Supported Decision-Making

Overview

Supported decision-making allows people with disabilities to make choices about their own lives with support from trusted family, friends or professionals they choose. This is an approach all people use at some point. Supported decision-making might be an important accommodation to ask for if you or someone you know needs help to gather information, ask questions, evaluate options or communicate a decision to others.

Flyers are made available by the ARC of Oregon.

Resources

Materials, sample agreements, forms and other tools for communicating and implementing supported decision-making:

Fact sheets and brochures (multiple languages)

Materials from ODHS and the Oregon Department of Education

Supported decision-making brochure Translations

• English​
  
• Español (Spanish)
• 简体中文 (Chinese Simplified)
• Русский (Russian)
• Af Soomaali (Somali)
• Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)

Fact sheet on Oregon's supported decision-making law Translations

• English
• Español (Spanish)
• 简体中文 (Chinese Simplified)
• Русский (Russian)
• Af Soomaali (Somali)
• Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)

Materials from the ARC of Oregon​

• Flyer for individuals
  
• Flyer for families and supporters
  ​
  

Tools

• ​​​​​​​​​ Stop, Look and Listen tool​
• Lifecourse tools
  
• Lifecourse Portfolio for Supported Decision-Making
  
• Lifecourse tools modified for transition students 
• Sample Agreements
  
• ACLU Supported-Decision Making Library​
  
• The Arc letter to my doctor 
• Taking charge of my healthcare toolkit​
  
  
• PRACTICAL Tool from the American Bar Association
  A resource for professionals who refer individuals and families to supports with decision-making, emphasizing that first look to least restrictive decision-making supports before more restrictive supports). Designed for attorneys, but also useful for other professionals.
  

Training

• ​​ODHS Supported Decision Making Training on Workday Learning​
  
• The Arc Oregon Train the Trainer on Supported Decision-Making: Contact training@thearcoregon.org​​
  
• Oregon Wings Train the Trainer
  

Partner websites

​

• ​​ Oregon Department of Education 
  
• Oregon Self-Advocacy Coalition
  
• Disability Rights Oregon
  
• The Arc Oregon
  
• Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities
  
• FACT
  
• OHSU University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
  
• National SDM website
  

Podcast

​Supported Decision-​​Making podcast​

In this episode of the Employment First podcast, we discuss supported decision-making with Allison Enriquez, policy analyst with the Office of Developmental Disability Services, and Sally Simich, education specialist for secondary transition at the Oregon Department of Education.

Requirements for schools

A 2021 Oregon law requires school districts to provide information on supported decision-making at each Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting that talks about post-high school education goals and transition services. This includes ways for family members and supporters to stay engaged and involved in the youth's education and outcomes after high school.

Success stories

More videos
Self-Determination YouTube Channel (Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities)

Better outcomes

Supported decision-making has been best practice for supporting people with disabilities for decades. According to a 2018 report from the National Council on Disability, people who make their own decisions have better outcomes, are more independent and integrated into their communities, better employed, healthier, and better able to recognize and resist abuse.

Oregon law has long required an exploration of less restrictive alternatives before guardianship or conservatorship. More information and training is needed so people know that supported decision-making is one of the less restrictive options that must be explored. Even when a person does have a guardian, it is expected that the person be supported to make their own decisions as much as possible.