Supported Decision-Making

Who

Supported Decision-Making Agreements (SDMAs) are made up of a Decision Maker and at least one Supporter. You can have many Supporters, and you can also have an SDMA Facilitator, but this is optional. 

The Decision Maker is the creator of the Supported Decision-Making Agreement. In Virginia, you must be at least 18 years old, have a diagnosis of an intellectual or developmental disability, and not have a legal guardian or conservator. 

Supporters are the people you trust and who agree to help you when you need to make a decision. Supporters can help you think about your options, but they do not make decisions for you. Supporters can also help you communicate your decisions to other people.

A Supported Decision-Making Facilitator is the person you select to help make sure your agreement is working and everyone is doing their part. You do not have to have a Supported Decision-Making Facilitator to have a Supported Decision-Making Agreement.

What

Supported Decision-Making is making a decision with the help of people you trust. They help you think about your different options, but you make the final decision. 

A Supported Decision-Making Agreement is a way to show in writing who you want to support (help) you, in what areas of life, and how you want to be supported. You can change or cancel it at any time. The Decision Maker and their Supporters (or helpers) all agree to what is written in the Supported Decision-Making Agreement.  

Why

Everyone gets help with making decisions at some point in their life- it is a normal part of being a human!

Supported decision-making and Supported Decision-Making Agreements help people with disabilities get the help they need so that they can make an informed decision. They are a way for people to get help while keeping their legal rights and ability to make their own decisions.

Supported decision-making and Supported Decision-Making Agreements also help increase a person’s independence and feelings of control over their own life (self-determination). Supported Decision-Making Agreements are free to make and are considered to be a least restrictive option for getting help making decisions. 

When

While you have to be at least 18 years old to create a Supported Decision-Making Agreement, you can use supported decision-making at any age to help when making choices and to increase self-determination.

You can also start talking about decision making and use the Discovery Tools on this page before someone turns 18. Learning to make decisions is a life skill that takes time and should be practiced from an early age.

How

Supported Decision-Making Agreements can be made by you and the people you trust to be your Supporters. You can talk with the people you trust and use the activity sheets found in the Discovery Tools to help you think about what you want or need help with, how you want to get help, and who you want to help you. You can use the Virginia’s Supported Decision-Making Agreement form or create your own Supported Decision-Making Agreement form.  

If you make your own Supported Decision-Making Agreement form, make sure it includes these things: who you want as your Supporter(s), when you want help, and how you want to receive help. Make sure that you and your Supporter(s) agree to the information written in the form and sign the form.