In June of 2023, DIAL Clinic students attended the Family Café, a state-wide conference hosted by the Florida Youth Council in Orlando, FL. Over 14,000 people with, or related to, persons with disabilities attend annually to dialogue regarding disability-related issues, and to receive advocacy, friendship, and empowerment. At the conference, the DIAL Students were able to answer questions about disability related items, assist with formal complaints, and Professors Rangel and Markowitz presented a lecture of guardianship alternatives.
Many attendees of Family Cafe have intellectual or developmental disabilities themselves, are over 18, and need assistance in daily life activities, but do not need all their rights removed in a court-appointed full plenary guardianship. In 2024, the DIAL Clinic will have a workshop room at Family Cafe where DIAL Clinic staff and pro-bono attorneys will provide an opportunity for parents to learn about alternatives to guardianships, create supported decision-making agreements and powers of attorneys, begin the process of filing for guardian advocacy, and obtain a pro-bono attorney to represent the family and monitor the any proceedings.
