IDEA mandates that all rights accorded to parents transfer to students when they reach the age of majority, unless their competence is questioned. Using case studies, this research examined the concern that when competence is challenged, guardian appointments may occur, thus negatively impacting the self-determination of school-aged young adults who have developmental disabilities. The assumption that a young adult who had a full legal guardian would exhibit fewer, if any, self-determination skills in comparisons to a peer who did not have a legal guardian was investigated. Findings include (a) values, beliefs, and knowledge impact guardian roles, and (b) more research is needed to determine the impact IDEA age of majority and transfer of rights mandates are having on families as well as school, law, and agency service providers' interpretations and actions.
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