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As a person responsible for a child,

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your role in making decisions changes as the child gets older.

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planning for their future can be overwhelming.

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You may hear the only option for a young person with a

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disability at the age of 18 is to have a guardian appointed.

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We’re here to help you understand there are other options.

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The young person with a disability in your life has decision making rights.

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Supported Decision Making is the least restrictive decision-making option.

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It allows them to keep all of their rights and

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get as much help as needed to think through their options and choices.

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This help can come from trusted people in their lives including you,

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siblings, extended family, friends, educators, social workers, or medical staff.

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It’s important to start thinking about different types of

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decision making options before the young person you are responsible for turns 18.

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Starting early helps you work with them to identify

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their strengths and what is important to them.

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You can also help them identify areas where they need

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to learn and build more skills.

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Together, start discussing options, goals, consequences,

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and outcomes of decisions as early as possible.

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Building these skills and identifying natural supports can set them up for success.

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[A young person working at a grocery store.

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Starting early can help you both feel more prepared for

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changes in who handles decisions as they get older.

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There are many free tools available to help you get started:

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The Integrated STAR tool can help identify decision making

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supports and how decisions will be communicated to others.

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You can use the Trajectory for Supported Decision Making

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[Trajectory for Supported Decision Making worksheet fills

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out with clothes, house, budget and groceries.]

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and what has worked and not worked in the past.

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The Tool for Exploring Decision Making Supports can help them

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think through the different levels of help they may need with decisions.

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There are also templates for a supported decision making agreement

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you can use to work through questions and concerns together.

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The process of creating an agreement can help you both feel confident

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in the process of making decisions, and help you plan how to support

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them without defaulting to the most restrictive option of guardianship.

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We all need help with decisions we make,

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and young people with disabilities are no different.

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You may be told by educators, medical staff or other professionals

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that guardianship is the only option,

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and while it is an option, it is not the only way

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to support young people with disabilities after they turn 18.

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Minnesota’s law requires that supported decision making and

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other options are tried before guardianship can be pursued;

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another great reason to plan ahead for adulthood.

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For more information and to find Tools to Help You Start,

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visit disabilityhubmn.org