Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) provides guardianship services to adults with Intellectual Disability (ID) who receive DDS services. Not all people with ID require a guardian but those who do can benefit from the advocacy and decision making a guardian provides. Guardians follow the orders of the court and receive support from DDS. Guardians provide the opportunity for an individual with ID to live in the least restrictive life possible while insuring health and safety needs are met. Guardians for adults build positive relationships, advocate, and make informed decisions. Decisions made by guardians may be financial, medical, living arrangements, employment, and education. A guardian only makes decisions to the extent their ward cannot make their own decisions. The guardianship relationship is designed to fit each person's needs and still allow the person to make as many life decisions as possible
Guardian's Financial Obligations
A guardian is not required to support the ward financially or to contribute the guardian's own resources to the ward.
Guardian's Liability
A guardian who follows the orders of the court and acts in the best interest of their ward is not generally held liable for the actions of their ward. More information regarding a guardian’s liability is provided at 30 O.S. § 4-901.
If you are interested in more information about becoming a volunteer guardian, send an email dds.volunteerguardian@okdhs.org
or call Sean Ballard at 405-763-8513.
For other program information, contact Ray Hester at 405-802-9146
