Supported Decision-Making

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Supported decision-making is a set of strategies to assist people with disabilities in using their own support system to take control of decisions in their lives. Supported decision-making agreements are now a legally recognized tool in Wisconsin for people to formally recognize friends, family, or other supporters to help them make decisions. Supporters can help them collect, process, and analyze information and communicate decisions in any aspect of their lives, including health care, housing, employment, and education. See below for resources and the form created by the WI Department of Health Services.

Self-Advocacy Resources

Our self-advocacy resources have helpful guidance and further information on issues related to this topic. Learn more below:

Referrals

Other places that may be able to help you:

The Arc Wisconsin

An organization that assists people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities

This organization is dedicated to improving the independence, productivity, and integration of people with developmental disabilities.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services Supported Decision-Making Agreement

The Supported Decision-Making Agreement makes it possible for persons to choose trusted people (called supporters) to help them gather and understand information, compare options, and communicate their decisions to others.

Learn More

You can find more information on this topic from these websites and publications:

Frequently Asked Questions: Supported Decision-Making (English version)

This short guide was created to answer your questions about supported decision-making agreements in Wisconsin.
Frequently Asked Questions: Supported Decision-Making (Spanish version)

This short guide was created to answer questions about supported decision-making in Wisconsin.
Let’s Talk About Supported Decision-Making (English version)

This guide was created to provide an overview of supported decision-making agreements.
Let’s Talk About Supported Decision-Making (Spanish version)

This guide was created to learn more about supported decision-making agreements.
National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making

Resources on supported decision-making
Supporting Individuals to Live Full Lives (English version)

This booklet, created by the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities, discusses how to empower individuals with disabilities to make their own decisions using supported decision-making.
Supporting Individuals to Live Full Lives (Spanish version)

This booklet, created by the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities, discusses how to empower individuals with disabilities to make their own decisions using supported decision-making.
The American Bar Association

The American Bar Association offers the PRACTICAL tool
The American Civil Liberties Union

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) offers a resource library on supported decision-making.
The Key to Your Future- Understanding the Postsecondary Transition Plan

This guide will help explain the transition that is required for all students receiving special education from the age of fourteen until they leave school. It will also provide information on the new post secondary transition plan required by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

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Want to do more to help protect individuals with disabilities? Please visit our Take Action Page for some ideas and to sign up for news and other alerts from our website. Or Donate Now to help protect and advocate for the rights and futures of all Wisconsin citizens. We'd love to have you join us.

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