Ala. Code § 12-13-21 (1975) Appointment of Guardian For Developmentally Disabled Person

• Library: Alabama Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current with legislation from the 2023 Regular and Special Sessions.
• Year: 2023
• Citation: Ala. Code § 12-13-21 (1975)

(a) The term "developmentally disabled" person, means a person whose impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior meets the following criteria:

(1) It has continued since its origination or can be expected to continue indefinitely.

(2) It constitutes a substantial burden to the impaired person's ability to perform normally in society.

(3) It is attributed to one or more of the following:

a. Mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or autism.

b. Any other condition of a person found to be closely related to mental retardation because it produces a similar impairment or requires treatment and services similar to those required for a person who is mentally retarded

c. Dyslexia resulting from a condition described in subparagraph a or b.

(b) Guardianship for a developmentally disabled person shall be utilized only as is necessary to promote and protect the well being of the person, including protection from neglect, exploitation, and abuse; shall be designed to encourage the development of maximum self-reliance and independence in the person; and shall be ordered only to the extent necessitated by the person's actual mental and adaptive limitations.