryland Court Help or a qualified lawyer for legal questions and the health team for medical-transition questions.
Expected next
A decision-support plan and a separate adult-health transition plan with named owners and next dates.
Save this proof
The options considered, the person’s preferences, professional guidance received, chosen supports, and health-transition tasks.
If this stalls or the answer is no
Use Maryland Court Help for legal-process questions and ask the current health team to identify the next transition-of-care task.
Beyond Childhood planning aid
Two-plan worksheet
A diagnosis alone does not establish a need for guardianship.
- Decision-support question
- What the adult can decide with support
- Preferred supporters
- Least restrictive workable option
- Adult-health provider
- Records transfer
- Medication and communication plan
- Next appointment
Derived from Alternatives to Guardianship, DDA Healthy Living resources
Official resources
Limits
A diagnosis alone does not establish a need for guardianship; the least restrictive workable option is case-specific.
Beyond Childhood’s checklists and prompts are planning aids derived from the linked sources. They are not official forms, legal advice, eligibility decisions, or guarantees of funding, capacity, or service.