#AdvocacyMatters: Supported Decision Making

September 11, 2026 / #AdvocacyMatters

Supported Decision-Making (SDM) is a way to help people with disabilities make tough decisions with the help of an individual they trust. SDM is crucial to help gain true independence and can help people with disabilities better express their needs while gaining the confidence to advocate for themselves.

Today, we're happy to be launching an updated version of our Supported Decision Making Toolkit. This resource was designed to help individuals with disabilities explore options for assistance in things like powers of attorney, education, and options outside of guardianship that are less restrictive. These tools can also help those with a guardian make decisions alongside their guardian.

Designed to be as useful and accessible as possible, this toolkit is available in multiple formats. The interactive version of this toolkit will allow you to navigate easily between pages. The print version would be best for a screen reader or someone who benefits from resources with limited graphics. Each content section - Education, Employment, Healthcare, Financial, and DD Services - is also available as an individual linked resource.

All these resources are organized into their own dedicated landing page at www.disabilityrightsohio.org/sdm. We hope that you'll help us elevate and amplify these new resources, and that they engage and inspire the next generation of advocates.

#AdvocacyMatters