California's Double-Edged Sword: Exploring Regional Centers, Limited Conservatorship Policies and Implications for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Despite a growing area of research focusing on social inequities, people with disabilities are frequently left out of the discussion. People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DDs) are especially marginalized and are at risk for having their civil rights limited or terminated as a result of such a diagnosis. In this study, I use Critical Disability Theory to analyze data collected from 16 surveys and 10 interviews of representatives of the 21 Regional Centers in California. I examine how these Regional Centers implement policies relating to restricting or terminating the civil rights of people with an intellectual or developmental disability, known in California as limited conservatorships. I find that different interpretations of the laws and budget constraints contribute to making limited conservatorship process non-individualized and highlight an extreme disconnect between the law in writing and the law in practice.