A father writes passionately of the effect that new guardianship legislation in the USA will have on his daughter and many other people with intellectual disabilities. He argues that the legislation is extremely constrictive because it so narrowly measures and defines a person's decision making ability - perpetuating the myth that all people with intellectual disabilities are dependent, child like and unable to determine their own futures. He writes, "As an adult Liz can look forward to the law ignoring her decision making ability and usurping it. The law does not value her intuition, her compassion, her will, her discipline, her manner of expression and her relationships". Keyword: Self determination