Supported Decision Making (SDM) – Disability Rights RI

Under Rhode Island’s limited guardianship law, a judge may decide that a person with disabilities is unable to make some or all of his or her own decisions, and appoint a guardian to make only the decisions the person is not able to make. RI law also requires that alternatives to guardianship be
considered and ruled out before petitioning for guardianship.

RI guardianship law uses four (4) areas of decision-making – health care, residence, finances, and relationships. Depending on capacity, the judge may appoint a guardian to make decisions in one or more areas or within the areas. Until recent years, people in the U.S. have usually used guardianship for people with disabilities. Other countries, like Canada, have been using SDM for decades.

Study after study has shown that when people with disabilities have more control over their life and make more decisions for themselves – when they have more self-determination – they have better lives. People with disabilities who are more self-determined are more likely to live independently, work, be integrated into their communities, and avoid abuse. When people with disabilities use Supported Decision Making (SDM), they work with friends, family, and professionals so they can understand their choices and make their own decisions. As a result, SDM can help people be self-determined, have better life outcomes, and avoid unnecessary guardianship!

For more information, visit: Disability Rights RI: Supported Decision Making