PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — Last year, the CBS12 News I-Team brought you the story of Michael Lincoln-McCreight, the first person in Florida to get out of his guardianship through an alternative called Supportive Decision Making.
Today, he's fighting for other people with disabilities to have the same opportunity, and is winning awards and inspiring others along the way.
Michael was put into the guardianship system when he aged out of foster care. While he has a developmental disability, he is hardly incapacitated. He knew when a judge told him that he lost all of his rights, that it was wrong.
A guardian put him in a group home in Port St. Lucie and closely monitored him -- taking away his ability to use the internet, have a phone, or use his own money freely.
But Michael was able to hatch a plan: he convinced his guardian that he needed money to buy a book, and instead bought a cheap cell phone. He hid in his closet and called Disability Rights Florida, an advocacy group that got him a new lawyer and a new court evaluation.
A judge ended the guardianship and instead recommended Supported Decision Making -- meaning a team of trusted adults are in Michael's life to help him make certain decisions.
Today, he is living an independent, free, and full life with a new girlfriend, apartment on his own, and promotion at work as a security site supervisor.
He also has a busy calendar as an advocate, serving on a statewide task force to reform Florida's guardianship system.
He also works with a coalition called "I Decide Florida," which lobbies for Supported Decision Making bills.
"Every person with a disability deserves to live their own life," he said.
This year, State Representative Allison Tant introduced a bill that would require judges to consider Supported Decision Making first for people with developmental disabilities, before resorting to a restrictive guardianship.
When the bill had its first hearing in Tallahassee, Michael's name came up a lot -- held up as an example for what SDM is all about.
"Supported Decision Making has made a huge difference in Michael's life and I'm sure that with favorable votes today it will move through committees and better lives will be had," said Rep. Dana Trabulsy, who represents Michael's community in Port St. Lucie.
While he continues to reach out to lawmakers and advocates to fight for guardianship reform, Michael is getting statewide recognition, recently winning the Idelio Valdes Leadership Advocacy Award from the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council.
"[The
award] goes to a person who really advocates and puts their boots to the
ground to make sure people are being treated fairly and right," he
said. "It shows how much I can actually grow and accomplish things. And
it shows how other people with disabilities can also do the same thing."
More good news for those who would like to stay independent with supports that bypass the need for guardianship. Bravo, Michael!
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