It seems almost impossible to imagine, but Ben turned eighteen this past December. For any family this is an important milestone in the journey to adulthood. For families with special needs children, however, this is a particularly thorny milestone. Once your child turns eighteen they become an adult in the eyes of the law, with all of the rights and privileges associated. I am aware of cases where higher functioning young autistic adults have been coerced into doing things like purchasing a brand new car or signing contracts and leases, often by unscrupulous salesmen who are fully aware that the person they are speaking to is clearly not competent.  The more common issue, however, is that medical professionals are no longer required to discuss your child's healthcare with you -- in fact they may be prohibited from doing so by privacy laws. This is where Guardianship comes in.