Resource Link

https://drme.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DRM-SDM-Handbook-Rev.-7.19.19.pdf

Resource Description

Introduction: This document is a user guide about Supported Decision-Making (SDM) for people with disabilities in Maine. It explains how people with disabilities can make their own choices with help from trusted supporters, instead of having a guardian make decisions for them. The guide was created by Disability Rights Maine to help both people with disabilities and those who support them understand this option.

Resource Summary

Content Summary: Supported Decision-Making lets people with disabilities stay in control of their own lives while getting help when they need it. Just like everyone else, people with disabilities can ask trusted friends, family members, or professionals for advice about important choices. The person with a disability, called the Decision-Maker, picks who they want to help them. These helpers are called supporters. The Decision-Maker stays in charge and makes the final choice - the supporters just help them understand their options. The guide explains that people might want help with different kinds of choices, like managing money, making medical decisions, choosing where to live, or handling job matters. They can ask for different kinds of help too, like gathering information, understanding choices, or sharing their decision with others. The guide includes forms where people can write down what kind of help they want and who they want to help them. In Maine, this approach is now recognized by law as an option instead of guardianship. Before courts will consider guardianship, they must first look at less restrictive options like Supported Decision-Making. The guide explains other helpful tools too, like powers of attorney, release forms that let supporters see private information, and special bank accounts. To use Supported Decision-Making, the Decision-Maker fills out an agreement form saying who their supporters will be and what kind of help they want. Everyone signs the form, and the Decision-Maker signs it in front of a notary. The agreement can be changed anytime the Decision-Maker wants. They can also fire supporters or add new ones. The guide reminds readers that making decisions is a skill that takes practice. Even if someone makes a poor choice sometimes, that doesn't mean they can't make their own decisions. The goal is to help people with disabilities keep their independence while giving them the support they need to make informed choices about their lives.