The person’s right to effective support decision making

Rights of people with disability

Watch the video on the UN Convention on the rights of people with disabilities.

This resource will help guide your practice when facilitating supported decision-making principles and strategies in behaviour support. 

You play a key role in empowering people with disability to exercise their rights in accordance with the UN Declaration on Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). 

What is the CRPD?

The CRPD promotes and respects the legal and human rights of people with disability and gives them power and direction over their own lives. One of the most fundamental expressions of these rights is the right to support for decision-making. 

Legislation and policy protect the rights of people with disability to access support to make decisions that affect their lives (including decisions involving risk) and reflect their will and preferences.

Watch the ‘Decisions, Decisions, Decisions’ video, where Casey and Reece talk about making choices and decisions.    

As a facilitator, you play a key role in promoting the partnership between the decision supporter and the person with disability. You support them to communicate, interpret and act on choices together. 

What support people with disability need to make their own decisions

This means the person should receive support for decision-making that: 

• respects their legal and human rights to decide 
• acknowledges their decision capability  
• respects and is sensitive to their personal beliefs, cultures and values 
• is aware of and manages undue influence and is free from control and abuse of power 
• maintains their dignity, privacy and confidentiality 
• aligns with their will and preferences and increases their autonomy 
• is informed by exploring and mitigating risk  
• addresses decision-making barriers  
• is partnered with appropriately trained decision supporters who uphold the person’s right to choice and control.