Form Letter: Asking Your Guardian for Support
Form letter that people with disabilities can use to ask their guardian for help reaching a goal.
About This Sample Letter
You can use this sample letter to tell your guardian about a goal you want to work toward and ask for support in reaching it. Your goal might be part of your behavioral support plan, daily schedule, coping skills development, activities recommended by your doctor, or another area that is important to you.
If something is making it difficult for you to reach your goal, you can ask your guardian for help. For example, you might ask your guardian to:
Talk with you about ways to help you reach your goal.
Work with staff at your group home or other support providers so you can work toward your goal safely.
Meet with you, your care team, or both to review your progress.
This sample letter shows what you may include in your request. It is not legal advice.
How to Use This Sample Letter
You can type your information into the sample letter and print it, or print the letter and fill it out by hand.
You may want to ask your guardian to respond in writing within three to five business days. This gives your guardian time to review your request and respond.
Once you have completed the letter, you can mail it or give it to your guardian. Keep a copy for your records and write down when you sent the letter and when you expect a response.
Sample Letter to Your Guardian
Dear [Guardian's Name]:
I have a goal that is important to me. My goal is: [describe your goal].
Examples of goals include:
Taking a walk every day with support from group home staff.
Spending one hour each day reading without being disturbed.
Spending more time with my family.
Starting a part-time job.
This goal is part of my: [describe what your goal is connected to].
Examples include:
Behavioral support plan.
Daily schedule.
Coping skills development.
Activities recommended by my doctor.
I would like to reach this goal within [one week, 15 days, one month, or another timeframe]. Right now, there are barriers making it difficult for me to work toward my goal. Getting support to address these barriers is important to me.
The barriers to reaching my goal are: [describe what is getting in the way].
Examples of barriers include:
Not having someone who can accompany me while I work on my goal.
Not having transportation.
Not being able to adjust my daily routine so I can work on my goal.
Not having the support I need from group home staff.
Needing additional support or approval from my guardian.
I am asking for your help so I can work toward my goal. I am requesting: [describe the support you need].
Examples of support include:
Support from group home staff so I can work toward my goal safely.
Transportation.
Regular meetings with my guardian or care team to review my progress.
Working together to identify ways to help me reach my goal.
You can support me by: [describe what you would like your guardian to do].
Examples include:
Adding this goal to my behavioral support plan.
Connecting me with resources that may help me reach my goal.
Talking with group home staff about the support I need.
Helping me track my progress.
Helping me create a plan for reaching my goal.
I would like to talk with you about this within [time period]. I would like us to work together with my care team and the staff who support me to create a plan for reaching this goal.
Thank you for helping me work toward a goal that is important to me.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Date: [Date]
