The things i learned from facilitating a Supported Decision Making Agreement with my Decision Maker and watching the process take place organically were: -This process gives people the confidence to make their own decisions and the knowledge regarding their own rights and responsibilities within the context of their own lives -It really allows the supporters and facilitators to focus on a person’s strengths and what they are able to achieve and make the Decision Maker’s disabilities something they manage rather than the focus of support

-Showed how large the ripple effect this process creates for those involved including supporters, and other people within the team and how their approaches to support changed and it really just opens up everyone’s eyes to infinite possibilities.

• 35 year old woman

• Quiet and caring

• Very social

• Motivated about doing different things and learning

• Lives with her older sister

• Works at Minda Incorporated – 3 shifts per week

• Attends council dinner group once a week

• Mild Intellectual Disability

• Lymphedema in her legs

• Overweight

• Difficulty with short-term memory

• Needs extra processing time when learning something new

• Mother and older sister chosen

• Other support people in her life were also invited to the initial and subsequent meetings

• Visual of having a team of support all in one room was very significant for the Decision Maker and her two supporters: realised that they don’t have to do things on their own.

• Relief for mother who was concerned about her daughter’s future

• Spin off effect for Decision Maker’s sister who also had an intellectual disability and health concerns: really motivated her to do some things for herself and create a new identity which wasn’t totally related to being her sister’s support.

• Supported Decision Making Agreement

• People involved: Family, DSA, Council workers, former advocate, Minda VSO...

• Next step for team is to bring more people from the community in when Decision Maker is ready for this

• Intensive training involving peer consultants

• Not like regular training. Very practical and changed how we work

• Invaluable being a part of a group of like minded trainees and forming a community of practice that is ongoing

• Ongoing mentoring that was intensive and made the difference

• Active Listening • See person first • Focus on strengths • Good communicators • Able to coordinate • Able to monitor without doing “for” and knowing

the difference • Persistent • Able to trust the process • Think outside the square

• Proud to have been involved in this group of trainees and facilitators

• Ongoing community of practice is an invaluable opportunity for continuous improvement

• SA is groundbreaking in this work and it is important to keep the work going

• DEs have fantastic training and knowledge to implement SDM as it is strengths based, promotes empowerment for the Decision Maker and teaches skills and creates confidence for the DM. Aligns very well with the profession.

Current Contact Details:

Annie Chapman

Developmental Educator

Baptist Care SA

Email: achapman@baptistcaresa.org.au