We all want to help people live their best lives — lives of inclusion and integration.
Sometimes, though, the people we support make choices that isolate them from the rest of the community. In these cases, federal and state policies call on us to ensure people with disabilities are making an informed choice.
All roles in the E1MN partnership are responsible for working together to facilitate informed choice so that people can fully understand their employment options.
LEARN: Develop your knowledge
Watch the following to build your knowledge about informed choice.
Click on the questions below to reflect on what you've learned about informed choice (5 minutes).
Select an answer:
Correct! The Olmstead Plan ensures Minnesotans can do four important things: engage in productive employment, live close to their family and friends, live more independently, and participate in community life.
Incorrect. The Olmstead Plan ensures Minnesotans can do four important things: engage in productive employment, live close to their family and friends, live more independently, and participate in community life.
Incorrect. The Olmstead Plan ensures Minnesotans can do four important things: engage in productive employment, live close to their family and friends, live more independently, and participate in community life.
Incorrect. The Olmstead Plan ensures Minnesotans can do four important things: engage in productive employment, live close to their family and friends, live more independently, and participate in community life.
Select an answer:
Incorrect.The correct answer is all of the above. The benefits of supported decision making are life changing. People with choice and control tend to be healthier, safer, more independent, more likely to be employed, and better able to recognize and resist abuse.
Incorrect.The correct answer is all of the above. The benefits of supported decision making are life changing. People with choice and control tend to be healthier, safer, more independent, more likely to be employed, and better able to recognize and resist abuse.
Incorrect.The correct answer is all of the above. The benefits of supported decision making are life changing. People with choice and control tend to be healthier, safer, more independent, more likely to be employed, and better able to recognize and resist abuse.
Correct! The benefits of supported decision making are life changing. People with choice and control tend to be healthier, safer, more independent, more likely to be employed, and better able to recognize and resist abuse.
Select an answer:
Correct! The Informed Choice Standard requires public entities to provide information about the benefits of integrated settings, facilitate visits or experiences in the community, provide opportunities to meet with others, and address concerns about integrated settings.
Incorrect. The Informed Choice Standard requires public entities to provide information about the benefits of integrated settings, facilitate visits or experiences in the community, provide opportunities to meet with others, and address concerns about integrated settings.
Incorrect. The Informed Choice Standard requires public entities to provide information about the benefits of integrated settings, facilitate visits or experiences in the community, provide opportunities to meet with others, and address concerns about integrated settings.
Incorrect. The Informed Choice Standard requires public entities to provide information about the benefits of integrated settings, facilitate visits or experiences in the community, provide opportunities to meet with others, and address concerns about integrated settings.
Select an answer:
Incorrect. The correct answer is all of the above. As you help people make informed choices, you’ll play many roles: engager, connector, experience builder, creative problem-solver, and champion and team builder. Your role is not to be the decision-maker, instead that is the role of the person you are supporting.
Incorrect. The correct answer is all of the above. As you help people make informed choices, you’ll play many roles: engager, connector, experience builder, creative problem-solver, and champion and team builder. Your role is not to be the decision-maker, instead that is the role of the person you are supporting.
Incorrect. The correct answer is all of the above. As you help people make informed choices, you’ll play many roles: engager, connector, experience builder, creative problem-solver, and champion and team builder. Your role is not to be the decision-maker, instead that is the role of the person you are supporting.
Correct! As you help people make informed choices, you’ll play many roles: engager, connector, experience builder, creative problem-solver, and champion and team builder. Your role is not to be the decision-maker, instead that is the role of the person you are supporting.
Select an answer:
Incorrect. As people gain experience, they may modify their choices, and that’s ok. A person’s choice will not necessarily be their final choice.
Correct! As people gain experience, they may modify their choices, and that’s ok. A person’s choice will not necessarily be their final choice.
DO: Practice
Complete the following activities to build your skills to ensure informed choice.
Step 1: Read these simple conversation tips that you can use to engage people in conversations about work.
Step 2: Use this "Conversations about work" worksheet" (PDF) to write down the question(s) or statement(s) you would say to people based on their situation.
(20 minutes)
Step 1: Learn about frequently asked questions about work. Being prepared to answer these common questions can help you support a person in making an informed choice.
Step 2: For each of the following statements, identify the solution that work could provide for the person. 1. I've always wanted to go to Alaska. a. More money b. More social interaction c. Try new things or go new places
2. My electricity got shut off again because I couldn't pay the bill. a. More money b. More social interaction c. Try new things or go new places
3. I don't go out much. a. More money b. More social interaction c. Try new things or go new places
(10 minutes)
Job aids
Use these tools to help you ensure informed choice:
Facilitating Choice (PDF) Use this step-by-step worksheet to facilitate an informed choice.
My vision: Work This My Vault activity helps people complete the life trajectory — a way to describe what the person wants (and doesn't want) in a job.
My vision: Work (PDF) The life trajectory can also be completed as a fillable PDF, if the person prefers not to use My Vault.