Supported Decision-Making as an Alternative to Guardianship
A Special Information Session on Wednesday, April 27
Family members often believe that obtaining guardianship is the appropriate step for a loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD). In reality, guardianship actually takes away the person’s right to make all the decisions in their lives.
Now, however, there is a new, well-recognized alternative, supported decision-making, that enables persons with I/DD to make their own decisions with the support of trusted persons in their lives.
Supported Decision-Making New York (SDMNY) is a six-year project initially funded by DDPC to pilot the use of SDM to divert persons at risk of guardianship and to restore rights to persons already subject to guardianship. It recently received a large grant from OPWDD to design a model for delivering SDM facilitation services state-wide.
Meet SDMNY Project Director and former NY Surrogate Judge Hon. Kristin Booth Glen and SDMNY Associate Director Joan Cornachio, and learn how supported decision-making has been an effective process for many individuals with I/DD in New York as they strive for more inclusive and self-determined lives.
The presentation will explain how the SDMNY facilitation process works with people with I/DD, their families, and friends to develop supported decision-making agreements (SDMAs) that may be used as a more empowering alternative to guardianship. They will also discuss an SDM law currently pending in our state legislature.
A Q&A session will follow the presentation.
For a preview of the work of SDMNY, please check out these short videos:
https://sdmny.org/resources/sdmny-videos/