Supported Decision-Making Theory, Research, and Practice to Enhance Self-Determination and Quality of Life

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) recognized that people with disabilities should have the right to exercise their legal capacity and identified 'supported decision-making' as a means by which people with disabilities can be directly involved in decisions that impact their lives. Offering an overview of its emergence in the disability field and highlighting emerging research, theory, and practice from legal, psychology, education, and health fields, this volume provides a much-needed theoretical and evidence base for supported decision-making. Evidence and strengths-based frameworks for understanding disability, supports, and their roles in promoting supported decision-making are synthesized. The authors describe the application of a social-ecological approach to supported decision-making, and focus on implications for building systems of supports based on current environmental demands. This volume introduces and explains empirical research on critical elements of supported decision-making and the applications of supported decision-making that enhance outcomes, including self-determination and quality of life.

Part I. Overview: 1. Introduction to supported decision-making and its emergence in the disability; Part II. Strengths-Based Frameworks for Understanding Disability and Support Needs: 2. Social ecological models of disability; 3. Strengths-based approaches – positive psychology and disability; 4. Causal agency theory – self-determination and disability; Part III. Theory Underpinning Supported Decision-Making: 5. Social-ecological framework for supported decision-making; 6. Decision-making capacity in law and practice; 7. Environmental demands for decision-making; 8. Decision-making skills and support needs for decision-making; Part IV. Applications of a Social-Ecological Framework for Supported Decision-Making: 9. Supported decision-making and self-determination research; 10. Assessment and intervention in supported decision-making; 11. Building systems of supports for supported decision-making; 12. Implications for future theory, research, and practice.

This volume integrates cutting-edge research, theory, and practice in supported decision-making. Emerging work from legal, psychology, education, and health fields are described, and applications for supports provision in the disability field are highlighted with a specific focus on promoting valued outcomes, including self-determination and quality of life.

Karrie A. Shogren is a Professor in the Department of Special Education and Director of the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities at the University of Kansas.
Michael L. Wehmeyer is the Ross and Marianna Beach Distinguished Professor in Special Education and Chair of the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas.
Jonathan Martinis is Director for Law and Policy in the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, New York.
Peter Blanck is University Professor and Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, New York.