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One of the principles enshrined in the
Disability Services Act 1993, is the right of people with a
disability to choose their own lifestyle and to have access
to information that is provided in a manner appropriate to
their disability and cultural background, to allow an
informed choice.
If appropriate and sensitive
assistance is provided to a people with an intellectual
disability, their ability to make their own choices and
decisions can be greatly enhanced. The aim is to empower
people to take control of decisions which affect them and
the approach may vary according to the individual and the
nature of the decision. Try to ensure that the person is not
being pressured about the decision.
The following strategies are good
practice ideas for maximising a person’s ability to
make their own major decisions:
- Identify all sources of relevant
information the person needs to consider and understand
to make the decision. Help to identify the different
options. Don’t make it harder by adding unnecessary
information.
- Break up the information into
stages that follow logically. Put each stage to the
person and assess whether s/he understands each stage
before adding more information.
- Allow the person plenty of time to
take in and respond to each piece of information.
Encourage questions and discussion.
- Things are often better explained
by using pictures, examples and, better still, personal
experience. Be creative! For example, the best way to
explain going to hospital may be to visit or talk to
another patient; to explain work options may be to have a
trial period at the different options.
- Be aware of non-verbal messages
you may be sending.
- Remove any structural and/or
physical obstacles to participate in decision making.
- Be careful not to ask questions in
such a way as to suggest an answer. For example,
“You’re happier working here, aren’t
you?”
- To check whether the person has
understood, go back over the information, ask the
question in another way or have the person explain their
decision to you. Be sure to reassure the person that you
are checking this so that you are clear about their
wishes and not because their previous answer was
wrong.
- Assist the person to identify the
likely results of possible decisions.
- If the decision is a major one,
for example, regarding whether to have surgery, and the
Doctor feels uncertain about the person’s capacity
to make the decision and there is no person responsible
available to make the decision, you may need to consider
making an application for guardianship.
For further
information
Legal Advice available between 2pm
- 5pm weekdays
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