Resource Link

https://sdmny.org/about-supported-decision-making/supported-decision-making-and-education/

Resource Description

Introduction: This webpage is from SDMNY, a group that works to help people with disabilities use Supported Decision-Making. The page explains how schools can use this process to help students with disabilities. It talks about why this is better than asking parents to get guardianship when students turn 18.

Resource Summary

Content Summary: The webpage explains that students with intellectual and other disabilities get help from schools until they are 21 years old. This is because of a law called IDEA. This law says schools must help students get ready to live on their own as much as they can. IDEA requires something called transition planning. This usually starts when students are about 18 years old. The plan should help students move from school to adult life. It should help them live on their own and be part of their community. But there is a problem with how many schools do this planning. Too often, schools tell parents they need to become their adult child's guardian. This means the parent would make all the big choices for their child. The webpage says this is the opposite of what IDEA wants. IDEA wants students to learn to make their own choices. The law says schools should use the least strict option possible. This means if there is a way to help someone without taking away their rights, schools should try that first. The webpage argues that schools should tell families about other choices besides guardianship. They should especially talk about Supported Decision-Making. The webpage includes a quote from a parent who was glad to find out about Supported Decision-Making instead of guardianship. This parent did not want their child to lose the independence they had worked hard to build at school. It also has a link to a video about Supported Decision-Making. It says why Supported Decision Making is important when children turn 18 and become young adults. The webpage mentions that SDMNY did a pilot project that showed how well this process works for young adults leaving school. They found that Supported Decision-Making is a useful tool for students making this big change in their lives. The webpage suggests that schools should teach students about Supported Decision-Making as part of their transition classes. This way, by the time students leave school, they would already know how to make choices with help from people they trust. This would protect their right to make their own decisions as adults. The main point is that Supported Decision-Making fits better with what IDEA wants to achieve than guardianship does. It helps students keep their independence and rights while still getting the help they need.