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Competent communication partners are needed who are committed to developing their responsiveness and ability to interpret the Decision Maker’s unique language.
Resources to become better communication partners,
especially when supporting decision making with people who communicate
using sounds, gestures, movements and facial expressions.
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.
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.
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.
My Communication, My Decisions workbook
This workbook accompanies the ‘My Communications, My Decisions’ webinar.
Colton’s Story in Easy Read
In this Easy Read series, Colton’s communication is acknowledged, interpreted and acted upon as he works through his decision to move into a home of his own.
Colton’s Story Chapter 1
Tell people what you want. Your supporters might need help to learn how you communicate. In this animation series, the elements of decision support are made clear as Colton works through his decision to move into a home of his own. You can also read this story in an Easy Read format.
Colton’s Story Chapter 2
Get the right people to help
Colton’s Story Chapter 3
Get Information the right way
Colton’s Story Chapter 4
Try things out
Colton’s Story Chapter 5
Think about what might happen – good things and bad things
Colton’s Story Chapter 6
Let people know your decision.
Colton’s Story Chapter 7
Act and reflect on your decision. You can change your mind.
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.
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.
Paul’s Recruitment Decisions (audio described)
This audio-described video shows how Paul makes decisions about who is recruited to his support team. It gives tips for communication support.
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.
Matt’s Story
Matt uses his device and communication support to talk about being able to direct his life because his decisions are supported.
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.
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.
Decision Making in Action – Dee’s Story
A comic format example of communication support for decision making.
Information for Decision Makers
Read about the elements of supported decision making in Easy Read format.
Understanding a person’s communication
The importance of understanding a person’s communication in order to support their decision making.
Communication Passport
A communication passport gives information about a person, their likes, dislikes and things you can do to understand their communication.
Supported Decision Making and Positive Behaviour Support
Sally Robinson talks about Supported Decision Making in the context of Positive Behaviour Support.
Decision Making Vocabulary – Demonstration of Resources
This video demonstrates the use of a one-page visual board with specific decision making words. It can be used by decision makers and their supporters when making decisions, to practice decision making, and to learn the language of decision making. The visual board and others are downloadable from waindividualisedservices.org.au
Decision Making Vocabulary – Vision Board
This is a set of visual resources that can be used with decision makers and their supporters.
Supported Decision Making Resource Book
Recording Supported Decision Making First Nations
Supporting Decisions
Leanne and others talk about important principles which underpin effective supported decision making practice.
Shewani Talks about Supported Decision Making
Shewani talks about what’s needed to build decision making capability for people who have complex communication accesss needs
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.
Using the process to support people with complex communication access needs
The supported decision making process with people who have complex communication support needs.
Reflect on the decision. Is further action required?
This is the last of eight short videos in a series which describes each element in a supported decision making model
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
Getting to know the person
In developing good relationships with people we each share information about ourselves to deepen our understanding of each other.
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.
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.
Assuming decision making ability
Assuming decision making ability is one of the foundational beliefs of supported decision making.