Benefits Of Supported Decision Making

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What is Supported Decision Making?

Supported Decision Making is a way for people with disabilities to get help making their own choices/decisions. It is a process where individuals make as many of their own decisions as possible with assistance from a supporter as necessary. Unlike a conservatorship or guardianship, the person with a disability is still the ultimate decision-maker. The person with a disability can select trusted family members, friends, or staff to serve as supporters.

Essentially, this means helping a person understand, make, and communicate his/her own decisions. Many families & individuals with disabilities are already using this method; it just doesn’t have a name until now. Supported Decision Making breaks down
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SDM Practice Development
Pilot Projects
Test runs within local AZ agencies
Legislation
Moving toward SDM also includes reforming guardianship to limit guardian authority, increase monitoring and accountability, recognize degrees of capacity, support choices, growth, and independence, enforce preferences for limited guardianships and alternatives. Approximately 32 states (perhaps more!) are developing SDM further with several states passing legislation on Supported Decision Making, with Texas being the first to lead the way. Legislation on SDM essentially requires families to first consider SDM arrangements before they consider more restrictive alternatives.

Read more from the national level at
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Most people can make at least some decisions about their lives, and it is their right to do so.
Decision making is a learned skill that requires encouragement and practice. However, in supporting people with disabilities, professionals and loved ones often use substituted decision making rather than supporting the person to make their own decisions. With the best intentions, we think and speak for the person rather than thinking with the person and encouraging them to speak for themselves.
Research shows us that maximizing choice and control (self-determination) in a person’s life increases positive outcomes in health, happiness, and safety through stronger relationships and better ability to recognize and resist abuse.
Current laws do not look at how much support an individual might have; they only look at capacity (or lack of capacity) and nothing further. Capacity can change over time; based on experience, situation, and support. Lack of opportunity to make decisions can prevent people from developing capacity or further decrease capacity (Salzman, 2010).

According to the National Core Indicators, individuals with I/DD living without guardians are more likely