Supported Decision-Making

What is Supported Decision-Making?

Making your own choices is an important part of life. Supported decision-making (SDM) is a tool that lets people with disabilities get help making choices in different parts of their lives. Supported decision-making is not guardianship. Guardianship assigns another person to make decisions for a person with a disability. Supported decision-making lets a person with a disability keep the right to make decisions about their life with help from people they trust.

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My Life, My Decisions: A Supported Decision-Making Summit

For people with disabilities, caregivers, and professionals

Event date, time and location: March 7, 2024 | 1-4 p.m. | University of Delaware STAR Tower Audion

For more information: Please visit our registration site https://www.cds.udel.edu/mylife

What is My Life, My Decisions: A Supported Decision-Making Summit?

Join My Life, My Decisions: A Supported Decision-Making Summit to learn more about supported decision-making and the resources that are available in Delaware.

The Summit will begin with a panel discussion featuring people with disabilities and their supporters. The panel discussion will be followed by a small group mentoring activity open to people with disabilities, their caregivers, and the professionals who serve them. The event will feature national and local experts on supported decision-making, including advocate, attorney and Syracuse University Professor Jonathan Martinis.

DNEA Supported-Decision Making Resources

Training Videos

These videos are part of a three-part speaking series on supported decision-making with Jonathan Martinis. Supported decision-making (SDM) is an alternative to guardianship that allows people with disabilities to get the help they may need to make choices about their life.

Supported Decision-Making: From Justice to Jenny to Justice for All

Education, Employment, and Independent Living: SDM in Spec Ed and Voc Rehab

Taking Care, Taking the Lead: Supported Decision-Making in Health Care and Life Planning

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Supported Decision-Making in Delaware

Resource Guide

Supported decision-making (SDM) allows people with disabilities to get the help they may need to make choices about their personal lives, healthcare, and/or finances. This resource guide explores SMD and provides information about how it is different from guardianship. Delaware specific resource links are provided.

If you are interested in this resource guide, click below to order free copies!