Introduction to ‘Reflections on Embedding Supported Decision Making in Organisational Support to Build Decision Making Capability.’

Su Hsien introduces a series of reflections from a team about embedding supported decision making as part of quality support to people.

The elements of support to build decision making capability

Leanne speaks about the elements of support which build decision making capability.

Knowing the person and planning as an element for building decision making capability

Leanne speaks about one of the elements of support which builds decision making capability – Genuine person centred planning.

Communication Support

Marissa and Bernadette speak about another element which builds decision making capability – Communication support. View other videos in this reflective series on the ‘Consideratons for an Organisation’ page.

Building a supporter group

Leighton and Susan speak about another element which builds decision making capability – Building a group of supporters.

Learning from the experience of supported decision making

Marissa and Michelle speak about using a model of supported decision making with people with complex communication access needs.

How organisations can embed a supported decision making approach to support.

Marissa and Susan reflect on what it takes for an organisation to embed supported decision making as part of the quality support they provide.

Organisational considerations

Leanne and Su-Hsien talk about why supported decision making matters for organisations which support people with disability.

Supported decision making education

Susan and Michelle speak about building engagement with and providing learning opportunities about supported decision making to supporters.

Supported Decision Making and Positive Behaviour Support

Professor Sally Robinson talks about supported decision making in the context of positive behaviour support.

Supported Decision Making Project – Workshops 2014

An introduction to a 2014 WAiS project which brought together decision makers and their supporters to learn more about supported decision making.

Supporting Decisions

Learn about the principles which underpin good support for decision making.

Good Assistance

Good support is all about getting to know a person.  Giving people support in a way that is right for them can only be done if you work alongside the person and listen to what’s important to them.

Pathways (NDIS) for building decision making capability

This resource provides information and tips for strengthening a goal to build decision making capability in a person’s NDIS plan.

Tips for building a group of supporters

A resource of tips suggested by Shelley Nessman for building a group of supporters.

Recording Supported Decision Making First Nations

Recording Supported Decision Making

STOG source document

We all need help and support in different ways, the STOG approach and process can be very helpful for some people when making decisions.  This resource has been adapted from ‘A Guide to Training in Decision-Making for People with Developmental Disabilities’, Horrigan Cole Enterprises.

Supporting Decisions

Leanne and others talk about important principles which underpin effective supported decision making practice.

Strategies for reducing bias

There are a range of strategies you can use to try and reduce bias and minimise your influence over any supported decision-making process.

Bias and conflict of interest

Because of our biases we can never be entirely neutral as decision supporters. But if we are committed to minimising our influence, we can use strategies to reduce the impact of our biases.

Neutrality

In a series of three videos, Dr Michelle Browning talks about the importance of minimising our influence as decision supporters over the decision making process. Check out ‘Neutrality’, Bias and Conflict of Interest’ and ‘Strategies for reducing Bias’.

Assuming decision making ability

Assuming decision making ability is one of the foundational beliefs of supported decision making.

A different starting point

Hear how the social model of disability changes the starting point for thinking about supported decision making.

Rethinking capacity

“Different decision-making abilities can be turned into decision-making capabilities with appropriate decision making supports.” Michael Bach and Lana Kerzner 2010

Author:

What is supported decision making?

Michelle defines what we’re talking about. Supported decision making is the process of providing practical assistance with decision making.

Aims of supported decision making

Check out the two very important aims of supported decision making.

Supported Decision Making and Positive Behaviour Support

Sally Robinson talks about Supported Decision Making in the context of Positive Behaviour Support.

Supported Decision Making Resource Book

Supported Decision Making Easy Read

Decision support is a right

Hear about the legal and human rights context of supported decision making.

Tim Stainton – The Origins of Supported Decision Making in Canada

The push and change for supported decision making with people who have high support needs came from a group of parents in British Columbia.

Tim Stainton – Supported Decision Making and Citizenship

Supported decision making is a means by which we can express who we are, engage in our community and be fully included as citizens.

Tim Stainton – Supported Decision Making: An Alternative to Guardianship (Presentation Nov 7 2022)

This is the first of three presentations on the topic of Supported Decision Making: An Alternative to Guardianship.  Professor Tim Stainton gives a historical perspective on guardianship and supported decision making,

Using the process to support people with complex communication access needs

The supported decision making process with people who have complex communication support needs.

How do we support the person to act on their decision?

This is the seventh of eight short videos in a series which describes each element in a supported decision making model

How do we hear the person’s decision?

This is the sixth of eight short videos in a series which describes each element in a supported decision making model

How can we assist the person to weight it all up?

This is the fifth of eight short videos in a series which describes each element in a supported decision making model

What is the right information to give a decision maker?

This is the fourth of eight short videos in a series which describes each element in a supported decision making model.

What is the right way to talk about the decision?

This is the third of eight short videos in a series which describes each element in a supported decision making model

Who are the right people to assist? Where is the right place?

This is the second of eight short videos in a series which describes each element in a supported decision making model

Elements of a supported decision making process – What is the decision?

This is the first of eight short videos in a series which describes each element in a supported decision making model

The supported decision making process with people who have complex communication access needs.

Competent communication partners are needed who are committed to developing their responsiveness and ability to interpret the Decision Maker’s unique language.

A Strategy for Building Relational Closeness

Relational closeness is vital to effective supported decision making for people who don’t use words to communicate. Here Jo describes a strategy for building relational closeness. It’s based on the idea of seeing a person beyond their disability.

Dr Jo Watson – Supported Decision Making: An Alternative to Guardianship

Dr Jo Watson speaks about the how of supported decision making with people who have complex communication access needs.

Matt’s Story

Matt uses his device and communication support to talk about being able to direct his life because his decisions are supported.

Shewani Talks about Supported Decision Making

Shewani uses her letterboard to talk about what’s needed to build decision making capability for people who have complex communication access needs.

Paul – Why Supported Decision Making is Important

Paul is supported by a couple of great communication partners to reflect on some signficant decisions he’s been supported to make.

My Communication, My Decisions workbook

This workbook accompanies the ‘My Communications, My Decisions’ webinar.

My Communication, My Decisions

This webinar provides strategies for building communication and decision making support with people who have complex communication access needs.  You can download the fillable, printable workbook which accompanies this webinar.

Paul’s Recruitment Decisions

This video shows how Paul makes decisions about who is recruited to his support team. It gives tips for communication support.

Relational Closeness

Relational closeness is vital to effective supported decision making for people who don’t use words to communicate.

Relational Autonomy and SDM

Dr Jo Watson talks about how our autonomy plays out relationally and interdependently with others.

Responsiveness shaped by our perception of our role

When you are supporting someone to make decisions your role is to respond to what they are communicating they want.

Quality support relationships

The quality of your relationship, how you listen and feel what someone is communicating can influence how ready the decision maker feels to share their will and preferences.

Tips for building a group of supporters

Shelley Nessman reflects with Leanne on her years of work in facilitating relationships and what she’s learnt about building a group of supporters.

Getting to know the person

In developing good relationships with people we each share information about ourselves to deepen our understanding of each other.

Sue’s Story

Sue reflects on how learning to be a better communication partner for her daughter has helped her notice all the ways her daughter is expressing her preferences.

Karen’s Story

Karen reflects on how support with communication has opened up the dialogue between her and her daughter about decision opportunities.

Ann’s Story

Ann reflects on the importance and value of her daughter having choice and control in her life through being supported with her decision making.

Creating opportunities

Every decision making process starts with a decision opportunity. Some opportunities are created when a person interacts with others.

Exploring and enabling risk

Many of the things we achieve in life and are proud of involve taking risks. We want to make sure the people we support have those same opportunities and are well supported to take risks.

Respecting a person’s will and preferences

As a decision supporter it is important you respect and champion a person’s will and preferences but that doesn’t mean acting on whatever the person says they want without further exploration.

Knowing the person as fundamental to interpreting their preferences

One of the most consistent findings of supported decision making research conducted all over the world is that knowing the person is essential to being able to provide good decision making support.

Understanding a person’s will and preferences

Michelle talks about making sure it is the Decision Maker’s will and preferences directing the decision making process and that our assumptions are not limiting what is possible.

Understanding will and preferences

A person’s will and preferences are the basis for supporting their decisions.

Assuming decision making ability

Assuming decision making ability is one of the foundational beliefs of supported decision making.

A different starting point

Hear how the social model of disability changes the starting point for thinking about supported decision making.

Rethinking capacity

“Different decision-making abilities can be turned into decision-making capabilities with appropriate decision making supports.” Michael Bach and Lana Kerzner 2010

Decision support is a right

Hear about the legal and human rights context of supported decision making.

Aims of supported decision making

Check out the two very important aims of supported decision making.

What is supported decision making?

Michelle defines what we’re talking about. Supported decision making is the process of providing practical assistance with decision making.

A more inclusive way forward

Dr Michelle Browning sets the scene for a series of videos about supported decision making. We are all connected to each other, and that connection is important for our wellbeing and survival. This idea of connection and interdependence is challenging how we think about decision making.

 

Support my communication and decision making Workbook

 

Dee’s Story