This video explains what it is like to vote with a disability. The video talks about how accommodations with voting work and what to expect when you vote. The video also explains that you can contact your state’s Protection & Advocacy Agency if something goes wrong when you are trying to vote and you need help from a lawyer.
SDM Resource Library
Tag: self advocates
Supported Decision Making Resource Library (June 2020)
The Arc of Northern Virginia has created a collection of excellent, accessible resources about Supported Decision-Making including:
- video stories of decision-makers,
- 3 minute webinars on SDM,
- handouts, and
- presentations.
Fact Sheet on Mass. SDM Bill H. 4349/S. 2490 (March 2020)
Fact sheet describing Massachusetts Supported Decision-Making legislation (H. 4349/S. 2490).
Visit resource: Fact Sheet on Mass. SDM Bill H. 4349/S. 2490
Go Voter Project (2020)
The Go Voter project from Self Advocates Becoming Empowered includes many helpful videos and other resources about voting for self-advocates.
- Voter Education Toolkit: a guide created by leaders in the self advocacy movement to help people teach voter education trainings in their communities.
- Voting and Guardianship: resources on voting if you have a guardian.
The Story of the First Two Nations to Pass Landmark Disability Rights Law (December 2, 2019)
Information on event held by Open Society Foundations bringing together disability rights leaders who championed passage of laws eliminating guardianship and fully recognizing the right to legal capacity of persons with disabilities in Peru in 2018 and Colombia in 2019.
Visit resource: The Story of the First Two Nations to Pass Landmark Disability Rights Law
UN expert welcomes legal capacity reform in Colombia to end guardianship regime (August 29, 2019)
Article about Colombia’s elimination of guardianship. Contains statements by Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Catalina Devandas.
Visit resource: UN expert welcomes legal capacity reform in Colombia to end guardianship regime
Making My Own Healthcare Decisions for People with Disabilities (July 2019)
A sample letter than can be used to explain your wishes about health care decision-making to a health care provider. This letter could be used as an SDM agreement if you are only interested in your supporters helping with health care decisions.
Visit resource: Making My Own Healthcare Decisions for People with Disabilities
Turning Rights Into Reality: How Guardianship and Alternatives Impact the Autonomy of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (June 10, 2019)
Follow up report to National Council on Disability Beyond Guardianship 2018 report. This report explores the experiences of people with I/DD through interviews and research. Report discusses school-to-guardianship pipeline.
Supported Decision-Making Introduction, Michael Kendrick (May 2019)
Video from Michael Kendrick of CPR providing overview on supported decision-making.
Visit resource: Supported Decision-Making Introduction, Michael Kendrick
Supported Decision-Making: A Parent’s Perspective (May 2019)
Observations on meaning of SDM from parent of individual with I/DD discussing how to address fear and risk.
Visit resource: Supported Decision-Making: A Parent’s Perspective