Supported Decision-Making

A legal and practical alternative to guardianship in which a person with a cognitive or developmental disability retains decision-making authority over their own life while receiving support from trusted people — family, friends, advocates — who help them understand options, weigh consequences, and communicate choices. Supported decision-making is increasingly recognized in U.S. state law and under Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. For accessibility designers, SDM reframes financial, medical, and legal tools as needing to accommodate supporter involvement without stripping agency from the primary user.