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.
SDM Resource Library
Type: Document
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
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: 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
South Carolina – Supported Decision Making Manuals: for Individuals and Families, Service Providers, and Attorneys (March 2019)
South Carolina Supported Decision-Making Project’s resource page contains a number of useful materials including:
- Supported Decision Making Agreement Template
- Supported Decision Making Manual for Individuals and Families
- Supported Decision Making Manual for Service Providers
- Supported Decision Making Manual for Attorneys
- Videos from people in South Carolina using SDM
- Links to additional resources
Supported Decision-Making A User’s Guide for People with Disabilities and Their Supporters (2019)
Manual for people with disabilities and their supporters to help understand how to use SDM. Contains useful tools such as checklists for deciding what type of support is needed in various areas.
Your Vote Counts: A Self-Advocate’s Guide to Voting in the U.S. (2019)
Voting is important! Did you know that even if you have a guardianship you may still be able to vote? Whether you can vote while under a guardianship depends on the laws in your state and on what your guardianship paperwork says. If you are under a guardianship you may still have the right to vote. The Your Vote Counts guide from Autistic Self Advocacy Network explains the rules in every state about voting while under a guardianship.
You can also read more about your RIGHT to vote and HOW to vote on this page from Autistic Self Advocacy Network.
Visit resource: Your Vote Counts: A Self-Advocate’s Guide to Voting in the U.S.
Brainstorming Guide to Supported Decision-Making (2019)
This is a worksheet and tool for self advocates and supporters to brainstorm the type of support an individual may need in various areas of his or her life.
Visit resource: Brainstorming Guide to Supported Decision-Making
