Supported Decision Making: A Copernican Revolution

While supported decision-making is about helping others to make decisions, its vision in many respects is revolutionary, and asks us to think about some fundamental things differently. By recognising decision making as an interdependent process and embracing a new way of thinking about decision-making capacity we are able to forge new ways for people with disability to take back control of their lives. Many people with disability have been subject to informal and formal substituted decision-making arrangements directed by what other people believe to be in their best interest. Article 12 of the United Nations Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) says this is no longer acceptable. All people have a right to receive the support they need to direct the decisions which shape their lives and be legal decision makers.