Legal Planning for Young Adults with Disabilities (MD UCEDD)

May 17, 2016

On April 11, 2016, the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) launched a new initiative with the University of Baltimore School of Law. Professor Angela Vallario and attorney Louise Michaux Gonzales delivered a free seminar to Kennedy Krieger young adult patients, students, and their families about estate planning considerations and decision-making capacity. Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law) attorneys, 22 law students, and nine attorneys from the legal community completed 12 powers of attorney, 11 advance directives, and four advance directives for mental health with participants. Each participant also competed a needs assessment regarding other civil legal needs.

On Thursday, April 22, 2016, Professor Vallario and the MCDD's associate director, Maureen van Stone, met with seven University of Baltimore School of Law students, who volunteered at the event, to review the data and discuss how to grow the initiative during the 2016-2017 academic year. The initiative will include future seminars on related topics as well as the provision of legal services for individuals with disabilities and their families.