Resource Link

https://health.ucdavis.edu/media-resources/mind-institute/documents/pdfs/sdm-wheels.pdf

Resource Description

Introduction: This guide, "Setting the Wheels in Motion," was written by a mother of three children with disabilities. She explains how to help people with disabilities make their own choices using Supported Decision-Making (SDM) teams. The guide shows families they don't need guardianship to help their loved ones make good choices.

Resource Summary

Content Summary: For a long time, people thought those with disabilities couldn't make their own choices. Many parents still hear they should become their child's guardian when the child turns 18. But studies show that when people with disabilities make their own choices, they live better lives. They are more likely to have jobs, stay healthy, and be safe. SDM offers a better way than guardianship. It means getting help from trusted people to understand and make choices. The author says we all get help making choices - we might ask a family member who knows about money for help with banking, or ask a friend who knows about cars before buying one. To start SDM, you need to build a team of helpers. These should be people the person with a disability trusts and feels good working with. Different team members can help with different things, like money, health care, or social choices. The person with a disability is the team captain and picks who they want help from. The guide gives clear steps for starting a team. First, ask what the person wants help with and who they want help from. Then have the team meet often at first, so everyone can learn to work together well. The team should focus on big goals, like where the person wants to live or work, and break these into smaller steps. Sometimes things get bumpy. Team members might not work out, or someone might make a bad choice. But that's okay - we all learn from mistakes. The important thing is to keep going. The author shares her own story of waking up at 4 AM with an idea to help her non-verbal daughter use SDM. She found people her daughter already trusted, like her speech therapist and some neighbors, and brought them together as a team. The guide ends with hope, saying that every SDM team helps create a future where everyone can direct their own lives. It includes worksheets and links to help others start their own teams. The main message is simple: start somewhere, keep going, and trust that people with disabilities can make good choices when they have good support.