Supporters

The freedom to make our own decisions is a fundamental human right. While in some cases it may be necessary and appropriate to appoint a substitute decision maker (someone making the decision for the individual), such cases are rare. 

It is important to empower Decision Makers to make their own decisions as much as possible. They deserve the same dignity of risk taking, and the opportunity to learn from their decisions, just like everyone else.

Supported Decision Making is a part of everyday life and a key element for giving people the right to self determination.  

It’s a common misconception that guardianship will protect people with disabilities by removing as much risk as possible from their lives.  Guardianship is the most restrictive option and means that the person will have no say in their life. 

Fortunately, there are other options that can be combined with Supported Decision Making to protect the individual to make a decision safely and empower them to make decision for themselves.

or more information on Alternatives to Guardianship visit Disability Rights PA Resources

Guardianship

If a judge decides in court that a person is unable to make decisions for themselves and is “incapacitated,” then the court will appoint a guardian to make decisions for that person. A guardian takes on the legal responsibility to manage those areas of their life the judge has decided is needed. The appointed guardian is not permanent, the court has the authority to revoke (take away) the guardianship status and reassign a new guardian. A guardian could be a family member but also can be a professional guardian, depending on what the court decides is the best fit. 

A guardian can be appointed to make personal decisions (guardian of the person), financial decisions (guardian of the estate) or both (plenary guardian). 

Once a guardian is appointed by a judge, it can be difficult to get a judge to end the guardianship. So, it is important to know how to avoid a guardianship or remove an existing guardianship if it is not needed.

Review the resources (on the right hand side, boxes) to help you learn more about the alternatives to Guardianship.

Supporters are trusted people from the Decision Maker’s life that helps support them in making a decision.  The decision maker will tell you how and when they want help. Examples of how to support are:

• sharing advice

• helping find information,

• asking questions, and

• discussing options.

The goal is to foster a relationship where the Decision Maker feels supported, respected, and empowered.

Sometimes it is not possible to say yes to be a supporter. That’s okay. Be honest and kind when sharing the news with the Decision Maker.

Communication

The Decision Maker will use the worksheets in the Decision Maker toolkit (step 2) to establish how to work with their Supporter. Communicating in a productive and respectful way involves establishing

• How you want to work together

• When to work together, and

• What boundaries you both need to have a successful relationship.

Supporting without agreeing

It can be challenging to support a Decision Maker when you disagree with their decision or perceive it as a poor choice. The Decision Maker has right to take risks (Dignity of Risk).  Experiencing the outcome of a decision provides an opportunity to learn from it.

For more information on repairing relationship or discontinuing supporter role – see Repairing relationship or discontinuing supporter role

Exploitation & Abuse

Being a supporter means that you will be learning a lot about the Decision Maker and their life goals. This close relationship makes it essential for you to be aware of the signs of exploitation, abuse, and neglect.

If you believe that there is a case of abuse, please consult with the appropriate protective services, such as PA Adult, child, or Elder Protective services. More information can be found on their website: PA Adult Protective Services. In taking these steps, you contribute to creating a safe and supportive environment for the Decision Maker, while also upholding their dignity and rights.

The SDM process is segmented into five steps which act as a roadmap, guiding the Decision Maker in an organized way so that they may feel as confident and informed as they can. 

Please also refer to the Decision Makers Tool-Kit for a more in depth look at how the Decision Maker can learn and utilize the 5 Steps of Decision Making!

The 5 Steps:

1. Identify the Decision: What does the Decision Maker want to decide? 
2. Gather Information and Get Help: Now that you know what the problem or decision is, what does the Decision Maker need- to gather information or research their options? Who does the Decision Maker want to choose to help them make this decision? How should you help them? 
3. Identify Possible Outcomes: Once the decision maker has enough information, they’ll need to think about the different outcomes of your decision. What do they want to happen? What could go wrong? What happens if they make a decision and things don’t go well?
4. Make and Communicate Decisions: After the Decision Maker explores all the possible outcomes, then it’s time to make their decision.  Does the Decision Maker have everything they need (Paperwork, money, people, etc)?
5. Now that the Decision Maker made their decision, it’s always good to take some time to reflect on how it went. Some questions to help your Decision Maker reflect:
   1. Did their decision turn out the way they wanted it to? 
   2. What was the hardest part of making this decision?
   3. What went well when making this decision? 
   4. What would they do differently next time?

While the 5-step process is organized and structured, as a Supporter it’s important to remember that every Decision Maker is unique in their abilities. The Decision maker may not need assistance with all the steps, and their confidence level in certain areas can vary from one decision to another. While these steps serve as a foundational guide, each SDM team should tailor them to their specific needs, ensuring the approach aligns perfectly with the Decision Maker’s comfort and requirements.

Possible Roles of a Supporter: 

• Asking Questions: Asking questions can help make explore the Decision Maker’s views, worries, and goals. The clearer the Supporter’s understanding of these elements are, the better support they can provide.
• Gaining Context: The Decision Maker’s past experiences and future goals provides context to their decision making.  Understanding these influences can help the Supporter in guiding the Decision Maker. 
• Preparation and Foresight: Decision-making isn’t just about the present moment. It’s also about foreseeing the consequences. The Supporter can help the Decision Maker by looking at the possible  outcomes—be they positive or negative — and planning for the best path forward post-decision.

Supported Decision Making Process: Chris’ Example

Tools for Decision Makers who do not communicate verbally visit our resource page:Resources for Decision Makers using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

Everyone has the right to self-determination.

It is important to presume capacity or assume a person is able to make decisions, regardless of thier diagnosis. Decision making is a continuum and the Supporter’s role may vary throughout their journey.

Be encouraging!