Decision making is a learnt skill. So is giving decision support!
Any person sharing the life of a person with a disability including family, friend, carer or paid supporter, is in a unique position to create decision making opportunities in daily life.
This site has information that can help you to understand decision making and how you can support a person with a disability to have more control over their own life.
The kinds of support you give will depend on your relationship with the decision maker and the kinds of support that they need.
This site describes different support roles.
These distinctions are very important. They help you to stay within the role that is most appropriate for you. They also protect the rights of the decision maker.
A site supporter helps decision makers use the resources in this web site to make a decision or learn about decision making.
As a site supporter you might provide support to
The site supporter role is about access to the web site and understanding the content.
A site supporter does not have a role in supporting a person to decide. This may be because the decision maker only requires you to give support to access the site, or because they choose to use another person to support their actual decision making.
You might choose to commit to the site supporter role, rather than a broader decision support role, due to your relationship with the decision maker or their decisions. You may have a vested interest in the decision being made. Or be used to making decisions on behalf of the decision maker.
You may be better suited to the site supporter role if you are unable to work within each of Principles for Decision Supporters. For example everyone makes, and learns from, decisions that do not turn out as planned. You may be better suited to the site supporter role if you are unable to support someone to learn from their mistakes.
Click here to find out how to support a decision maker to use this site.
If you are unable to step into the decision support role you can work with the person to support them to identify a decision supporter.
A decision supporter enables someone to use this site, and is also in a position to support them to make their decision.
If you are considering supporting someone to decide then there are important principals to consider before deciding if this role is right for you. As a decision supporter you must be able to agree with the Principles for Decision Supporters.
Distinctions between roles are important because they protect the rights of people with disability.
They also help you to be clear about your role so that you are able to truly empower someone.
If you are a paid worker we recommend that you remain in the site supporter role. Your position as a paid worker means you have a vested interest in the decision maker’s life.
However you still have significant roles to play. You can support them to develop decision making skills and experience in daily life.
Should the decision maker need support to decide you could help them to create a supported decision making relationship with someone else.
Would you like to find out more about how to:
Support someone to use this site
Support someone to make a decision using this web site
