Systemic Abuse

Earlier today, I drove two hours to pick up Michael and bring him to a court hearing to contest his guardianship and protective placement. Michael is a 45 year old man with developmental disabilities resulting from a brain injury from a farm accident when he was a boy. He also suffers from mental illness.

For most of his adult life, Michael was able to get by on his own. He would clean taverns in exchange for room and board (often a cot in the storage area). Patrons thought he was cute and would buy him drinks. Michael became an alcoholic. Still, he had a circle of friends that loosely looked after him.

About 10 years ago, Michael found some new friends. They were drunk and had the idea that they should drive to another state. The catch: they did not have a car. Michael was the only sober one of the group. The others found a car with keys in it. They talked Michael into driving the car. They didn't get too far. The police pulled them over and Michael was arrested. He was brought back to the jail of his home county. Law enforcement officials insisted that Michael was incompetent and needed a guardian. The organization for which I work was appointed guardian and I have worked with Michael for nearly 8 years.

While his life prior to the arrest might not have been the greatest in the eyes of outsiders, Michael did enjoy independence at had a loose support network that kept things from really getting bad. While under guardianship and protective placement, Michael has done OK. However, he has always struggled with wanting the independence he previously enjoyed. In the 8 years of the court order for guardianship and protective placement, Michael has had no run-ins with the law or major health crises. Those looking at Michael's life from the outside see this as a success. Unfortunately, Michael no longer knows how to plan for and prepare a meal for himself. He no longer sees the need to keep himself or his environment clean. He no longer has the desire to work. In previous years, he actively made it known that he wanted to contest his guardianship and protective placement. Michael seems to have given up. Knowing him as well as I do, I had to contest his guardianship and protective placement for him this year (somewhat strange, since as his guardian, I had to petition the court to consider termination of guardianship).

The worst thing that happened to Michael was being ordered to be protected by "the system". Those of us that comprise "the system" have turned Michael into a dependent zombie. In our quest to ensure what we think is best for him, we have taken away his ability to live a life that he wants.