A Call to Society for Supported Decision-Making: Theoretical and Legal Reasoning

We call attention to the need for supported decision-making (SDM) in place of substituted decision-making (e.g., guardianship). SDM allows individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities to make their own life choices with self-appointed supporters. Whereas there is a growing recognition that SDM is a needed practice, America’s deep-rooted paternalistic culture makes it difficult to fully embrace SDM models. Recent court rulings portray an evolution of decision making towards SDM as an option for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. These court rulings along with widely accepted theories and emerging research supporting SDM have an increasingly critical influence on policymakers in further advancing the rights of persons with disabilities.