[blindlaw] Blind Casa's/Guardian ad litem's

[Will Miller]

Hello RJ, I am totally blind and am currently a Guardian ad Litem volunteer 
in North Carolina. The local GAL program recruits volunteers from the law 
school that I attend, and I became a volunteer through the same process that 
other students do. Students are given the option of working with partners, 
and another law student and I chose to be partners. Although the other 
student is sighted, GAL never required or suggested that I work with a 
partner. The other student and I decided to work together so we could manage 
the additional work load while in school. Are responsibilities include going 
to court hearings, visiting the homes of foster and biological parents, and 
attending visitations occasionally at DSS. During these outings, my partner 
has served as a sighted guide (I don't visit any of the places often enough 
to go without assistance). Her observations of the conditions in the 
parents' homes have been important. We have split some tasks between us, and 
I have taken primary responsibility for contacting all of the concerned 
parties by telephone at least monthly, keeping track of all of the parents 
obligations that must be met for reunification (such as attending the 
children's school and doctor appointments), and most of the court report 
writing. Both my partner and I are glad that we chose to work together and, 
much more importantly,  we feel that it has enhanced our ability to advocate 
for the children (which is, of course, what matters).
I hope this helps. Feel free to email me offlist if you would like.

Will Miller


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "RJ Sandefur" <rjs59 at hotmail.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2007 9:23 PM
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Blind Casa's/Guardian ad litem's


> Thanks Ron. RJ
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Ron Dixon" <peagoody at worldnet.att.net>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, September 03, 2007 2:25 AM
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Blind Casa's/Guardian ad litem's
>
>
>> Hi R.J.:
>>
>> I think your opinion about a blind person being a Guardian ad Litem in
>> Florida is valid.  After all, I am blind and I was an Attorney ad litem
>> for
>> nearly three years.  essentially, a GAL and an AAL  generally are both
>> sides
>> of the same coin.  We both enforce Chapter 39.  Although, I can't say I
>> ever
>> met any blind GAL while I worked in Florida.  However, the Children's
>> Advocacy area of law did have a blind Attorney General, a blind private
>> attorney who represented both parents and children in the foster care
>> system, and myself who represented only the children.
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "RJ Sandefur" <rjs59 at hotmail.com>
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2007 2:13 PM
>> Subject: [blindlaw] Blind Casa's/Guardian ad litem's
>>
>>
>> Dear List, Do you know of any one who is blind, and who is a Casa
>> Volunteer,
>> or who is a Volunteer Guardian ad litem? When I approached my Local
>> Guardian
>> ad litem program, I was told that It was impossible for me to be a
>> Valenteer
>> Guardian ad litem, because one must be able to see, in order to perform
>> the
>> duties, of the guardian ad litem. Vallenteer. However, I find this
>> questionable, because here is what I found on their website. "Application
>> Process
>>
>> Requirements
>>
>> Guardian ad Litem
>>
>> List of 1 items
>>
>> Be at least 19 years old.
>>
>> list end
>>
>> List of 1 items
>>
>> Complete and submit an
>>
>> application
>>
>> and photo identification to the program in your area.
>>
>> Locate your local program.
>>
>> List of 1 items
>>
>> Sign a release for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Florida
>> Criminal History Check, which is required by statute. (Individuals with a
>> criminal
>>
>> record of a felony, a judicial finding of guilt for a crime against a
>> person, or history of abuse or neglect of a child or adult are ineligible
>> for the
>>
>> program).
>>
>> list end
>>
>> List of 1 items
>>
>> Provide two written character references.
>>
>> list end
>>
>> List of 1 items
>>
>> Interview with local program director.
>>
>> list end
>>
>> List of 1 items
>>
>> Successfully complete 30 hours of training, including classroom lecture
>> and
>> courtroom observation.
>>
>> list end
>>
>> List of 1 items
>>
>> Sign the
>>
>> Code of Conduct.
>>
>> list end
>> " And here is what it says concerning persons with disabilities,
>> Application
>> Process
>>
>> Requirements
>>
>> Guardian ad Litem
>>
>> List of 1 items
>>
>> Be at least 19 years old.
>>
>> list end
>>
>> List of 1 items
>>
>> Complete and submit an
>>
>> application
>>
>> and photo identification to the program in your area.
>>
>> Locate your local program.
>>
>> List of 1 items
>>
>> Sign a release for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Florida
>> Criminal History Check, which is required by statute. (Individuals with a
>> criminal
>>
>> record of a felony, a judicial finding of guilt for a crime against a
>> person, or history of abuse or neglect of a child or adult are ineligible
>> for the
>>
>> program).
>>
>> list end
>>
>> List of 1 items
>>
>> Provide two written character references.
>>
>> list end
>>
>> List of 1 items
>>
>> Interview with local program director.
>>
>> list end
>>
>> List of 1 items
>>
>> Successfully complete 30 hours of training, including classroom lecture
>> and
>> courtroom observation.
>>
>> list end
>>
>> List of 1 items
>>
>> Sign the
>>
>> Code of Conduct.
>>
>> list end
>>
>> ATTENTION: PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. In accordance with the Americans
>> With
>> Disabilities Act, persons
>> with disabilities needing specials accommodations to participate in this
>> function should contact the GUARDIAN AD
>>
>> ATTENTION: PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. In accordance with the Americans
>> With
>> Disabilities Act, persons with disabilities needing specials
>> accommodations
>> to participate in this function should contact the GUARDIAN AD LITEM
>> PROGRAM, no later than five (5) days prior to the in-service or training.
>> Thank you.
>> Is this Discrimination? I would like you're thoughts concerning this.
>> Sencerly, RJ
>>
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
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