NADSP Informed Decision Making 4-hr In-Service

Audience:

This curriculum is designed for organizational trainers to use in training with Direct Support

Professionals; Frontline Supervisors; Administrators; Families; and interested others.

Description/Purpose:

The purpose of this training is for participants to develop an understanding of why supporting people with disabilities to make their own choices is important, for participants to demonstrate an awareness of how their attitudes and values toward choice can enhance or suppress the decision-making capacity of those they serve, and for participants to build the skills needed to support decision making in a

manner in that balance’s choice and risk.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the similarities and differences between substituted, supported, and informed decision-making.
• Increase awareness of why having choice in one’s life is vital to community living and to

recognizing the civil rights of the person.

• Think practically about how a lack of choice may hurt or hinder personal growth and

Development.

• Think critically about the amount of knowledge a person has regarding a choice, context of the

choice, and what he/she needs to know in order to make a good choice.

• Demonstrate how the skills under the NADSP competency “Participant Empowerment” apply to

informed decision-making.

• Connect the ability to support choice to recognizing that person’s civil rights and personhood.
• Recognize informed decision-making as essential to person-centered support.
• Develop an understanding of what it may feel like to be ‘experience poor’.
• Learn that the opinions one brings into the relationship can be coercive or negatively impact the

choices of others.

• Develop the values needed to support decision and provide ethical support.
• Come to see oneself as an advocate for the right to make choices.
• Identify resources & advanced training opportunities to enhance your ability to support informed decision making.