Maximizing Autonomy: Reforming Personal Support Laws in Sweden and the United States

Abstract

Reforming outmoded systems of guardianship requires that governments assess personal support and related services. U.S. policy-makers and reformers in individual states have begun to question how current guardianship laws may disempower individuals with mental disabilities. This article explores some remarkable legal and public policy innovations in Sweden that replace guardianship with personal support services such as mentors, administrators, “kontakt” persons, and personal assistants. It then examines the impact of Sweden's reforms on the autonomy, independence, and integration of its citizens and discusses possibilities for similar changes worldwide.