Virginia now formally recognizes Supported Decision-Making Agreements as an alternative to more restrictive, substitute decision-making options, such as legal guardianships. Supported Decision-Making Agreements are a way for adults with developmental disabilities living in Virginia to document when they want to receive support with making decisions, how they want to receive support, and who they want to help them. Supported Decision-Making Agreements give individuals with developmental disabilities the ability to receive support with making various choices in their lives, while also retaining all of their rights, including the right to make their own decisions.
For questions regarding Supported Decision-Making and/or Supported Decision-Making Agreements please contact Sara Thompson at Sara.Thompson@dbhds.virginia.gov.
Virginia’s Supported Decision-Making Agreement template and Supplemental Documents/ Acuerdo para la toma de decisiones con apoyo del Estado de Virginia – Plantilla
- Supported Decision-Making Quick Reference Document
- Instructions for Completing Your Supported Decision-Making Agreement
- Virginia’s Supported Decision-Making Agreement template- BLANK (Word)
- Virginia’s Supported Decision-Making Agreement template- BLANK (PDF)– UPDATED
- Discovery Tool- When Do I Want Support- BLANK (Word)
- Discovery Tool- When Do I Want Support- BLANK (PDF)
- Discovery Tool- What Kind of Support Do I Want – BLANK (Word)- UPDATED
- Discovery Tool- What Kind of Support Do I Want – BLANK (PDF)- UPDATED
- Discovery Tool- Relationship Map – BLANK (Word)
- Discovery Tool- Relationship Map – BLANK (PDF)
- Supported Decision-Making FAQ (Plain Language)- UPDATED
- Supported Decision-Making FAQ- UPDATED
- Educational Release of Information Form
- Medical Release of Information Form
- Completed Supported Decision-Making Agreement Example: Sam *Coming Soon*
- Completed Supported Decision-Making Agreement Example: Nikkia *Coming Soon*
- Completed Supported Decision-Making Agreement Example: Maria *Coming Soon*
- Cómo completo mi acuerdo de toma de decisiones con apoyo
- Mancomunidad de Virginia- Acuerdo de toma de decisiones con apoyo (Documento de Microsoft Word)
- Mancomunidad de Virginia- Acuerdo de toma de decisiones con apoyo (Formularios PDF rellenables)
- Herramienta- Cuándo quiero el apoyo (Documento deMicrosoft Word)
- Herramienta- Cuándo quiero el apoyo (Formularios PDF rellenables)
- Herramienta- Qué tipo de apoyo quiero (Documento deMicrosoft Word)
- Herramienta- Qué tipo de apoyo quiero (Formularios PDF rellenables)
- Herramienta- Mapa relacional (Documento deMicrosoft Word)
- Herramienta- Mapa relacional (Formularios PDF rellenables)
- Preguntas frecuentes (Lenguaje sencillo)
- Preguntas frecuentes
- Suministro de información escolar
- Brindar mi información médica
- Muestra del acuerdo de toma de disiones con apoyo- Sam
Making My Own Decisions- It’s My Right!
Everyone has the right to meaningfully participate in making decisions about their life. Human Rights Regulations say that anyone who has capacity (can take in information, make a decision using that information, and then communicate their decision to others) can consent (agree) to services, treatment, or research, or agree for others to see and/or get information about them. Even if you have capacity, you still might want help with making some decisions and that is okay. If you have questions about your right to make decisions or about your other rights, please see information on the Office of Human Rights’ website by clicking here.
Training Videos and Documents
- Recording: Supported Decision-Making and Supported Decision-Making Agreements: An Overview for Individuals and Families
- Slides: Supported Decision-Making and Supported Decision-Making Agreements: An Overview for Individuals and Families
- Recording: Supported Decision-Making and Supported Decision-Making Agreements: An Overview (For General Public)
- Slides: Supported Decision-Making and Supported Decision-Making Agreements: An Overview (For General Public)
- Questions & Answers from Trainings
- Recording: Supported Decision-Making and Supported Decision-Making Agreements: The Details Session 1 for Individuals and Families *Coming Soon*
- Slides: Supported Decision-Making and Supported Decision-Making Agreements: The Details Session 1 for Individuals and Families
- Recording: Supported Decision-Making and Supported Decision-Making Agreements: The Details Session 2 for Individuals and Families *Coming Soon*
- Slides: Supported Decision-Making and Supported Decision-Making Agreements: The Details Session 2 for Individuals and Families *Coming Soon*
- Recording: Supported Decision-Making and Supported Decision-Making Agreements: The Details (For General Public) *Coming Soon*
- Slides: Supported Decision-Making and Supported Decision-Making Agreements: The Details (For General Public) *Coming Soon*
- Questions & Answers from Trainings
- Recordings of all 4 sessions can be viewed by clicking here- PEATC Videos
- *Coming Soon*:
- Session 1: What is Supported Decision-Making and What Kind of Support Do I Want? (pdf)
- Session 2: When Do I Want Support? (pdf)
- Session 3: Relationship Map and Selecting Your Supporters (pdf)
- Session 4: Virginia’s Supported Decision-Making Agreement template (pdf)
To get more help with decision-making options and supported decision-making agreements click on these resources:
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
- disAbility Law Center of Virginia
- National Resource Center for Supported Decision Making
- Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)
- The Arc of Northern Virginia
- The Arc of Virginia
- Virginia Department of Education
- Virginia WINGS booklet