My Rights: Supported Decision Making

Region: United Kingdom

Does it matter? Decision-making by People with Learning Disabilities.

An easy read report, by People First Scotland, about the research they did on decisions and decision-making by adults with learning disabilities. The research aimed to answer the question ‘Does it matter to people with learning disabilities whether they are supported to make their own decisions or have others make decisions for them in their lives?’.

From Provisions to Practice: Implementing The Convention

With supported decision-making, the presumption is always in favour of the person with a disability who will be affected by the decision. The individual is the decision maker; the support person(s) explain(s) the issues, when necessary, and interpret(s) the signs and preferences of the individual. Even when an individual with a disability requires totalsupport, the support person(s) should enable the individual to exercise his/her legal capacity to the greatest extent possible, according to the wishes of the individual. This distinguishes supported decision-making from substituted decision-making, such as advance directives and legal mentors/friends, where the guardian or tutor has court-authorized power to make decisions on behalf of the individual without necessarily having to demonstrate that those decisions are in the individual’s best interest or according to Development and human rights for all.

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. Go to www.dss.gov.au for more information.
These resources are in the process of being transferred to Inclusion Solutions. Click here to visit their website.

A resource of WA Individualised Services.