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The supported decision making process with people who have complex communication support needs.
How do we do this?
The process of supported decision making, with a focus on people
who communicate with their face, movements and sounds.
Alan’s Story
Alan’s supporters learnt that having visual information and time helped him with making decisions.
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
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
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
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.
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
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 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
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
Chris’s Story
Hear how Chris was supported to work through the elements of a supported decision making model to make a significant decision.
Colton’s Story Easy Read
In this Easy Read 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 watch this story as a series of animations.
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.
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.
Recording Supported Decision Making
Recording Supported Decision Making First Nations
Supported Decision Making Resource Book
Supported Decision Making Plain Language
Supported Decision Making Easy Read
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Supported Decision Making and Positive Behaviour Support
Sally Robinson talks about Supported Decision Making in the context of Positive Behaviour Support.
Knowing as fundamental to interpreting preferences
Knowing a person is essential to being able to interpret their preferences.
Supporting Decisions
Leanne and others talk about important principles which underpin effective supported decision making practice.
Rethinking capacity
“Different decision-making abilities can be turned into decision-making capabilities with appropriate decision making supports.” Michael Bach and Lana Kerzner 2010
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
Decision support is a right
Hear about the legal and human rights context of supported decision making.
Assuming decision making ability
Assuming decision making ability is one of the foundational beliefs 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.
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,
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.
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.
The elements of support to build decision making capability
Leanne speaks about the elements of support which build decision making capability.
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.
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.
Decision Making in Action – Dee’s Story
A comic format example of communication support for decision making.
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.